Such a tender week...

It's Christmas week.

It's been a bit cold. We have snow, though not as much as others. Kerry has had to bundle up every single day.

But, there's warmth in our hearts because of this glorious time of year.

I love Christmas. I loved it when I was a child. Though it was usually just mom and dad and me (sisters were older and already gone), I loved the holiday then as much as I do now. I can still remember the magical feeling of the tree all decorated and colorful, the fireplace snapping and popping, my dad putting on the Tabernacle Choir record that had "Silent Night" on it, and my mom turning out every light and only burning kerosene lamps and candles. It was a magical feeling that I can still remember to this day.

Christmas with my own little family was also magical. Nothing brings that feeling around a home more than children. One stands out in particular - when we only had Peter and Harmony. Baby Harmony was barely a month old. One night before Christmas, Peter had fallen asleep under the Christmas tree right beside baby Harmony on her blanket. We didn't have much money that year, but we had two of the greatest gifts we could have ever received - a family. As more and more children joined us, we felt the same way each year. We still feel that way about those precious gifts that were given to us to raise.

Now this year will be a bit different. It's just Kerry and me this year - Kerry and me and the hospital.

This past week, we enjoyed a wonderful evening at the home of Lee and Darlene Tobler - the former temple president and his wife. They are such good people. A few of us gathered there for an evening of desserts. Their home was filled with nativities - and I could have just spent the evening walking around looking at them. But, it's also important to be a bit friendly and sociable, so I was.

The next day I was fitted for the brace I will be wearing for the next three months after surgery. Oh, my! It looks like a saddle. I stopped by to tell Kerry something while he was delivering mail. He glanced into the back seat and asked what in the world that thing was. I told him it was my brace. It's hard, with lots of velcro and bungee cords. They will gradually lessen the plastic until I'm just down to bungee cords.

Friday was my last day at the temple for awhile. I have everything in place for my workers to carry on in my absence. Bless their good hearts.

I will be shutting my computer down tomorrow afternoon. I won't be able to lift it (nothing over 5 lbs.), so I'll be on my little one. It's so little it fits in my purse. My new rule from the occupation therepast is: No BLT - bending, lifting or twisting. My house now looks like a nursing home - grab bars in the tub/shower, raised toilet seat, shower seat, walkers, canes, etc.

If you would like to call Kerry for an update, feel free. He will probably be home after 8:30 each evening, and it's okay to call up to about 10:30 pm. (419-756-7033) If you would like to call me, I'll have my cell phone (419-543-1087), or the hospital (419-526-8000). I'll do my best to answer. It wouldn't do you much good to call Kerry on his cell phone while he's at work. Unless it's me or one of the kids, he probably wouldn't answer. He believes if he's at work, he's at work.

This has been a hard decision for me. There are days when I feel no pain at all, and I wonder if I've made the right decision. Then, there are days when I am yelping in my sleep. Just today, during the closing song, my leg totally went numb and pain shot up through the top part of my hip. I was having trouble hitting the right pedals on the organ, for my feet can't feel them anymore. I thought I was going to flip over backwards with the pain, but carried on through the end of the song. Kerry always comes up to the organ to see if I need any help. This time, he didn't have to ask. He could see my face. He began working on my leg to try to get some of the pain out of the hip and the numbness out of the rest of it. We were trying to not let anyone see it. For the rest of the day, I was on a cane.

After that episode, I have no doubt at all.

But, back to Christmas. No matter what kind of a year y'all have had, I hope that the sweet spirit of this season can permeate your hearts. Just about everyone I know has had it rough in one way or another. Perhaps these things are allowed to happen so that we'll focus on the things that have real meaning - our homes, our families, our Lord.

Some newsies:
Little Miss Vanessa, granddaughter of my sister Betty, was blessed by her daddy today. (Similar to a christening. Babies are not baptized in our church. They must be at least 8 years old). What a special opportunity for a young father.

Niece Sarah, daughter of David and Martha, has received her mission call to the New Zealand Auckland Mission and will leave in March. She is such a dear, sweet girl. I know her parents are so proud of her.

Thank you for all of your well wishes. I'll be fine, for I have a good doctor. He's the same one that put Peter back together after his accident 12 years ago. I have no doubt in his ability, for by all textbook accounts, Peter should not have lived.

But, he did.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Think of Him more than thinking of me. He won't leave me alone...

Love...
Miss P

Oh, deer!

It was a cold and beautiful week.

Just about every day and every evening we had things to do. One day, as I was driving in the country on a very cold, crisp, sunny day I saw two deer in a field just running, leaping, and playing with all their might. I literally had to stop the car and watch. They were having so much fun! I wish I could gallop.

Tuesday was a busy day spent in preparation at the hospital. For those that aren't aware yet, I am having back surgery on Dec 22. Yes, Dec 22.

This back of mine has plagued me for at least seven years. My feet are numb. When I Play the organ, I can't feel the pedals - I just have to guess I'm hitting the right ones. When I drive, I have to glance down to make sure I've lifted my foot up high enough to put on the brake. My entire left leg will go numb and burn clear up to the hip. Kerry will pull on it, bring it up clear over my head, etc. I did find one thing that would help - I sit with my legs apart and curl my body forward.

Even that doesn't help anymore.

The MRI's that were taken show lumbar/sacral spondylopathy. My spinal cord is encompassed with arthritis, and I have one disc that has bulged forward and one that has bulged backward.

Physical therapy, pain management, and shots of cortisone have not helped. Hence - it's time for surgery. And, I'm scared.

I went for pre-op testing on Tuesday while Mr. Kerry waited on me. It took two hours. I met with Occupational Therapy, the anesthesiologist, had blood drawn, had an EKG taken, and answered a myriad of questions. I had three people ask me if I could possibly have or have been exposed to HIV, aids, or hepatitis. Thank goodness I have not - at least since earlier this year.

Some have asked why I'm having it during the week of Christmas. Well, first of all - our deductible is met. Second - none of my kids will be home for Christmas. Third - if I have to wear a back brace, I'd rather wear it in the middle of winter than in the middle of summer.

I will also be fitted with a bone growth stimulator, which I will wear for 30 min. a day for nine months.

This is pretty major. There may be blood transfusions. There will be bone grafting. It will hurt.

And I'm scared.

Next week will be my last missive of the year, I think. I promise to keep y'all posted.

My feet are also giving me fits. I went to the foot doctor, who gave me cortisone in my foot. He feels the surgery may help the pain in my feet. He watched me walk and just wagged his head.

That evening, I went to a lovely meeting in Clear Fork Ward concerning the temple. They wanted me there to answer any questions that may come up. I had Mr. Kerry drive me - even though it was a women's meeting. It was just beautiful - and SO uplifting!

Friday at the temple was a bit moderate. I was in quite a bit of pain - even having trouble getting up from my chair at lunch. Immediately, two of my workers which are nurses came to me and knew just how to get me up. I did leave a bit early that day. I came home, took a pain pill, and laid down before going to our Ward Christmas Party.

This week finds me in the final preparations before my surgery. Kerry switched the beds so I have the queen sized one to sleep on and recuperate on. Fern brought me a WONDERFUL feather bed to lay on top of our mattress. Oh, I can't even begin to describe. I'm trying to anticipate everything I may need to have moved to the first floor. Two women at church will be taking turns coming here to help me out. Meals will be brought in. Others have offered to help wherever I may need them.

Yes, I'll try to keep everyone posted. But, just as we pray for others that have asked for our prayers, we have prayed for my doctor, too. God answers our prayers. He's always been at my side.

Love to y'all...
Miss P

An eye for an eye

I guess I am getting older. Well, at least parts of me are.

I had my annual eye exam on Tuesday, and I couldn't believe the change in my vision. Neither could my eye doctor! I had been having a lot of trouble with both distance and close up. I figure it had to be aging, for I really hadn't had any changes in a few years. This year made up for it.

I also knew part of it was what I used to clean my glasses with - a Kleenex that has Vick's VapoRub built into them. They are great at relieving some congestion, but are really lousy for cleaning eyeglasses. I wouldn't recommend it, for I ended up using vinegar to get the film off.

I celebrated getting my new stove this week! But, I have to admit that it has a feature I've never heard of. The delivery men were putting it into place and even installed an anti-tip device. I thought that was kind of remarkable. But, I was glancing through the manual and noticed a page entitled "Sabbath Day Cooking".

I was intrigued.

I haven't entirely read it through, but apparently it has a feature for Jewish Sabbath cooking. A fellow genealogist informed me that "A sabbath day setting I imagine would be one where the stove is not completely turned off. I remember my great grandmother telling me that in the "old days" as a gentile she was often asked to go and relight stoves or gas lamps that went out on the sabbath".

My sister-in-law teased me by saying it was a Kosher stove.

Friday at the temple was busy, but moderate in attendance. It was a good day for getting caught up on some things. My friend, Miss Dani, was there as a worker for the first time. She did a fine job! Later, she and I went to dinner at Perkins for potato pancakes. Some other temple workers heard us talking about them and decided they would taste good, too! There they were in the restaurant, eating potato pancakes just like us...

Saturday morning was a wonderful entrance into the Christmas season. The Relief Society (women's organization) held a Christmas brunch at the church. The presidency prepared muffins, quiche, strata, yogurt w/granola, and little loaves of quick breads for all of us. There was an ornament exchange, along with beautiful testimonies of the Savior and the Christmas season. It was just wonderful, and I'm so glad I went.

