Author: 2faithfulsisters

Why have I taken the time to write this little book? My dad’s life is pretty incredible! I wanted to preserve history.

It began simply because I knew that as he was aging his life history would be forgotten. I thought I would sit down with him so I could record a little bit of his story.

As the process began I could see pretty quickly that this was going to be a bigger project than I had first thought.

I loved asking him questions and seeing how his memories would trigger more memories. It made me smile when he’d chuckle and say “I haven’t thought about that in years”. I was making him think and wake up parts of his memories that previously had been forgotten.

These memories are his story but they are also part of my story as well. They have helped create who I am today.

In 1983 the Fort Wayne International Harvester plant was closing. That meant Carl would lose his job. July 15, 1983 was his last day at the Fort Wayne plant. It was just five days past his 50th birthday. Some friends had a birthday party for him but he didn’t feel much like celebrating. He had worked there for 19 years.

Less than a month after he lost his job with Harvester he was hired on at a small factory in New Haven. It was a less than ideal job and he was only there for a couple of weeks. They wanted him to use his own tools which he refused to do so they fired him.

He found another job with a factory that made steering wheels. It was called Sheller Globe. Again he didn’t like it but he needed to provide for his family. He started at $8.00 an hour compared to $12.00 he was making when Harvester closed. This factory worked with melted plastic. He remembers it being really hot inside and he didn’t like working there at all.

While he was at this factory I was getting married in Kansas. He made sure to let them know that he needed to go there for my wedding and they accommodated.

This period of time was pretty hard on Carl. He wasn’t happy yet he knew things were bound to start looking up.

There was another International Harvester plant in Springfield, Ohio. They were calling some Fort Wayne employees that had lost their jobs to see if they were willing to move to Springfield and work there. Carl definitely was willing to do that! At this point in his life it was just him & Donna. Janet and I had moved out and started their own lives.

Their insurance had run out on September 1st. This was a huge issue for them with Donna’s severe diabetes. On September 10th Harvester called and offered him a job at the Springfield plant. His first response to the caller was “Praise the Lord”. They wanted him to start the next day on second shift. He immediately got his car packed up as full as he could get it and drove to Springfield with giddy excitement! He stayed with some good friends the Boyer’s until him and Donna got fully moved. As soon as he clocked in on September 11th his insurance was reinstated. God was so good to him during this period of transition.

After his retirement from International Harvester him & Donna moved to Richmond, Virginia where their oldest daughter Janet lived. They wanted to live closer to one of their girls as they began their years of retirement.

I was able to spend the last couple of days with one of our sweet granddaughters ~ Klara.

We had a grand time hanging out and it made me realize that it’s been a few years since I was seven. I think maybe I could learn some things from her wise young soul. She was full of giggles, silliness and sass. These are some fun things she did that warmed my heart and made me happy!

Holding hands while walking . . .

Holding hands while watching a movie . . .

Skipping along the trail ~ full of happiness . . .

Laughed so hard over nothing in particular . . .

Singing out without being intimidated . . .

Dancing to the music . . .

Swinging into the tree tops . . .

Snuggling at any opportunity . . .

Kisses good night . . .

Saying I love you . . .

These things brought me back to when I was seven. There weren’t to many concerns or worries. Life was carefree, fun and simple.

Needless to say I loved hanging out with her! It made me realize I need to be less worrisome and more free to embrace the simple things in life.

I need to voice my “I love you’s” more often, skip if I feel like it, sing loud, dance to the music, reach out and hold a hand, swing to the tree tops!

Maybe we all should be seven again . . . and then take a nap!

Today is my birthday. I don’t normally take time off from work for this day. However, today was a beautiful sunny day. I’m a sucker when it comes to a warm sunny Spring day and when it’s my birthday I felt the outdoors was calling my name! Needless to say I took this afternoon off!

Leaving work without it being planned almost makes me think I’m doing something naughty. I’ve always been a rules follower. I never would have thought about doing this when I was in high school. Well, I may have thought about it but never acted on it.

I’m a big girl now and I wanted to take off the afternoon so I did! I haven’t regretted a moment of it!

I decided that today was a special occasion and I wanted to celebrate it this afternoon. My husband’s job is always very busy this time of year so it’s hard to make plans due to his crazy schedule.

As we get older our birthdays seem to get lost in the midst of the rest of the days on the calendar. I completely understand this thinking yet it’s still nice to have it remembered.

I spent an hour out on our pond in my new kayak. It was so – much – fun!! I got a little workout and found a fun new game that I invented! Chasing Napping Turtles!

