A bit of Western NY History.

You've probably all heard about it - January 28th, 1977. The great blizzard of '77. Several feet of snow, winds of nearly 70 mph, and wind chills to 60 below. It was quite a sight to look out the front window of our little cape style home and see nothing but, well, snow. It sounded like a wind tunnel as the gusts blew around the corners of our house outside. Scott wasn't even 2 yet but he was fine. He kept pointing to all the snow outside - "thnow, mommy?" Thnow, Scotty. I'm smiling right now, just remembering the little voice and the inquisitive little face as he looked at me - trusting that whatever was going on outside wouldn't be a problem 'cause mommy and daddy and Tiger were home. Tiger, our buff cocker spaniel...I'm still smiling here.
Anyway, lots of good things came out of that week of snowy weather - including many babies. A regular baby boom hit our city in late fall of that year. And - as so often happens when Mother Nature's fury wreaks havoc on a city - we learned a lot about the good will of perfect strangers. It was a time of total dependency on God's goodness - and His ability to provide.
Appropriately, as I type this, the crawlers are going across the bottom of the TV screen, trailing a message about the snow storm we are experiencing tonight. We could get a foot or two - maybe our university will close - not likely, but I can dream. It's not going to be an easy commute in the morning, but I can do this. I've got a good heater in my car, the gas tank is full and all wheel drive - if it takes me extra time, that's ok. I have a high respect for snow on the roads.
I love a good snow storm. The wind is howling and it's time to crawl into bed. It's a one dog night - Lilly will be sleeping between us tonight - just as Tiger did 30 years ago.
Yup - still smiling. God is good.
Blessings my friends.
Sue

Wrinkle Resistant?


I hardly think so!! This morning I had a Church Council meeting and as I was getting ready - hair, makeup, etc., (you know the drill), I noticed that it seems my face is beginning to resemble my mom and grandma. Well, people do tell me that I look like my mom, but there is also another trait showing up.
Wrinkles.
It's ok - I'm not a vain person. BUT, with a major birthday just around the corner, I guess they stood out a little more this morning. I'm not an Oil of Olay type of gal - soap and water and a good foundation is good enough for me. It's funny - we see old movies with women who coated their faces with cream before they went to bed. Must have been tough on the sheets and pillow cases. :) My mom never did that although Grandma did use something on her face that smelled wonderful and she would put little pieces of cloth in her hair to hold the curls in at night and wrapped a scarf around her head. When Grandma would come and stay the night with us, my sisters and I would double over in laughter at the stories she would tell us. The stories were always funny and and we would try to listen intently but it it was hard to take her seriously with the little pieces of white rags in her hair and the cream stuff on her face. Ahhh, as the saying goes, those were the days. Well, not really. I like to think of the here and now as the days we will speak of in the future as "the days."
Now, I am the grandma. And while my grandkids are too young to notice the lines in my face (well, Luke notices them - he's 9), the day is coming when they will probably sit by my side with me in my flannel nightgown as I tell them funny stories about their mommies and daddies. By the time this happens, I may have given in to the sweet smelling cream and the little pieces of white cloth... and I sure do look forward to the giggles of my grandchildren.

Blessings my friends,
Sue

I think I'm in trouble.

Well, tonight I decided that every day after dinner I will tackle a little job of some sort around here - just so that I can continue with my pitching and tossing routine. I am up at 0530 and out the door by 7 to get to work on time by 8 am so the day is long. But a little 30 minute project isn't too bad, right? Oh my gosh - tonight's project was my kitchen desk - my nook, as Ron calls it. It's one of those flat surfaces that holds a LOT! And so tonight, I thought it would be a good idea to tackle the nook. As I said, big trouble.
Are you a "saver" of things? Greeting cards from the kids, envelopes saved because they have return addresses on them and I don't have an organized address book (that's going to change this weekend as the information goes onto pages in the perfectly good address book I have-it's alphabetized too - what a novel idea).
But I am in serious trouble as I realize that over the years I have saved entirely too much. You name it, I saved it. Not good - where the heck am I going to put that stuff in an RV? And I'm not going to part with it.
Yup, I'm in trouble. Maybe I could do a couple of scrapbooks? Or five. Stephen is right - Laurie gets her pack rat traits from me. One time - as Stephen looked in a small cupboard above my "nook" for a set of salt and pepper shakers (I keep my cookbooks in the same cupboard) - he said to me, "remind me never to help you pack or move..." And he was sincere. I didn't take it personally. :)
So, I think I'll go to bed now and not worry about any of this tonight. Hmmm, what should I clean tomorrow? MY COMPUTER DESK!!
I think I'm in trouble.
Blessings my friends,
Sue

TGIF - and the dream lives on...