Tonight, Mr. Kerry and I cuddled up on the couch, turned on the computer to www.lds.org and watched The First Presidency and the Tabernacle Choir bring beautiful Christmas messages to the world. And, to us. You can probably see it repeated if you log on.

Now, as we have officially begun our entrance into this marvelous holiday season, I have many things on my mind. It's so easy to get frazzled and frenzied by all that is going on in the world and how we're going to "get through" the holidays. I'm just not going to let that happen. I'm going to look at what I can do for my fellow man and do my best to help the world to become better.

And there's no better place to start than with myself.

Love to y'all...
Miss P

First the blade and then the ear

And what a wondrous Thanksgiving week this has been!

I'm telling you, I absolutely love this holiday. And, our family has never been one to push it out of the way to get ready for Christmas. We certainly need to remember to give thanks for every single part of our lives - the trials as well as the blessings.

The best part of this week was that Mr. Kerry had every day of it off!

It began with a bit of disheartening news on Monday. It looks as though I will have to have surgery on this back of mine. It is not healing - it is getting worse. There are times that my leg just absolutely gives out on me. I cannot feel the pedals when I play the organ. If I am pitched forward brushing my teeth or washing dishes, it is all I can do to straighten myself back up when I'm finished.

My surgery is scheduled for Dec 22 - the Tuesday before Christmas. I will be in a back brace for three months and will not be able to lift anything over 5 lbs. There are a lot more details I don't want to bore you with - but rest assured, I will be fine.

And...if I'm going to be in a back brace for all that time, I'd rather it be in the middle of winter than in the middle of summer!

I've been without a stove/oven for two weeks now, and it's driving me nuts. So, Tuesday, Mr. Kerry and I went out and bought a stove that will be delivered next week. It will be nice to bake again! After running a few more errands, we spent the rest of the day attacking our basement.

And what a delightful time we had on Wednesday! Since Jordan would be working on Thanksgiving, they had to celebrate a day early. We arrived at their house about noon and walked into the most wonderful smells of Thanksgiving. Kerry and I enjoyed the grandboys - we played cars with them, read to them, laid on their beds and listened to them talk and show us their treasures, and rolled footballs and basketballs back and forth. So precious!

Jordan and Melissa

Erik and Jordan and Mr. Kerry

Erik and Jayden, Jordan, Me, Kerry, JJ, Justin
To avoid some of the heavy traffic on the interstate, we came home through some country roads and enjoyed Christmas lights and dodging deer.

The very next morning, we left with Jean and Earl to travel to Akron. We have enjoyed Thanksgiving Day with Steve and Keri (son and d-i-l) for several years, and this year was no different. We had such a nice time with them and their two children, Spenser and Sydnee.

Earl, Jean, Spenser, Steve and Sydnee
This year, they fixed a turkey like I learned to a few years ago from an article written by Trisha Yearwood. I used one of those blue granite roasters (with a good fitting lid - doesn't have to "seal"). Put the turkey in the oven after adding 2 cups of water. Cook for 500 degrees for one hour. Turn it off and don't open the oven door. I said don't open the oven door.

When I go to church, I put it in at 7:30 am, turn it off at 8:30 am, and when we return at about 1:15 pm, it's falling off the bone.

I will never fix it any other way.

After two wonderfully relaxing days, it was time to go to work at the temple on Friday. Julia Hoffman joined us, and we were all glad we weren't out there shopping like. I used to be one of "those". It was busy, but tender at the temple. Kerry returned again on Saturday to work.

Church was good today, but I was a wee bit tired. I laid down for a bit and seemed to get myself recharged.

I had Harmony on my mind today. It was just 28 years ago today that she entered this world. My feelings are always tender on the days representing the births of each of my children. It was no different today.

Little Miss Harmony - just a few days old!

When she was about six years old at Christmastime.

In the back yard eating a roasted donut.

When she was in the Hill Cumorah Pageant at age 18.

Yeah, she's on my mind today.

There's someone else on my mind for this coming week. On Tuesday, it will be 32 years ago that Mr. Kerry and I were married!! We were both working in the Washington Temple. Kerry had served his mission in the Delaware/Maryland Mission, was one of the first ones to be hired on at the temple, and his mission president was also the temple president. He married us, too.

Washington DC Temple

This is the guy I fell in love with. This was taken in Aug 1977 in Bryce Canyon. His parents took us there for the day so we could all get to know each other better.

This is us on our wedding day - Dec 1, 1977. We were smitten. We still are!

And this is us - 32 years later. I'm telling you, he is truly the best person I've ever known. I'm a better each day because of him.

Now we are truly entering the Christmas season - and it's a bit different for all of us this year. Perhaps it will help us all remember the Savior, whose birth we celebrate.

This month, we wish a happy birthday to:
Chris - Kerry's brother - Dec 8
Sydnee - Jean's granddaughter - Dec 8

And a happy anniversary to:
US - Dec 1
Steve & Keri - Jean's son and d-i-l - Dec 7


Love to y'all...........
Miss P

Thanks and Giving

Well, it's my favorite week of the year, and I don't even know where to begin.

Thanksgiving has always been my very favorite holiday - even when I was just a young girl. It's probably one of the few holidays we can all agree on. What one of us doesn't have a whole list of things to be grateful for?

About a year and a half ago, I began keeping a "gratitude journal". Each week, during the passing of the Sacrament (communion for non-LDS), I write one entire page of something I am thankful for, then I elaborate a bit on it. Through the past few months, I have listed many, many things - some of which may seem a bit inconsequential - but I am grateful for them, nonetheless. These would include:
My family
My home
Mr. Kerry!
My health
The change of seasons
Modern medicine and doctors
My parents
My extended family
Good, trustworthy cars
Safe food and water
Modern conveniences - electric, heat, stoves, running water, etc.
Windshields and windshield wipers
Air conditioning
Holidays
Friends
A good bed
The Weather Channel
Prayer
Church
The Post Office
Clothing I didn't have to make
Nature
My five senses
Tears
Rain
My teeth
Laughter
History
Peace
Technology
Talents - both mine and others
Sunglasses
Brakes
Trials and afflictions
My country
Growing older
The temple
The Savior

I think you get the idea. If I were to write in this little book every single day of my life and fill volumes more, I would still never run out of things to be thankful for. Shame on me if I refuse to recognize all that I have been blessed with.

I had the last of a series of injections into my back this week, following two days of pretty intense pain. I will probably find out tomorrow if surgery is in the near future.

Now for a wonderful week. Mr. Kerry is off all of this week, and I am grateful for that. The Post Office has been very good to us through the years. We have a couple of things we have to get done - first and foremost is a stove. Mine has now bit the dust. I've been cooking on one little tiny burner. But, I'm grateful I have crockpots, an electric skillet, a George Foreman grill, a gas grill, Dutch ovens, a backyard to build a fire in if I have to, a toaster, a breadmaker, etc. I think you get the idea...

Try to take a few moments this week to reflect on your own blessings. Even in the middle of hard times, you will find exactly what you're looking for...

AND, a big congratulations to my nephew, David Lauritzen, who passed the third audition for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and will be singing with them by April General Conference! So, so happy for you, and so, so proud of you, David! And, I'll bet your parents are pleased, too! We loved always watching for your mom in the choir - we'll look for you now...

Love to y'all
Miss P

http://www.cpmsglife2.org/MSG/Pres/td/td1.html


“My brothers and sisters, we have built temples throughout the world and will continue to do so. To you who are worthy and able to attend the temple, I would admonish you to go often. The temple is a place where we can find peace. There we receive a renewed dedication to the gospel and a strengthened resolve to keep the commandments.”
Thomas S. Monson, “Until We Meet Again,” Ensign, May 2009, 113



- Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, or What the Pilgrims Really Ate at
Thanksgiving

Millions of American families will sit down to dine together in this
month's annual Thanksgiving Day celebration. Menus will vary a bit but
most will feature turkey along with stuffing, gravy, squash,
cranberries, and other vegetables. Pumpkin pie has always been popular
with my family as well. Did you ever wonder what the Pilgrims and their
Wampanoag Indian guests ate during their first Thanksgiving in 1621?

Unfortunately, we cannot be certain. The Pilgrims did not print menus
for their guests. After all, none of their Indian guests could read, nor
could very many of the Pilgrims themselves. Most were illiterate.
Luckily, several colonists who were literate wrote personal accounts of
the 1621 feast in Plymouth, Massachusetts, and those accounts have
survived. These accounts give a few hints as to the menu.


While 103 people landed at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620, about
half of them died during the first winter. Those who survived managed to
plant crops the following spring and reaped a good harvest during the
summer and fall. The first Thanksgiving at Plimoth Colony was held to
celebrate that harvest.

William Bradford wrote,

“They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit
up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered
in health and strength and had all things in good plenty. For as some
were thus employed in affairs abroad, others were exercised in fishing,
about cod and bass and other fish, of which they took good store, of
which every family had their portion. All the summer there was no want;
and now began to come in store of fowl, as winter approached, of which
this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by
degrees). And besides waterfowl there was great store of wild turkeys,
of which they took many, besides venison, etc. Besides, they had about a
peck a meal a week to a person, or now since harvest, Indian corn to the
proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty
here to their friends in England, which were not feigned but true
reports."