There are a lot of fallen logs on the edges of the pond and there were turtles covering all of them basking in sun on this beautiful sunny day! It was so fascinating to see this. Some of these logs had 12 or 13 of them sunbathing. I tried to count how many I saw but lost track. I’m sure the total number would have been at least 50.

I really wanted to get a picture of this but as soon as I tried approaching them they would quickly dive back into the water. So I continued my little game of trying to sneak up on them. It was a lot of fun and had me laughing out loud and talking to them. I wanted them to know that they were really cute and I just wanted to get a picture of them. Sometimes they would pop their little head out of the water to see if I was still there. Yep I was!

I love nature! I love the sounds and the peacefulness it can bring. It can quiet our minds and bring rest to our tired souls and put things into perspective! Thank you God for the gift of your beautiful world!

Aging is part of life. We’re all getting older with each day. It can weigh us down with all of the things that come with it ~ I know this all to well.

I want to live my life to the fullest! I wanted to take advantage of a beautiful sunny day that just happened to be my birthday ~ so I did!

On your next birthday treat yourself to a skip day ~ you won’t regret it!

‘Twas the night before New Years and all through the house were . . . five dogs (one of them was a puppy!) . . . two six year olds . . . one four year old . . . one nine month old . . . four tired parents . . . one Grammy and one Papa.

Needless to say, we had a packed house! This frazzled Grammy couldn’t find the matching Christmas jammies that were purchased specifically for this weekend. I wasn’t able to sleep well with my mind trying to go through every place in the house that I may have stashed these jammies.

With all of our family here my mind begins to think of memories and expectations. Since I wasn’t able to sleep I decided to get up and do some journaling to process my thoughts. The house was quiet with all the kiddos, dogs and parents still slumbering. All I wanted was a cup of coffee, journal & pen then I was ready to go!

It was 4:30 am when I quietly got out of bed. I thought this was going to be a great way to start my day! We live in an older home and have a few squeaky places in our floors. I was trying to avoid them and preserve this special quiet time that I had began to anticipate with excitement.

As soon as I nestled into my cozy spot I realized that I had woke up a couple of dogs. Ugh! I quietly got up to put them outside and was hoping they would just stay outside and play while I went back to my plan for the morning.

So again, I nestled into my cozy spot with anticipation to have this quiet time that I had longed for. All of a sudden the doorbell rings. Remember this is between 4:30 and 5:00 am!! I thought who in the world would be ringing our doorbell at this hour!! I was alarmed and a little scared when it hit me – the dogs!! Our new puppy Luna had jumped up and was able to ring the doorbell!

My nice little quiet time was over – it never really began. Some of our guest were awake too, but thankfully most of them slept through this crazy early morning. Lon & I decided we had the smartest puppy since she could just ring the doorbell when she was ready to come back inside!

We may have had a packed house full of family and canines but we were all together and that makes me happy!

By the way – I’m writing this two weeks since that weekend and I have yet to find those Christmas jammies!

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.” Matt 7:12

I tried to be quiet and not disturb everyone’s sleep ~ I really did!!

My mom has been gone for a few years now. It seems like after she was gone I realized how much more I loved her and depended on her. I used to think that I was just like my dad because I totally look like him and acted silly and goofy like him. I also thought that my sister was just like our mom because she looked just like her and was quiet and more reserved. However, after she was gone I started to see so many things in my life that were completely my mom. I loved that! It was a connection that I had with her that I hadn’t realized even existed until she was gone. I miss her so much!

She’s the one who taught me all about homemaking. Sewing, crocheting, knitting, embroidery, baking. I guess my creative mind came from her. There were ALWAYS homemade cookies in the house. I really thought all moms did that.

She was able to stay at home to take care of the house and our family. This example is what I followed before my kids went to school. I treasure those years I was able to stay at home with them.

She had been a diabetic since she was 7 years old. That took a toll on her body. The doctors didn’t want her to have any more children after my sister was born but, I came along only 14 short months later. After I was born she was in a coma for 5 days, the doctors didn’t expect her to survive. It was truly through the power of prayer that my mother survived. Along with my dad she was able to raise my sister and I and also live to see 4 grandchildren grow up.

While thinking about the similarities that I share with my mom I have found something that isn’t as fun as other traits. She suffered from depression and anxiety for years. She was a quiet woman and her generation was not accepting of anything negative regarding mental health. I think she was embarrassed to admit how she was feeling and did not seek counseling. In actuality I don’t think she realized she needed help. Her generation would say that she was “down in the dumps”. By the time she went to see a doctor about this, her anxiety was out of control and she was never able to be the person that she had been before.

