The Ohio Lauritzens!

Here I go again - off to a day of Dutch oven cooking.

I am getting quite proficient at this - and quite strong. These pots and pans are not for the faint of heart. At Lehman's Hardware http://www.lehmans.com/ in a small country town about an hour from here, they were offering all day demonstrations on this type of cooking. Off I went.

There were demonstrators from all over the country - even from Seattle! I stopped at every tent and learned something new at each one. I also grazed my way through the event, sampling beans, cornbread, chicken wings, kielbasa (sausage), pork loin, a breakfast bake, macaroni and cheese, peach cobbler, chocolate cake, spice cake, homemade biscuits - oh, it goes on and on...

This week has also been a painful week. A friend in our ward died of a brain hemorrhage a week ago, and I played for his memorial service. He was only 43 years old. In just a week and a half's time, his wife had to make the decision to remove life support, prepare for a funeral, pack her belongings and go to Virginia to live with her daughter.

Another member of our church, a bishop from the Cincinnati area, suffered a heart attack while riding his motorcycle and died. He was 53 - my age. His wife was at the temple on Friday.

At any given moment, it could be one of us.

And now, Mr. Peter is not feeling very well. I have been on the phone with him several times since just last evening, and we will probably be leaving in the coming days to bring him home. Right now, he is on his way to the hospital.
Oh, my. Sometimes life deals us some real blows. But, pain is part of life, and if we ask for strength, we will receive it in our darkest hours.

This weekend is Memorial Day - a special day to remember those that have passed on - particularly those in the military. As a genealogist, I have discovered many, MANY soldiers that fought and died for our freedoms. Clear back into the Civil War, the War of 1812, the Revolution, and even the French and Indian War, I have ancestors that risked what they had to make this country a better one for all of us. You have then, too!

But, even in recent times, we must honor our military family members that joined up, signed up, and were ready to give their all. Just in Kerry's family alone, his brothers Bill, Steven, Christopher and Kelly all have served or are serving. His sister, Charm, also served. We salute them all.

Here are some thoughts to help me reflect:

My Dad, Chester, whose birthday is today, served at Pearl Harbor while my mother stayed back home in West Virginia with three young girls - my sisters.
Kerry's dad, Orson, served in the Pacific. He and his young bride were together only about a week during their first year of marriage. His mom, Shirley, was a "Rosie the Riveter".
Harmony and Jordan were enlisted just a few months apart from each other.
Erik served, as well.
Bless all their good hearts!

Now begins another week, some of which we are unsure of. We may be making a trip to Florida sooner rather than later. We would all appreciate prayers being offered in our behalf.

Love to y'all...
Miss P