Edward Winslow wrote,

“Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling,
that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had
gathered the fruits of our labor. They four in one day killed as much
fowl as, with a little help beside, served the company almost a week. At
which time, amongst other recreations, we exercised our arms, many of
the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest king
Massasoit, with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and
feasted, and they went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the
plantation and bestowed on our governor, and upon the captain and
others. And although it be not always so plentiful as it was at this
time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want that
we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

The Thanksgiving feast lasted three whole days, providing enough food
for 53 pilgrims and 90 Indians. While we do not know the exact menu,
historians have studied the food supply of the time and have been able
to guess the items that likely appeared on the menu those three days.

The Pilgrims and the Indians obviously dined on venison. Winslow wrote,
"They went out and killed five deer, which we brought to the
plantation." Turkey also was on the menu. As Winslow stated, "They four
in one day killed as much fowl as, with a little help beside, served the
company almost a week." The word "fowl" probably included turkeys
although there may have been ducks, geese, swans, and other birds as
well.

The turkeys probably were a bit skinnier than today's Butterball
turkeys, and probably had a stronger flavor as well. I live about 70
miles from Plymouth and can tell you that today's descendants of the
wild turkeys that escaped the Pilgrims certainly look big and fat. They
are also plentiful in this area. We can guess that the same was true in
1621.

The turkeys and most other meat dishes undoubtedly were roasted on a
spit over an open fire. Someone must have been assigned to turn the spit
frequently to make sure the food was not burnt on one side. Gravy was
unknown.

The other foods at the table probably included fish, clams, berries,
apples, dried fruit, pumpkin, squash, turnips, peas, onions, beans and
other vegetables.

Some accounts state that lobster was on the menu, although I have my
doubts. It seems unlikely when so many other items were already on the
menu. In 1621, lobster was considered to be a "trash fish" and typically
was eaten only by the poor, the starving, or by indentured servants.
This makes it unlikely that lobster would be served at a feast
celebrating a plentiful harvest.

Indeed, lobsters were used as fertilizer to help grow corn; the Pilgrims
and the Indians would plant a few corn seeds and then throw a lobster
into the ground beside the seeds before covering all of that with soil.
What a change we have nearly 400 years later! Lobster is now a major
export of the Plymouth area with prices that are far too high for the
poorer citizens of today.

Pumpkin pie wasn't on the menu in 1621 because there were no ovens for
baking, but the pilgrims probably did eat boiled pumpkin. Due to the
diminishing supply of flour, there was no bread of any kind.

Cranberries existed as wild plants in the Plymouth area at the time, and
it is possible that the Pilgrims were aware of the food value of these
plants. However, cranberries were largely ignored until American
Revolutionary War veteran Henry Hall became the first to farm
cranberries in the nearby Cape Cod town of Dennis around 1816. Aside
from their food value, the Pilgrims would have been eating unsweetened
cranberries, a less than tasty sensation without benefit of sugar.

Salt was readily available in Plimoth Colony with the ocean being only a
few yards away. Pepper was commonly used in England but probably not
available in Plimoth Colony at the time.

Some sugar was transported on the Mayflower but probably had been
consumed before the feast of 1621. Sugar could have been made from maple
syrup but it is doubtful that the Pilgrims learned these skills the
first year. Maple sap has to be collected early in the spring when there
is still snow on the ground. In the spring of 1621, the Pilgrims were
too weak from disease and starvation to organize efforts to tap maple
trees and collect the sap.

The list of beverages served at the three-day feast was not recorded.
The Pilgrims had no tea or coffee, as those imported items were missing
due to a lack of trade routes at the time.

Beer undoubtedly was served. As the Pilgrims set out for America the
previous year, they brought a considerable amount of this beverage with
them for the voyage (reportedly more than 28,617 liters = 7,560
gallons). An entry in the diary of a Mayflower passenger explains the
unplanned landing at Plymouth Rock: "We could not now take time for
further search...our victuals being much spent, especially our beer..."

Once settled, the Pilgrims undoubtedly followed the English customs of
the time with most families brewing beer in large quantities. They
served it at virtually all functions, including ordinations, funerals,
and regular Sabbath meals.

Plenty of clear water was available in the New World but the Pilgrims
were largely ignorant of the need for sanitation. As a result, it is
believed that many of the wells in Plimoth Colony were polluted.
Admittedly, this is all conjecture, since no one today knows for sure.

Serving meals in the seventeenth century was very different from serving
today. People weren't served their meals individually. Foods were placed
on the table and then people took the food from the table and ate it. In
fact, this "family style" of dining was similar to what most families do
today.

Pilgrims didn't eat in courses as we do today. All of the different
types of foods were placed on the table at the same time, and people ate
in any order they chose. Meat dishes, puddings, and sweets were all
served at the same time. Desserts were eaten at the same time as the
meats and other dishes.

Canning and freezing had not yet been invented. With no method of
preserving food, other than salting food for preservation, the Pilgrims
ate whatever was fresh. It is unlikely that they ate corn, other than
perhaps dried corn. The corn crop had come and gone before the autumn
feast. Late season vegetables, such as turnips, onions, pumpkin and
squash, certainly would have been available. However, the meal was
probably mostly meat, fish, and fowl, with few vegetables.

We can also imagine the table manners of those who dined. The Pilgrims
did not use silverware nicely arranged on linen napkins. Napkins were in
use although they were usually simple pieces of cloth, often rags. The
Pilgrims wiped their hands on the cloth napkins, which they also used to
pick up hot morsels of food. Linen was unknown. We can imagine that the
Indian guests probably wiped their hands and mouths on whatever was
available, such as on the back of the hand or on clothing.

The Pilgrims also did not use forks at the table. As Englishmen and
Englishwomen, they had no knowledge of forks. The fork was first
described in English by Thomas Coryat in a volume of writings about his
Italian travels only ten years earlier (1611). Very few English people
had even heard of a fork by 1621. For many years the fork was viewed as
an unmanly Italian affectation and was never seen in English homes. Some
writers of the Roman Catholic Church expressly disapproved of its use:
"God in his wisdom has provided man with natural forks — his fingers.
Therefore it is an insult to Him to substitute artificial metallic forks
for them when eating."

While the Pilgrims were not Catholics, we can assume they used the same
eating customs as most everyone else in England at the time: they
scooped up meat, fish, and boiled peas alike with their fingers. It was
not until the 18th century that the fork became commonly used in Great
Britain, with the United States following soon after.

Knives were used at the table but were not the same knives that we think
of as silverware. The knives of 1621 were multi-purpose tools: any one
knife might be used to cut a tree limb, to dissect a deer, or to cut
meat at the table.
In short, the Pilgrims had a great meal by their standards. They and
their Indian guests ate well for three days. That must have been a great
joy for the 53 hardy souls who had watched half of their group die of
malnourishment and disease only a few months earlier.

Their table manners didn't match today's standards, but they undoubtedly
didn't mind. Their diet was high in protein, especially red meats. They
undoubtedly had high cholesterol meals, especially in the months when
fresh fruits and vegetables were not available. However, their diet
probably met the needs of these people who led rugged, outdoor
lifestyles. They had little fear of heart attacks; the more common cause
of death was malnutrition and disease.

The Pilgrims of 1621 undoubtedly were delighted with their feast but I
don't think I would want to join them.

Happy, happy, Joy, joy

Oh, it's been such a beautiful week! This is not like our usual Novembers, for by now we would have had much colder weather. It was just about a year ago when Kerry and I returned from taking Betty and Callie-dog down to Florida. We landed in Akron with all kinds of snow to clean off our car, plus several white-outs to drive in all the way home.

I'll take this weather anyday!

I had a wonderful lunch with my friend Pat on Monday. It was a great way to begin the week. She brought me a wonderful gift of pumpkin spice cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese frosting - plus the recipe! She's always been a good friend.

Tuesday brought Jean to my door to take me for my second set of injections into my back. They really do not hurt, and may even prevent me from having back surgery sooner than I had expected. That evening I was a bit queasy and rubber-legged, so I could not go to church to help with the pie-baking. They baked 90 pies to help with the various food pantries here in town.

The next day was Veteran's Day, so I planned on another great day with Mr. Kerry. We almost always have a glorious breakfast together. I was in the process of scrambling eggs, frying bacon, and making toast from my homemade bread with the fire alarm going off and Mr. Eddie going nuts when the phone rang. It was Kerry's sister, Joy! She was in Cleveland on business and wanted to know if it were possible to get together for dinner.

Of course! When family is close by, we make every effort to clear our schedule and see our family...

I called both Jordan and Erik to see if they would like join us, too. They both said yes, even though it would be a three-hour drive for Jordan and Melissa, with him having to get up at 4:30 am for work. They all rode together in Jordan's van and met us in Cleveland for dinner. We decided to eat at Applebee's, for all veterans could eat free. And what an honor to walk in with two of my three veteran children!
Joy and Kerry
Peggy, Joy and Kerry
Kerry, Joy, Jayden, Jordan, Justin, Erik, JJ (Melissa and I are taking pictures)

It was especially eventful for us, for we got to see Joy's new engagement ring!!! After 19 years of being single, she has met a wonderful man who adores her, and she adores him. Her face lit up each time she talked about him. We are so happy for her. Kerry and Joy and Gay (sister who died in 2000) were always especially close, being the middle children. He fondly refers to all of the times they played together.

Kerry worked at the temple Thursday night. After he left, I ran a couple of errands, returning after dark. I haven't been out after dark by myself in a long time - and I decided I just didn't like it. Who knows what is out there - especially playing pole position with the deer that are out there going wild at this time of the year.