Fast forward to where I am right now. Depression is a real thing in my life. I recognize it. It comes and goes. I try to be proactive with it when I sense it sneeking up on me. I feel bad when I think about how my mom suffered and was embarrassed and ashamed. I learned that there are so many people in this world who suffer from it. This is not a choice, it’s a mental issue that can be helped. During this season of “happy family gatherings” there are many who are struggling. They are sad and can’t figure out why when they have people around them who love them. Many people can cover it up so we may not see it. Ask caring questions. Sometimes all it takes is someone who loves you and asks “how are you REALLY doing?”. Don’t give up! Seek counsel, there is help for everyone!

I had a dream about my mom the other night. I guess that’s why she’s been on my mind. In my dream she had been gone for awhile. It was just my dad & I. We were getting along, just ok. Something was missing. All of a sudden my mom shows up full of energy and laughing and telling stories. She was a different person. She was mentally and physically healthy. It was so refreshing!! I had NEVER seen my mother with the positive energy flowing through her like this. I think God was reminding me that she’s ok. She’s in heaven where there’s no more suffering, no more tears! I have to work on my mental health to stay mentally healthy. It’s not anything to be embarrassed or ashamed of. It’s just a bump in the road.

“He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 2:4

I’m on vacation as I’m writing this. My 89 year old father lives in Virginia, I’m in NW Kansas, so that involves a long car drive plus a couple of planes to get here.

I’ve been learning that I may be the only Jesus some people may see. I need to represent Him well.

As I was anticipating this trip I was thinking about the possibilities of how I would show Jesus’ love to others. I thought maybe there might be someone in the airport I could purchase a cup of coffee for or maybe I could give some encouragement to a person I was sitting next to on one of my flights. After I arrived in Virginia I realized that there weren’t any magical moments on my travel day that I had thought would happen. Maybe on my return trip . . .

It’s amazing how God puts things into perspective! After I had been here for a couple of days I decided I wanted to see what the coffee shop scene was in Richmond. Thanks to a quick google search & GPS, my dad & I took off with a list of places we were gonna check out.

The first two were a bust! Not sure how old this list from google was but they were both closed – not for the day but, literally closed! (google needs an update). We finally found one – WISK. It had French pastries that were incredibly delicious!

On to the next one . . . Rostovs! I was wanting to get some fresh roasted coffee beans for my son who appreciates the art of a good coffee. So our next stop was a shop that roasts their own beans. Dad & I were having a great time. He’s not a huge coffee fan, but he was a good sport and went along for the ride. Hanging out together and having some good laughs and making memories is what I wanted for our time together. We found a great parking spot and were walking up to the front doors when all of a sudden there was a “bump in the road” for our day . . . or more appropriately a “bump in the sidewalk”

Dad had tripped on an uneven sidewalk and took a pretty nasty fall. It was severe enough that he needed medical attention quickly. I was amazed at how many people jumped into action to help him! He was shook up and bleeding pretty heavily. The owner of the shop took charge and made a little triage station on a patio table in front of her business. A young man walking by stayed with him while I went inside to get more help. Two kind young women who were customers of the shop stayed to help and even transported him to the hospital!

I felt so blessed to see all of these strangers come and help and so many offers from others to see if we needed anything else. The doctor who stitched him up went over and beyond to help us in our situation.

While preparing for this trip I was thinking I was going to be the one to show Jesus’ love to others, but instead He showed His love to me through strangers.

I was encouraged to see so many good and kind people! I have a tendency to not watch the news because of the negativity and hatred in the world. I think people need to know that there are good things happening too!

My dad ended up with a broken nose, broken glasses, stitches on his face and nose, bumps and bruises, ache’s and pains! He made it home the same day. It’s going to take a while to get healed up but he’s ok. We’re so thankful for that!

I went back the next day to thank as many of these kind folks that I could find. They appreciated my thanks but were more concerned with how my Dad was.

Reflecting on these last 24 hours, I am reminded of how blessed we are. There are good things going on around us. We may need to look hard sometimes but, they are there. Good and kind people make me happy!

While we are living our lives, look around you and see how you might be able to lend a hand and help someone.

Be good and kind!

“So we are Christ’s ambassadors . . . .’’ 2 Corinthians 5:20

Today marks the 5th year since you’ve been gone. Life has gone on. Birthdays, anniversaries, babies, graduations, girlfriends, boyfriends, house renovations, big moves. You haven’t been a part of any of it. I miss you.

I turned 60 on my last birthday – you are still 56. You were always my older sister but now I’m older than you ever will be. I thought we would grow old together and take sister trips and do crazy things and laugh till we cried and peed our pants! This makes me smile thinking about it. When you laughed it always made me laugh. Most of the time I couldn’t understand why you thought something was so funny but it was so hilarious to watch you laugh so hard. I miss you.