Friday was an especially busy day at the temple for me. I'm going to call it Mother's Day, for many people were there in honor of their mothers. Without going into great detail, I will say that there were a lot of tender hearts that day.

Saturday found me running a lot of errands. It was beautiful - almost too warm for my jacket! I was on my way to a craft show (where jewelry dominated) when I saw a church rummage sale. I LOVE rummage sales! I had been to one at this church before, where they lay everything out on the pews. But this day was different. The most beautiful music met me at the doors. Inside was a young boy that looked to be about 15 years old playing the pipe organ. I was mesmerized at his music! I had to sit down and listen for a bit, and almost begged him not to stop. It truly stopped me in my tracks. I look at those things as small blessings in my life.

It was a good day at church today, but I was a bit disheartened when I came home to discover that my stove has died. I have only had one small burner working on it for awhile. Last week, the heating element in the oven caught on fire. I guess it has now bit the dust. So, I will probably be stove shopping this week.

And, when I was resting this afternoon, my leg and back began to hurt worse than ever - in spite of the injections! I yelped so loud Kerry came running up from the basement. It was some of the worst pain I have ever experienced, and it lasted nearly 20 minutes. Oh, my...

Kerry is off the whole week of Thanksgiving - yippee! We had originally planned to go to Orlando to spend just about a day and a half with Peter, but we have now decided not go to at this time.

Have a good week!

Love to y'all...
Miss P

As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday the Lord has stated through our prophet Thomas S Monson: “If you have children who are grown and gone, in all likelihood you have occasionally felt pangs of loss and the recognition that you didn’t appreciate that time of life as much as you should have. Of course, there is no going back, but only forward. Rather than dwelling on the past, we should make the most of today, of the here and now, doing all we can to provide pleasant memories for the future.
If you are still in the process of raising children, be aware that the tiny fingerprints that show up on almost every newly cleaned surface, the toys scattered about the house, the piles and piles of laundry to be tackled will disappear all too soon and that you will—to your surprise—miss them profoundly.
Stresses in our lives come regardless of our circumstances. We must deal with them the best we can. But we should not let them get in the way of what is most important—and what is most important almost always involves the people around us. Often we assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. Wrote William Shakespeare, “They do not love that do not show their love.” We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us.
Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

“Ask yourself these questions: Am I an example of respect in my home by the way I treat those I love the most? What is my demeanor during a sports event? If my child has a disagreement with a teacher, coach, or peer, do I listen to both sides of the issue? Do I show respect for the property of others as well as take care of my own? How do I respond to others with whom I disagree in matters of religion, lifestyle, or politics? “As parents and leaders exemplify and teach respect for others, we confirm in the hearts of our children that each of us is truly a child of God and all are brothers and sisters through eternity. We will focus on the things we have in common—on the qualities of heart that bind the family of God together, rather than on our differences.”
Margaret S. Lifferth, “Respect and Reverence,” Ensign, May 2009, 11

No Pain No Gain...

It was a busy week, and a good week.

Tuesday began with a series of injections from a Pain Management Doctor that I have been referred to. An x-ray machine is used to find the exact spot they need to go into. Someone asked me if it was painful - and it really isn't. A warm shower the next day was very soothing. He said I would notice a difference by the end of the week - and I did!

That evening was a treat for us! Kerry's brother, Chris, was in Dayton for a few days at the Air Force Base. He is a Col. and Clinical Flight Commander of the Dental Squadron. He had contacted us awhile back and wanted to know if we would be free for dinner. We met in Columbus, where Jordan and Melissa and the grandboys joined us. Erik had exams, but joined us a bit later. It was wonderful.

His wife, Kristy, had originally planned on joining us, but was in Utah for the birth of a new baby they're adopting!

Chris and Kristy and Miss Elena!

Earlier in the day, we had our jeep towed to get it fixed. When Jordan asked what was wrong, the only thing I could think of was harmonious baklava. Jordan looked at me and said, "Do you think you might mean harmonic balancer?" Probably. But, he knew what I meant.

Kerry was off on Wednesday, and we got lots of errands accomplished - one of which was his yearly doctor appointment with a neurologist. He had Parkinson-like symptoms awhile back, but it appears not to be the case. They are controlling the tremors with medication.

I picked up Eddie from the spa after shelling out a bunch of money for the harmonious baklava.

Friday was wonderful at the temple, but I was pretty tired when I got home. I slept pretty good through the night until Kerry was thrashing around in his sleep and knocked me in the nose and my right eye. I was cattywampus the rest of the day. But, we thoroughly enjoyed our Stake Conference Saturday evening and Sunday morning.

Imagine my joy when I received many comments on a newspaper column I had been chosen to write! http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20091108/OPINION/911080305/Opinion-Shapers--Make-your-home-and-family-top-priorities

And now, I feel I must include my gratitude for the many veterans we will be honoring this week. I have many in my family and in Kerry's - some of which are still actively serving. This section will include lots of pictures, so here we go with a salute to them all:
Kerry's family is first...
His father, Orson (mother Shirley), who was mostly in the Pacific Ocean around a lot of Japanese ships. He prayed mightily that he would always be safe. The ship ahead of his hit a mine. He always felt his life was preserved.
Kerry's oldest brother, Bill, who was killed in a jeep accident in Germany when he was just 19 years old. Kerry was 13 years old at the time.
Kerry's brother, Steve (I don't have a picture of him in uniform). He served in the Army in Vietnam.
Kerry's brothers, Kelly (and wife, Marion) and Chris. Kelly is a Major in the Army, Chris is a Colonel in the Air Force.
Kerry's sister, Charm, was in the National Guard.

Kerry's nephews, Brendan and Paul (sons of Chris).
Kerry's uncle Jack Monihan, married to his father's sister, Olive.
Kerry's uncle Vaughn Kent Lauritzen, brother of his father, Orson.
Kerry's uncle Wilson and brother of his father, Orson.
An interesting story from our Young Women's Manual concerning Wilson:
“We were fighting in the ‘Battle of the Bulge’ near the town of Ammonius, Belgium. By that time the Germans were on the defensive. We had just succeeded in cutting off or surrounding a sector of the German line. They were surrendering in large numbers. As we were disarming the soldiers, one of them said to me in broken English: ‘Would you know if there are any Mormon soldiers in your unit?’ I replied, ‘Yes, I am a Mormon.’ He asked, ‘Do you hold the priesthood?’ ‘Yes, I do,’ I answered. ‘I was married in the temple.’ ‘Would you be so kind as to come with me to that shell hole over there and administer to my buddy? He is pretty well shaken up, and pretty badly wounded.’ Of course I consented to go. We found that his buddy was in a bad condition and was suffering much pain. Then the two of us, who a few short hours before had been on opposite sides in the bitter struggle, knelt down and administered to the wounded lad. And as we did so, I felt the spirit of the Lord very strongly. I know that that feeling was shared by them, too. As we finished, the litter-bearers were there. We lifted the broken body to the stretcher. Then our ways parted: the wounded boy was taken to the hospital; the German soldier was sent back with the other prisoners, and I went on with my other duties” (as quoted by Spencer W. Kimball, in Albert L. Zobell, Jr., Storyteller’s Scrapbook [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1948], pp. 112–13).

And now for my family:
My father, Chester, who served in Pearl Harbor, HI.
Harmony and Jordan, at Jordan graduation from Fort Benning, GA.
Erik, at his graduation from Fort Jackson, SC.
My mom's brother,Thearl Stevens, (and Bertha, his wife).
My dad's brother, Charles.
My dad's great-uncle, Edd Walker.
Edd's son, Will.
One of my grandfathers, Levi Wheeler Cline.
Dr. Thomas Walker, a shirttail relative of mine from the mid-1750's.

I hold these men and women in great esteem, for they put their lives on the line on a daily basis for the freedoms we enjoy today. As an honor to them, I have turned one of my bedrooms into a "military bedroom", and have their pictures, as well as a few more, hanging there. I would love to be able to find more pre-Civil War photos or depictions, and am constantly on the prowl for them.

Bless their good hearts.

Love to y'all...
Miss P

Almost Heaven

I'm telling you, this year the colors of autumn have left me breathless. Perhaps it is because I have developed more of a reverence for life as I get older.

I was able to get into a neurosurgeon this week. I appreciate his perspective and honesty, for he is not one to be anxious to get you into surgery. He has suggested meeting with a pain management team to see if we can conquer the pain in my back. This week doesn't seem to be as bad as last week.

This weekend was one of the best ever. Kerry was able to take Friday and Saturday off for a special purpose - to be with me! We both worked at the temple on Friday, then headed south to Charleston, West Virginia. Each mile reminded me of some of my temple workers that make this 3 1/2 hour trip each Friday. My goodness!

We visited with some of my temple workers, most of which were fussing over who got to keep us over night. Since I was speaking at a genealogy conference the next day, we thought it best to stay with the ones who were in charge of it.

Many people think of West Virginia as a bunch of redneck renegades with no class or literacy. It was not the case. The couple we stayed with were professionals - a psychotherapist and a lawyer, who had once served a mission for our church in Hong Kong. Across the street was another temple worker - a nephrologist (kidney doctor) who they will not let retire. (She's 77 years old). She's very good in her field.

The home we stayed at was beautiful - the back yard had blooming shrubs, a fish pond, perfectly manicured with a deck to sit and enjoy it all on. Their son is a sculptor who has not always made correct choices in his life. This is one of his pieces, entitled "Shame".
It brought a lump to my throat each time I passed by it.

Saturday was a wonderful day! There were 179 in attendance - remarkable for their first seminar. Only 25 were nonmembers - a real reversal for most seminars sponsored by the church. At the one I do in Dayton each February, there may be 500 registered with 50 being LDS. I was their keynote speaker to get it all kicked off, and I followed with teaching classes throughout the day. Some of the other teachers were a bit nervous when they found out I was a Accredited Genealogist, but I told them there was absolutely no need to worry. I also learn at each class I attend - sometimes just a new way of looking at a problem..

The day was successful, and I was reluctant to leave them. Although I'm not from West Virginia, my roots run deep into the south. My mom and three sisters joined the church not far from where I was. (Dad joined later here in Ohio). I felt like I was leaving new-found family. And...I probably was related to a good many of them.

We loved our drive home. Again, the scenery was breath-taking. At one point, Kerry and I just gazed at a colorful hillside that was spotted with black cows grazing away. It was so peaceful to just look.

We had foot-long coneys at a Sonic drive-in and thought they were the best we's ever had. We came home through sunshine, rain, and a few snowflakes. We were originally going to stop at Jordan's, but decided to do it later this week.

Church was delightful with the primary putting on their annual program. These children wrote their own talks - from 3 years old up to age 11. They spoke at the pulpit, and each of their songs and messages left a spark in our hearts. Kerry and I remembered when our own children were up there giving talks and singing their little hearts out.

Last evening, Kerry and I attended an 1831 Dinner Theater at a local country church. It was one of the best experiences ever, for we were literally transformed into what Mansfield would have been like in 1831. The host and the characters were dressed and spoke as if they were characters from 1831. The food was delicious - cheese/crackers, roast beef, fried chicken, buttered and parslied potatoes, cabbage and noodles, peas and carrots, cornbread, apple butter, apple cider, and a choice of apple crisp or pumpkin pie.

The basement of their church had a room that was done in logs and chinks (imitation) and candle sconces on the wall. There were mason jars with candles burning inside anchored by sand. The performers talked all through our dinner - about John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed, who came through our area), the newly built 2-story courthouse, a new hotel, the newly elected mayor, the penalty for taking more than four cows through the town square, the Indian removal by Pres. Andrew Jackson, etc. It was history - AND WE LOVED IT!!! The main character was Rev. Paul Lintern, who when we talked with later discovered we have a common bond. He was a member of Toastmasters, when Kerry was in charge a few years ago. And, Kerry is his mailman!
This had to be one of our favorite weekends ever!

When we came home, I found several messages from my West Virginia group - they all wanted to make sure we had gotten home safely.

And, as much as I dislike Halloween, I thought I would include a blast from the past...
Aahh! The little Lauritzens...

Now we begin a new week. I hope yours is as good as ours was last week!

Love to y'all
Miss P

Ouch!

Oh, this is has not been a very good week.

It has been beautiful enough. I haven't seen the leaves this brilliant in quite awhile. Their colors still take my breath away, and I'll never get tired of looking at their beauty.

But, I hurt.

Out of nowhere, my entire left jaw began hurting. It hurt no matter what I did, no matter what position I was in. It kept me up through the night. I couldn't get into the dentist until Thursday, and even then I couldn't open it wide enough for him to look inside. It is a bit swollen when looking at it from the outside, but the dentist wondered if it was TMJ. He has referred me to an oral surgeon.

I told Kerry I had the jawbone of an ass. Remember Samson in the Old Testament? (Killed the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass...)

I made it through my Friday activities at the temple. Betty joined Julia Hoffman and me, and she seemed to have a wonderful day.

Saturday I was able to talk well enough to do a genealogy class in a neighboring town. I had to do it, for it had originally been scheduled last year when I was in the hospital. Thank goodness for Jordan - he went through my calendar and my email and contacted lots of people for me.

But Saturday evening, I did something to cause my back to go into a fury. Oh, my goodness! I don't ever remember it hurting like this. I could barely walk, and could barely talk. There was nothing I could do to find relief. This is what will lead me into the dreaded surgery I've been talking about.

I made it through church today, but afterward people were wondering why I was moving so slow when I came down from the organ. It was pretty apparent. I talked with a friend after church that had this same surgery several years ago, and she has never regretted having it. Part of her leg is numb from nerve damage, for she ended up waiting too long. I already have that nerve damage in my feet.

Oh, my.

Later this afternoon, I tried to take Eddie on a little walk. We were doing just fine until we started to go back into the house. His leash broke and snapped back to hit me in the face - right across my cheek and bridge of my nose.

I just want to go to bed and stay there.

But, Kerry and I are proud of Mr. Erik today. He accomplished his goal of finishing a full marathon (26.2 miles) in Columbus today in 3:38. He had wanted to go 3:30, but heck! I'd be glad to get finished at all. I'm telling you, I would end up in the hospital.
Thanks to Melissa for posting this on Facebook! She and Jordan and the boys, as well as Erik's friend Oscar, braved 38 degree weather to cheer him on.

Well, I'm going to try again this week. I want to feel better. I need to feel better. I hurt.

Love to y'all...
Miss P

A Sticky Situation

I have lost my mind.

Instead of grabbing the deodorant, I sprayed my underarm with hairspray. Kerry was talking to me as I was getting dressed, and absent-mindedly I grabbed the wrong can. I didn't even really notice it until I had trouble putting my arm down.

It has been a delightful week here in the Ohio. The color of the trees is splendid - and it takes my breath away each and every year. I will never get tired of the change of seasons, for each one brings its own beauty.

My week began with meeting a brand new cousin. Jean and I met Betty and Fern and Jim at Olive Garden in Sandusky, where a newly found cousin from Draper, UT was staying with Fern. He had stayed once before, and now he and his lovely wife were there. We decided we liked these relatives. We laughed and talked and shared information. I had some pictures for him of some of his ancestral line that he had never seen before.

I stayed home the next day, but Wednesday was a whole different story. Kerry took a few days off, so we joined Betty and went to a Russian Festival that she and I had been to before. When Erik was on his mission in Russia, Betty discovered this festival and off she and I went. I sent pictures to Erik and told him of our adventure. He wrote back and said he was living the Russian Festival. I've included some pictures:
Presentation of the bread and salt.
One of the young dancers in costume. I'm so glad to see them passing their heritage along to the next generation.

This is probably one of the most common dances associated with Russia. Betty and I decided we would both end up in the hospital.
All of their dances tell a story. This was of a young couple who meet while among the shipyards along the Baltic Sea.
Young children learning the art of painting real eggs.
Some of their handiwork. Yes, these are real eggs.
Some of their nesting dolls. We received many of these as gifts from the lovely Russian people Erik introduced us to.

We were able to go to Russia at the end of Erik's mission to tour the area and meet some of the people Erik taught as a missionary. They loved Erik, and expressed their gratitude to us, as his parents, for raising a fine young man such as him. I was touched by the people of Russia - and going to this festival helped me remember just how warmly they had greeted us. Bless their hearts.

After running a few errands on Thursday, we decided against going to the Loudonville Street Fair. A threat of rain had been hanging over us all afternoon. There's no use being out in the raw and the cold.

Friday was a wonderful day at the temple. I love it when Kerry is able to go with me. That only happens once every six weeks - according to his day off.

After a wonderful day at church, we rested before going to a special devotional for temple workers - both past and present. The president and his counselors, as well as former presidents of the temple, always express their gratitude for our service in the temple. It's wonderful to be part of such a wonderful group as this.

Though I love it when Kerry is home, when he goes back to work on Tuesday, I must get back into a routine. Sometimes I let things slide, then have to play catch-up later on. I have a number of things coming up that will involve some travel, so I need to get things in order.

We are excited to go to Columbus on Tuesday to celebrate JJ's birthday - though he now wants to be called Jordan. He's growing up - 5 years old! He's a sweetheart - just like all of the grandkids. In our minds, they can do no wrong.

Enjoy this beautiful week. It's such a great time to be alive.

Decisions, decisions

I spent most of this past week catching up. Since I was gone for a few days the previous week, I'm trying to get things back in order. Not from Kerry - from my own self!

I met with my doctor last week so he could check on my back again. He had given me a shot of cortisone a couple of weeks earlier that helped somewhat - but neither one of us is sure how long it will last. We both know this is going to end up with me having surgery - but I'm trying to put it off as long as I can. He is not one to push - he knows that I'll know when it's time.

I also met with the doctor that did the surgery for my bowel obstruction last year. When he saw me, the first thing he asked was why I was walking funny. I guess I hadn't noticed that I had been. He could tell that I'm favoring one side. He urged me to listen to the doctor who is treating me, for other things can start to be affected while I'm favoring my bad side.

Good grief. I feel like I go around putting out fires all over my body.

I joined Kerry at the temple for his shift this past Thursday. I decided to run some errands after seeing my doctor in Columbus and dropping him off. I also wanted to spend some time in the temple thinking and considering some things I have had on my mind. It's nice to be able to remove myself from the pressures of the world, the phone, the computer, etc. and just commune.

They happened to be short of workers that night, so they asked if I could help them out. Of course!

We got home late, fell into bed, and I got up and drove to Columbus again. It was my day to work. And...I really don't mind. I love the work we do there. I'm probably a better person because of my time spent there.