Life has been lonely since you’ve been gone. I wonder what your life is like in heaven. I wonder if you can see us here. I wonder if you are watching what we’re up to. I wonder if it’s so glorious there that you haven’t thought of us here. I wonder.

Even though it’s been five years it’s still hard for me to believe that you’re gone. I can’t call you and get caught up with each others’ lives. I still have your number in my phone under my favorites. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to remove it. Sometimes I accidentally call you and I think how awesome that would be if you would answer. You were my favorite person to call. I miss you.

We started a little quirky tradition the day you went to heaven. We stopped at a 7-11 and got a slurpy. We didn’t know what to do next. Your fight to save your earthly life was over. It’s so strange how this drink can bring back so many memories. I haven’t missed a year. I love memories. I miss you.

I have survived. At one point I didn’t know if I could. I was stunned. I lost half of my identity. We were always Janet and Barbara or Billy and Bobby. I’ve had to learn how to do life without a sister. It hasn’t been easy. It’s been a long journey that I’m still on and probably will be for awhile yet. Thanks for being my sister. I miss you. I love you Janet Mae!

Winter has a way of keeping us inside. It’s cold and sometimes gloomy. We tend to just stay home more because of the weather and lack of daylight.

This is why I love Spring! To me it’s like the earth is waking up from a very long slumber.

Early this Spring I went out to my special place of solitude – out in the pasture with beautiful rolling hills.

It was a damp and slightly cool evening . . . there wasn’t any wind at all . . . it was perfect to me!

It was refreshing to breath in the fresh air . . . I too was waking up from a very long slumber. The long winter months seemed to have lulled me to sleep as well.

I just stood and listened to all the birds, natures chorus singing their beautiful song! As I listened, it was as if God himself was leading this amazing choir. To me it was perfect harmony.

“The birds nest beside the streams and sing among the branches of the trees.” Psalm 104:12

I was praising God for this amazing melody when I heard a woodpecker . . . it sounded more like a jackhammer in the middle of this beautiful song. It abruptly brought me out of my peaceful state of mind.

How did this blend into the beautiful sound I had been hearing? Why would God make Woodpeckers sound like that?

The Bible has MANY verses that tell us to sing praises to the Lord.

“Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6

Not everyone is blessed with a voice that is easy on the ears. But, God made that voice. We still need to loudly proclaim praises to His holy name! It doesn’t matter if you can carry a tune in a bucket or not . . . it’s a sweet and beautiful sound to the lord!

I love to hear the blend of all voices in song . . . in tune or not so much in tune. We are all glorifying our Father who we love and adore!

If you are blessed with a woodpecker voice . . . sing loud and proud . . . God made you and to His ears it is a perfect melody!

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath! May all my thoughts be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord.” Psalm 104:33-34

Today is Christmas . . . it’s much different than in years past. We celebrated Christmas last weekend with our family . . . it was a weekend filled with fun . . . chaos . . . busyness and lots of love!

Today however, will be filled with quiet . . . contemplation . . . rest and love.

Our home is quiet. Lon’s out hunting and I’ve got a book I’ve been wanting to read waiting on me. This year will be simple. It’s good to have time to think and reflect on why we still celebrate Christmas.

I love all the lights and shimmery things that we see at Christmas. However, this was not how our Savior entered the world. There weren’t any shimmery Christmas lights or fun blowups in peoples yards. There was one bright star . . . that was enough to show the way for the shepherds and wise men to find Jesus and worship him.

It was simple . . . it was planned to be simple. The Jews were expecting their king to come with fanfare. Yet, He entered the world as a tiny baby . . . in a barn . . . in the night.

“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

It was simple . . . yet, oh so powerful! Because of this tiny babe . . . born in a barn . . . we have a savior! He is the light of the world!

“ . . . I am the light of the world” John 9:5

We are surrounded by a dark world . . . darkness is everywhere. Jesus was born to be light in a dark world. There is HOPE! Jesus came to save us . . . when we have Jesus in our hearts we also have light for our broken world.

Let’s be Jesus to our world . . . our little corner . . . our community . . . the people we love and care for!

Let’s show others the light of Jesus . . . people are lost and hurting, we need to show others that there is HOPE!

Let’s be light in the dark . . . be kind to others. We don’t always know what situation they are in. You will be blessed!

After I have spent time reflecting on why we are celebrating Christmas I realized we do so because of a baby born so long ago . . . it was so simple . . . yet . . . so powerful!

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y J E S U S!