Our church's General Conference was these past two days, and it was wonderful. When I was a girl, we could only hear a scratchy broadcast over the PA system at the chapel. Now, we can pull it in right over the internet. How wonderful! The speakers were wonderful, and they said the things I needed to hear. Over and over, I was impressed with the emphasis of God's love for us, and His Son voluntarily took upon Himself the sins of all of us. I know these things - but I also need to hear them over and over again. You can see vignettes of the talks at www.lds.org

This week is another very busy week. I thought when we became empty-nesters that our life would be a lot less complicated. In many ways it is. Gone are the days when we were busy all day and busy all evening. But now, it's a different type of busyness. Or maybe it's the fact that it takes us twice as long to do half as much.

I don't know. I just don't know.

I have loved this crisp, colorful Ohio autumn weather. I have made soups, one-pot sausage meals, homemade bread and apple crisp and dressed in blue jeans and sweatshirts every day. It is so beautiful. So, so beautiful. I'm glad I have eyes to see the colors, ears to hear the crunch of leaves, a nose to smell the leaves and wood fires burning, the sense of touch to feel the cool air, and a tongue to taste the harvest. I have no reason to complain. No reason at all.

I've enclosed some goodies to read at the end. Love to y'all...
Miss P

"What we love, determines what we seek; what we seek, determines what we think and do; what we think and do determines who we are and who we will become!" - (Message given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf Saturday morning)

"You make choices every day and almost every hour that keep you walking in the light or moving away toward darkness. Some of the most important choices are about what you set your heart upon". By: Henry B. Eyring, "Walk in the Light&qu...ot;, Ensign, May 2008

"It requires courage to make good choices, even when others around us choose differently. As we make righteous choices day by day in little things, the Lord will strengthen us and help us choose the right during more difficult times". By: W.... Craig Zwick, "We Will Not Yield, We Cannot Yield", Ensign, May 2008Read

READ THIS VERY SLOWLY.... IT'S QUITE ENLIGHTENING!Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible. How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word 'refrigeration' mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television?I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, 'How about going to lunch in a half hour? She would gas up and stammer, 'I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain.' And my personal favorite: 'It's Monday.' She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.. Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Jimmy toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.... We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.. Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of 'I'm going to,' 'I plan on,' and 'Someday, when things are settled down a bit.'When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas.. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious.. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of roller blades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord. My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years.... I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process.. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.. Now.. go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to... not something on your SHOULD DO list.. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you.. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butter fly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask, 'How are you?' Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, 'We'll do it tomorrow.'And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say 'Hi? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift..... Thrown away... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years.. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya’ll are.

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'
You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.
You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'
You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.
You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.
You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.
You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.
You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.
You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.
You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.
If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the same beliefs as those talked about in this email.
God Bless the USA !


Keep the fire burning, redneck friend.
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM .
IN GOD WE TRUST

THINGS YOU DON'T HEAR ANYMORE........ Be sure to refill the ice trays, we're going to have company. Watch for the postman, I want to get this letter to Willie in the mail today . Quit slamming the screen door when you go out ! Be sure and pull the windows down when you leave, it looks like a shower is coming up. Don't forget to wind the clock before you go to bed. Wash your feet before you go to bed, you've been playing outside all day barefooted. Why can't you remember to roll up your britches legs? Getting them caught in the bicycle Chain so many times is tearing them up. You have torn the knees out of that pair of pants so many times there is nothing left to put a patch on. Don't you go outside with your school clothes on! Go comb your hair; it looks like the rats have nested in it all night. Be sure and pour the cream off the top of the milk when you open the new bottle. Take that empty bottle to the store with you so you won't have to pay a deposit on another one. Put a dish towel over the cake so the flies won't get on it. Quit jumping on the floor! I have a cake in the oven and you are going to make it fall if you don't quit! Let me know when the Fuller Brush man comes by, I need to get a few things from him. You boys stay close by, the car may not start and I will need you to help push it off. There's a dollar in my purse, get 5 gallons of gas when you go to town. Open the back door and see if we can get a breeze through here, it is getting hot. You can walk to the store; it won't hurt you to get some exercise. Don't sit too close to the TV. It is hard on your eyes. If you pull that stunt again, I am going to wear you out! Don't lose that button; I'll sew it back on after awhile. Wash under your neck before you come to the table, you have beads of dirt and sweat all under there. Get out from under the sewing machine; pumping it messes up the thread! Be sure and fill the lamps this morning so we don't have to do that tonight in the dark. Here, take this old magazine to the toilet with you when you go, we are almost out of paper out there. Go out to the well and draw a bucket of water so I can wash dishes. Don't turn the radio on now, I want the battery to be up when the Grand Ole Opry comes on. No! I don't have 10 cents for you to go to the show. Do you think money grows on trees? Eat those turnips, they'll make you big and strong like your daddy. That dog is NOT coming in this house! I don't care how cold it is out there, dogs don't stay in the house. Sit still! I'm trying to get your hair cut straight and you keep moving and it is all messed up. Hush your mouth! I don't want to hear words like that! I'll wash your mouth out with soap! It is time for your system to be cleaned out. I am going to give you a dose of castor oil tonight. If you get a spanking in school and I find out about it, you'll get another one when you get home. Quit crossing your eyes! They will get stuck that way! Soak your foot in this pan of kerosene so that bad cut won't get infected. When you take your driving test, don't forget to signal each turn. Left arm straight out the window For a left turn; left arm bent up at the elbow for a right turn; and straight down to the side of the Door when you are going to stop. It's: 'Yes Ma'am!' and 'No Ma'am!' to me, young man, and don't you forget it! Bring back any Memories? Sure did for Me! I think I heard everyone of them.

Footloose!

After nearly a week of wandering around in Kentucky, I have returned home. It's always good to be home, no matter where I've been.

Fern and Betty and I spent our days in libraries finding all sorts of things. I'm telling you, we love this work. There is such a feeling of connection when we run across our ancestors and get in touch with their lives. Some were stellar individuals - some were not so stellar.

It's alright. Some of us aren't so stellar, either.

Most of eastern Kentucky, where a good many of our people are from, is considered Appalachia (not "App-a-lay-sha" - it's "App-a-latcha"). There is a lot of poverty there. It's beautiful in parts - but some parts have become very run down. If my parents had remained there, or in West Virginia (where mom and my sisters were baptized) who knows what our lives would have been like...

There was one thing that really touched our hearts. My dad had always said he went to college in Berea, KY. My attitude was usually, "Yeah, right...", for dad didn't go to school past 6th grade. He spent three years in 4th grade! College? I don't think so.

We went to Berea, KY. It is a beautiful college town. After some things we found out, it became even more beautiful.


Dad did indeed go to college there. Just like Oberlin College here in Ohio, it became one of the first co-educational, non-segregated schools in the country. It was founded in 1855. One could go to school for free - and you still can. With qualifying grades and support from the private sector and alumni, tuition is free. Students work their way through. It is specifically for the students of Appalachia, but one of our waiters was from Shaker Heights (just outside of Cleveland, OH). The demeanor of the students there was one not always seen on campuses.

We went in to the Special Collections and Archives. Dad was enrolled in September 1930 in the Junior High program. It was a way to get caught up on grades 1-9. In April of 1931, his father called him home to work. He went for 1 1/2 semesters and never got to go back. It was planting time in Kentucky. His formal education had come to an end.

Dad had an engineering mind, as did his ancestors before him. It was said of his grandfather that all you had to do was tell him the size house you wanted built. He would figure it out in his head how much lumber was needed, and there would barely be a splinter left over. Dad could design anything. He built me a wheat grinder out of two burr stones, some plywood, and a washing machine motor he found at the dump.

I wish I would have inherited some of it - just a little bit.

We loved the little town, and will always have fond memories of it.
Boone Tavern, where we had many meals. We couldn't believe the price for a room - about the same as a Fairfield Inn - or even a Comfort Suites!

The lobby in Boone Tavern.
A flower arrangement in the Tavern, where they incorporate live flowers into the arrangement.
Me in one of the many lobbies - but forget me. Look at the rug!
Quilt patterns are on the sides of many buildings. We mostly saw them on barns. There is even a quilt trail through several counties.
A quilt hanging in the public library in Berea. It was made in 1885 - just one year before my grandmother was born.
I loved this picture depicting a country dance. It reminded me of a dance I went to in the mountains of Virginia several years ago. I spent the evening dancing with a retarded man. When I got too tired, he picked up a broom and started dancing with it. It was probably a better dance partner.
The streets of downtown Berea. The whole town was this clean.
Dr. Thomas Walker - one of my distant ancestors. He was one of the early explorers who led an expedition west of the Allegheny Mountains in 1750 - about 19 years before Daniel Boone. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Walker_(explorer) Doesn't he look a wee bit Scottish?

Well, I suppose that's enough of a history lesson for this week. You can tell that it's one of my greatest loves - the history of my family and the history of this nation.

I arrived home on Thursday evening to Kerry's long and loving embrace. Oh, it felt so good. I'd had a week of pinto beans with sweet onions, cornbread, salmon patties, buttermilk, biscuits and gravy - all of the food I grew up on. Now it was time to come home and get back to a little bit healthier eating.

But, Betty insisted that I go back into a restaurant and look on the wall. Sure enough, there was a tile that I HAD to get a picture of...
I think Mr. Kerry has improved my character. He's a good, good man.

This month, we wish a happy birthday to:
Spenser - Jean's grandson - Oct 2
JJ - our grandson! - Oct 8
Janet - my good friend from Akron - Oct 14

And a happy anniversary to:
Dave and Joan - Jean's son and d-i-l - Oct 19
Orson & Shirley - Kerry's parents, who were married Oct 30, 1944. Good, good people. I miss them.

And, a few good reads:
"Learning to endure times of disappointment, suffering, and sorrow is part of our on-the-job training. These experiences, while often difficult to bear at the time, are precisely the kinds of experiences that stretch our understanding, build our... character, and increase our compassion for others". By: Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Come What May, and Love It", Ensign, Nov 2008

"Keep the fire of your testimony of the restored gospel and your witness of our Redeemer burning so brightly that our children can warm their hands by the fire of your faith". By: President Boyd K. Packer Ensign, May 2003

Take me home, country roads...

I was born and raised in Ohio, but when I come to Kentucky I feel like I'm coming home.

I left church a bit early today to meet Fern and Jim and Betty, who were waiting in my driveway for me to arrive. It was time for a genealogy trip. Due to illnesses with ALL of us, we have not been able to go on one since almost exactly one year ago. Fern and Betty's husbands have not had the best of health in the past few months, so we bring Jim along and Pete stays at home, where Justin is close by to help when needed.

It's much different than when we used to take 2-3 trips each year. But, things change, and we just have to do the best we can do.

So tonight, Betty and I are in a hotel room in Ashland, KY. We had a good hillbilly dinner - I had salmon patties, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, pinto beans, cornbread, and peach cobbler. The others had various meals of chicken and dumplings or hot roast beef sandwiches with gravy and potatoes. No one knows what low fat dressings or egg beaters are down here.

Years ago, Kerry and I brought our kids down here to my mom's only living brother - my uncle Dick and his wife, Aunt Betty. I could never figure out how she could have a spread on the table within minutes - including things like jello. That always fascinated me, for it takes some time to make jello.

We stayed all night, and breakfast was at 5:00 am. She hollered up the stairs and wondered when we were all going to get up and moving. We came down to a table laden with ham, pork chops, bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, fried apples, juices, etc. Kerry just about fell over, and asked if they ate like this every morning. Uncle Dick, a tobacco farmer, just looked at him and said, "You can't go out and work the farm on a bowl of Cheerios."

A true statement.

This week was good. There was one day I heard from three of my four kids. They usually call late at night when Kerry and I have already lapsed into a coma. Peter had gone into the hospital again last Sunday evening, but is now out. Harmony wanted to know if Kerry and I were going to go to California for a visit anytime soon (we went three years ago - we tend to go every 8 years). Erik came up to Mansfield to return some things he had borrowed and stayed for awhile before going home. It was good to talk with all of them.

Kerry worked at the temple Tuesday night, the first time it was open after being closed for a two-week break. It was very busy that night. I worked Friday and nearly met myself coming and going. I have never seen the temple so busy. Many stakes (like a diocese) are having celebrations commemorating the tenth anniversary of our temple, so we have been extra busy. Extra sessions were added, and there was a feeling of joy and gratitude everywhere - for we are very thankful to have a temple this close to us. We used to have to travel to Washington, DC - an 8-hour trip.

That evening, Kerry and I went to the Bellville Street Fair - an annual event. We LOVE to go, and always run into people we know. We parked and began walking over to the festivities - and the first thing that hit us was the smell of the food. Oh, my! There's no smell like it on earth!!!

The next day found me running errands and going to the farmer's market. Eddie knew something was up when he saw my suitcase come out. He began to get into a snit.

I don't care. He's just a dog, so he'll get over and be jumping for joy when I get home.

Thanks for all of the positive comments you have sent to me for the past few newsletters I have sent. Y'all have really seemed to enjoy the pictures. I did make an error last week, though. I inadvertently put down 2001 for the year Kerry's sister, Gay, passed away. It was actually 2000. I knew it the minute I sent it. And I'm a genealogist!!! Imagine that!

Till next week!
Miss P

"In a world filled with much laboring and striving in parliaments, congresses, agencies, and corporate offices, God's extraordinary work is most often done by ordinary people in the seeming obscurity of a home and family". By: Neal A. ...Maxwell (The Collected Works of Neal A. Maxwell, 1974)

Influences That Erode Faith
Posted: 14 Sep 2009 12:00 AM PDT
“First is doubt. . . . It comes from a lack of confidence in one’s self or abilities. It is inconsistent with our divine identity as children of God. “Doubt leads to discouragement. Discouragement comes from missed expectations. . . . Discouragement leads to distraction, a lack of focus. . . . Distraction leads to a lack of diligence, a reduced commitment to remain true and faithful and to carry on through despite hardship and disappointment. . . . This path ultimately leads to disobedience, which undermines the very basis of faith. So often the result is disbelief, the conscious or unconscious refusal to believe.”
Kevin W. Pearson, “Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 2009, 40
“There is no infirmity, affliction, or adversity that Christ did not feel in Gethsemane. . . .“President Howard W. Hunter said: ‘If our lives and our faith are centered on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel, nothing can ever go permanently wrong. On the other hand, if our lives are not centered on the Savior and his teachings, no other success can ever be permanently right’ (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [1997], 40).”
Rafael E. Pino, “Faith in Adversity,” Ensign, May 2009, 41–42

Back to the Ohio

BACK TO THE OHIO


I’ve been to the big city, and I’ve come back to North Central Ohio.

I’ve been to the fantastic arts and cultural entertainment opportunities in those bigger cities, only to come back and find similar enrichment right back home.

My parents were native Kentuckians who were transplanted to the coal fields of West Virginia. They left their extended family members to look for a place that would afford better employment and opportunities for education. This is where they settled. And, after living in some of those bigger towns, I came back and settled here, too.

This is where my husband and I wanted to raise our family. And, we did.

Raising four children on a single income was not always easy, but it was possible. While my husband worked, I found good ways to stretch our budget. Farmer’s markets, pick-your-own strawberries and apples, raising some vegetables and fruit on our own helped us make ends meet. Opportunities for stretching our imagination and learning existed in library programs and book sales, nature centers and heritage festivals. Watching fireworks and being part of a parade contributed to our patriotism.

On those rare days when all six of us were home together, we drove short distances to see how people who seemed to come from a different era of time live their lives. We breakfasted by a covered bridge in the forest, camped and roasted day-old donuts in our own backyard while looking up and making shapes out of the clouds. At night, we would marvel at the constellations that can only be seen when it’s completely dark – something one misses in the city.

Now those children are gone – mostly off to bigger cities. But, how they enjoy coming home! It has been such a joy to hear them reminisce on those events of their childhood, and how they want the same for their families.

It’s just the two of us now. We live in a different day and age than when we raised our children, and certainly from when we ourselves were children. News comes to us daily of terrorism threats, violent weather, violence between people, and the degrading of moral values. Certainly those calamities have reached into our little part of the world. But, living in a tranquil area helps me to be able to handle bad news – no matter where or who it comes from.

So, North Central Ohio is where I’ll stay. It’s home to me. It’s home to my family. And, when out of state friends come to visit with the challenge to “show me Ohio”, this is where I bring them.

A wise man recently said that “the world sees peace as being without conflict or pain. But, we can have peace amidst the conflict.” Ohio is a place where that is possible, both in our lives and in our own homes.

It all begins with us. And what better place to start than right here, right now, in North Central Ohio?

Treasuring Our Homes and Our Families

Treasuring Our Homes and Our Families
Peggy L. Lauritzen

I love my home and my family.
The world I grew up in doesn’t seem to exist anymore. My father went to work and my mother stayed home. Both were productive and were devoted to providing a place that I could feel safe in. The black and white television shows didn’t need to be monitored by my parents, for they were safe. Ward and June Cleaver took the time to teach their boys good morals, Lucy was still learning lessons from Ricky for not thinking things through, and Barney Fyffe was frantically trying to uphold the law while Sheriff Andy Taylor was calmly teaching the community and his boy, Opie how to get along with each other.
It’s difficult to find those elements today, both on television and in our own lives. But, it can be done if we make our homes and our families our number one priority.
We have a solemn responsibility to love and care for our families. The relationship we enter into as husband and wife is second only to the relationship we have with our God. It requires nourishment. It requires patience. It requires putting that person above every other person on earth. Second to that is the relationship we have with our children. When each of our family members enters into their home, it should be a sanctuary and a refuge against everything else.
Growing up in Mansfield has proven to be a blessing. As a youth, I moved to the bigger city of Akron, and eventually the suburbs of Washington, DC, where I met my husband. They were exciting places to live and offered many artistic and cultural opportunities that enriched our lives. But when our family started to come, we both knew we didn’t want to live in a large city.
We came back to my hometown.
It certainly had its challenges. Early on, we decided that we would take the advice of wise ecclesiastical leaders and do whatever we could to keep mom at home. As we grew into a family of six, it took great effort and working together to keep everyone fed and clothed on a single income. There were even times I longed to go back to work to get some rest!
But, we did it. We took advantage of every single opportunity that we could think of that would enrich our lives. Farmer’s markets and pick-your-own fruits and vegetables helped us make ends meet when our attempts at a garden were not always successful. Opportunities for stretching our imagination and learning existed in library programs and used book sales. Watching fireworks and taking part in parades contributed to our patriotism.
On those rare days when all six of us were home together, we would drive short distances to see how people who seemed to come from a different era of time live their lives. We breakfasted by a covered bridge and roasted day-old donuts on a campfire in the backyard while looking up and making shapes out of the clouds. At night, we would marvel at the constellations that can be seen only when it is completely dark – something that one misses living in the city.
Now, those children are gone – mostly off to bigger cities. But, they love reminiscing about home when we talk. In many ways, they have tried to recreate those same simple times of their youth.
It’s just the two of us now. We are best friends, for we nourished our relationship even while raising our four children. We live in a different day than when we raised our children, and certainly different from the times we were raised in. News comes to us daily of terrorism threats, violent weather, violence between people, and the degrading of moral values. But, living in a tranquil area helps me to be able to handle bad news no matter where or who it comes from. A wise man once said “the world sees peace as being without conflict or pain. But, we can have peace amidst the conflict.”
Our homes can be that place where we have peace. As we practice love, faith, prayer, forgiveness, respect, compassion, service, and wholesome lives, we will find that we can have that haven of peace that others will look to and long to have. Exercise those attributes with own selves first. The feelings of being stressed and frantic will always be in front of us – but knowing we have peace in our homes can readily provide the sanctity we need.
Is this a Pollyanna dream? Perhaps. Can it be done? It can. We have the tools and the resources all around us. If we have the desire, there are many ways to make these things happen.
Consider it.

The last lazy days of Summer

I am milking this time of year for all it's worth! The summer has been one of the prettiest on record, and the fall is promising to be spectacular, as well.

It was my mother's favorite time of year, but she also dreaded seeing it come. It was during this "autumn-into-winter" season that she lost her father and two of her brothers - all within three years. She, herself, succumbed during this time of year. It will be 25 years ago tomorrow.
Mom - don't let her beauty fool you. When I was naughty, one look at me with those eyes made me wither and melt.
Her father, Corb
Her brother, Watt, who looks a lot like Betty's son, PT.
Betty's son, PT. There are times the resemblance is uncanny.
Brother Thearl and Mom

This is also the time of year we have fond remembrances of Kerry's sister, Gay. She died 11 Sep 2001 of Lou Gherig's disease (ALS). She was one of the most talented people I have ever known. The world lost a great artist when she passed on...
Isn't she beautiful? Because of her beautiful name, Kerry will never refer to those that live a homosexual lifestyle by that name, in honor of her...

This is also the time of year when Kerry and I experienced one of our worst nightmares. It was 12 years ago this week that Peter was involved in a head-on collision and nearly lost his life. I look back on that time and remember how if felt like we were living in a dream world. This is what happens to other people - not us. We were told on two different occasions that he would not live.

But, he did. He still had a purpose on this earth. We all do, until we are called home.

I hope I never have to have an experience like that again. The thought of burying one of my children just turns me inside out.

But, I will never forget the family and friends who were there to hold Kerry and I up. Kindnesses were done for us on every turn. There are some deeds that were done for us that leaves me wondering to this day who did them. There were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of prayers offered up in his behalf - and ours.

There were those that helped with Harmony, Jordan and Erik - driving them to and from practices and piano lessons and church activities - trying to keep some sort of normalcy in their lives while Kerry and I were at the hospital round the clock.

Oh, my. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about that time in my life - in our lives.
Peter - about a year before his accident.

I sure received a lot of comments after my post last week. I'm glad you all like my pictures. I've become quite the photographer, for it helps us to see and become involved in what's happening. A couple of you asked what the gas prices were in Canada. Remember - they use the metric system. It ran an average of $1.05/litre - or close to $4 per gallon. Did we need a passport? We already had ours, but friends of our obtained a passport card this past summer on a trip to Niagara Falls and it cost them $25.

I had another return appointment with my doctor this week. The MRI shows a disc bulging forward and a disc bulging backward - both being filled with arthritis and clamping the spinal cord. He gave me a shot of cortisone, which nearly sent me into orbit. After some rubbery legs and knots in my calves and thighs, I do feel a bit better.

Now it's time to nestle down and listen to the katydids, the tree frogs, the coyotes that howl, and my stomach rumbling. I shouldn't be hungry, but I am...

Love to y'all..

MIss P

September morn

Oh, what a wonderful week Mr. Kerry and I have had!

Last Monday morning, after dropping Mr. Eddie off at the doggie spa and resort, Kerry and I headed north. It was somewhat what we did three years ago, but we had a few different tweaks in this trip.

After stopping at a little college town named Alma, we made it all the way to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and stopped. Along the way, we laughed, we talked, we ate, and we thoroughly enjoyed each other. It always brings back memories for us to go along this route, for my parents and I headed up north many, many times.

I also thought of Gene Sampson as we went through Grayling and crossed the Au Sable River. He took Peter (and maybe Jordan?) canoeing down that river with the Scouts several times. So pretty.

Tuesday morning, we crossed the border into Canada. Sault Ste. Marie is known for its locks, and forty years ago my parents and I went on a tour of the locks. I was amazed at how they could change the level of one body of water to match that of another.

Kerry and I had to laugh at all of the moose signs as we meandered our way around Lake Superior. We never saw one, but they must have the same problem with moose that we do with deer.
tled.jpg" SRC="aoladp://MA27629134-0001/Untitled.jpg">
Our first major stop was at a town named Wawa. There really not much to it, but I particularly remember it because of a statue of a huge Canadian goose outside of town. It was still there! When mom and dad and I traveled, this was one place we always stopped and stayed a few days. It was also known for these little bugs called "no-see-ums" - and you really can't see them. They sure can bite, though.
We also thought of Miss Harmony, as we crossed a Harmony River and saw a Harmony Beach.

The scenery all the way around the lake took our breath away. Each turn in the road presented a new scene for us to be grateful for. Lake Superior was as smooth as a mirror.

I have always felt that America could learn a lot from the Canadians in the way they care for their parks, rest areas, campgrounds, etc. They are absolutely impeccable. It was no different on this trip. As we entered into the Thunder Bay (part of Anita Adkins' mission area when she served in Winnipeg), we stopped at a park that I will never forget. Again, it was perfectly clean - but this one had food, fruits, pastries, waters, milk, etc. galore! I thought, "Wow! America really could learn a lesson here!". But, I soon learned that a special commemoration had taken place that morning.

Terry Fox is one of their national heroes. At 18 years of age, he was diagnosed with bone cancer that claimed his right leg. They had to remove it six inches above the knee. While he was hospitalized, he was saddened at the suffering of so many children with cancer that he wanted to do something to raise awareness. Hence, he decided to run across Canada.

He dipped his toe in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Newfoundland and began his run. On one leg. He had gone just over 3300 miles when he became sick. Cancer had invaded his lungs. He died in 1981 at the age of 22. But, his legacy lives on. http://www.terryfox.org/Foundation/

This park was commemorating his legacy, and the statue there was beautiful
This is just a bit north of Thunder Bay.

We stayed the night, then crossed the border the next morning. As much as we love to travel, there is something about coming back home to America. Just past the border crossing, we stopped at a rest area, where the first thing we noticed was complete silence - no traffic, no motors, no music, no media, nothing except for a few chirps. Lake Superior was in the distance. I can't remember a time when there was absolutely no sound.
In Minnesota, we drove into a town named Grand Marais and saw a store named Viking Hus. We had to stop! In honor of Kerry's Danish (and Viking) heritage, we had to stop! We loved this shop and had to pick up a few things. Just down the street, we enjoyed lunch at a lakeside restaurant where whatever you ordered was fresh caught. I had walleye fish and cold slaw (in place of deep-fried "chips") and Kerry had a trout wrap. Both were delicious! I declared it was truly the best fish I had ever eaten!!

I got my fill of lighthouses. I love them so much...

I also love waterfalls. Along the highway, we noticed a sign for the Cross River. We couldn't figure out why a river would be so angry. But, we soon learned that in the mid-1800's, a Catholic priest and some Indian guides weathered a severe storm on the lake, and made it to shore at this spot. In order to show his gratitude to God, he erected a cross - a likeness of which stands today. There were some of the most lovely waterfalls ever...
After spending the night in Steven's Point, we stopped in Wild Rose, WI to visit a place we had stopped at three years ago. Back then, we just happened upon a gas station and sports shop by the name of Lauritzens! We had to stop! Right now, there doesn't seem to be a connection, but that doesn't mean there won't be. We bought a few items, looked over the guns and ammo and fishing tackle and lures and said our good-byes.
We were going to take a car ferry across Lake Michigan, but the cost would have been $218!!!! We just don't do those sorts of things - we're pretty frugal, especially when one can go on a Caribbean cruise for about $399. So, we kept on driving. We enjoyed pasties (pronounced with a short "a"), which is a local meat, potato, onion, carrot and rutabaga filled pie. So good!

For our last night, we camped at Indian Lake, which is outside of Manistique, MI. It was in the same campground my parents and I camped in forty years ago. Oh, how it brought back memories...
Those are little ducks on the morning we left.
We cross the Mackinac Bridge and headed home. It had been a good and relaxing and fun trip. Just before cross into Ohio, we stopped at Cabela's and wandered around through the store. If it sounds like I'm a bit into sports and such, don't be surprised. I always tagged along when my dad went into hardware stores, so I feel right at home in one. The same goes for sporting goods stores. My skills aren't the greatest, but that doesn't mean I don't love walking around in them.

Kerry and I had a lot of catching up to do when we got home. We picked up Eddie, who quickly forgave us for leaving him, went to the farmer's market, got the oil changed, went through the car wash to get the MILLIONS of bugs off our car, went to the store, drove to the other side of town to help out a friend, came home, and prepared lessons for church.

Yeah...it was good.

Till next week.........
Miss P