Well, today is the day most of us look forward to all week. Now I admit that I truly love my job - but more than that, I do love my weekends with Ron. We have a snow storm moving in as we speak (or as I type) - it's early in the evening and Ron has his pjs on already and I am giving into that shortly. This has already been a good night. We spoke to Laurie who is on the other side of the country right now for some training and I am really lonely for her this week - and for Kasey and Stephen too of course. I think I am missing them more because they are not together as a family right now with Laurie out of town. I guess they are used to this - the military life you know. (I will NEVER be used to it). But it made my day to be able to talk to Laurie.
Tomorrow we will go to the RV show and look (yet again) for the Fifth Wheel Trailer that we will be traveling in when I retire. We have been looking for two years now - retirement is still more than two years away, but you can't do these things too quickly. :) Seriously, it is such a nice thing to do - to dream about and make plans for our life together after I retire. The mailman brought my social security statement today, a projected statement of what I will receive if I retire at 62 and although the picture they paint is much better if I waited til I am 66 or 70, I don't want to lose that time with Ron and the kids. It's ok if I leave when I am 62 - it's been our dream for awhile now - dreams are good as long as they are realistic AND that we make sure we are prepared to accept God's plan if it's different than ours.
I hope your weekend is a good one - a safe one if you are out and about in stormy, snowy weather. Build a snowman, do some snow angels, (did you know that you can find detailed instructions online how to make a snow angel?), or enjoy some hot cocoa (don't forget the marshmallows). I will be watching some football on Sunday, that's for sure!
There was a report out this week about how cancer is claiming fewer lives. Right now I can think of at least 7 people I care about who are suffering from cancer...some are not doing well, but God fills us with hope just the same. He does marvelous things and they are resting in His care, trusting in His healing love. And we are trusting in that love as well.
To my friends with loved ones serving, may prayer and trust be your constant companions - and may the Lord watch over your soldiers in whichever branch they serve ~ and wherever their boots may journey.
May you be blessed, my friends.
Sue

At the risk of repeating myself....

I've been home from work the last couple of days - have some sort of a virus going on that I am hoping will be gone by tomorrow so that I can go back to work. The Spring semester started yesterday so I am sure the work is piling up. Saw the dr. yesterday and will see him again today - and I also had an x-ray done yesterday to make sure the problem which put me in the hospital last month hasn't returned. Will get those results today. Since I am not a good patient, I am hoping tomorrow morning will see me back to work.
So, since I had a little extra time on my hands, I went back and read some of my earlier blogs this morning. I lost count of how many times it was mentioned that I am trying to post links on this site. I read the blogger help thingy over and over and have tried to do what it tells me (or at least what I understand it to say), but am not having much luck.
And so to Call Me Grandma, Erik, Cat, Heather, Kbug...and several others, I apologize. You comment on my site, some of you havc Two Star Mom in your links, and yet here I sit with Google news and edit me under my links on the sidebar. EGADS!!
So at the risk of repeating myself, this afternoon when I get home from the Dr.'s office...guess what I will try to do (yet again)? Keep looking for the links...someday they will be there.
God bless and love,
Sue

Military friends.

A lot of what we experience in life can't be understood if we don't actually "walk in the shoes." We can sympathize and support, listen and pray - but we can't truly understand. For all of us who have - or have had - a loved one serving in the military, we know that it can't be truly understood except by another military family. You get upset during a war that your child or loved one is serving in, and you see someone nodding their heads as though they are understanding your anxiety. They try...they really try...but they don't. And sometimes we are told, "well that's their job." A week before Laurie left for basic training, Ron took Laurie canoeing - just a father/daughter outing - to a state park not too far away. It was a time for them to say the stuff dad needed to say to his daughter before she left. They discussed the fact that in the next five years, she quite possibly could be serving in a time of war. She knew that, and was willing to serve despite the dangers. When 9/11 happened - not just the twin towers but especially the Pentagon - we knew that time had come...no longer would Laurie be serving in a time of peace. The day after 9/11 I had an appointment at the eye dr. - an outspoken man with whom I didn't always agree, but I never argued my point with him. We had often discussed the fact that I have a daughter in the military so he knew that at times I was a little lonely for her - and worried sometimes too. What I was NOT prepared for on that day after 9/11 was his reaction to my statement, "this is not a good time to be a military mom." He answered very bluntly, "Why not? It's about time they earn their pay." I could not say a word - could not cry, or react in any way. My shock was too great.
Therefore, I allowed him to examine my eyes, tell me when I should return and let him make all the small talk he wanted to. (I wonder if he noticed that it was a one way conversation?). And I walked out of that office, never to return. I cried all the way to work - finally allowing myself to let his words sink in. And once I got to work and I told a friend what had happened, she did not understand.
She said, "Oh Susie - don't take it so personally." DON'T TAKE IT SO PERSONALLY??? Helloooo!
And it was then that I realized that Ron and I are different from many other parents. Our daughter is in the military and nobody understood how it felt.
A few weeks after that the local newspaper carried a story about a local woman who had started a website for military families. Called www.militarymoms.net, it offers support and encouragement for people who were walking in my shoes. Immediately (and still) I felt a connection to these other military families. Through the years since, so many of my friendships have been a gift of God through that website. We have gained many members - and lost a few as well. But in the loss of the memberships I have not lost friendships - our hearts are still connected because we share a common bond - we love a soldier (or veteran).
For all of you who are in a military family, please know that it is NOT just my daughter and son in law of whom I am proud and for whom I pray. I treasure our connection and wish that we could all meet someday just to discuss our soldiers and this roller coaster ride we've been asked us to share.
Until then, and even if that never happens, know that I value the kindred spirit that we have. And for all of you who read this and are not part of a military family - THANK YOU for your prayers for our loved ones.
We know that God is working - and will answer them all.
It's Sunday and Veronica is here while Tina enjoys some free time. The house is alive with her little voice and her laughter. The closet cleaning can wait for tomorrow.
God bless your week - thanks for stopping by.
Sue

The main topic of the day...

Well, during my morning and evening commute today,
all I heard was the buzz about President Bush speaking tonight.
I heard what the Republicans thought, the Democrats opinion, the talk show host's feelings, the web poll results...etc., etc., etc.
I am one of those people who is weary of the war, but support our troops... and still believe in our President. I am part of the minority.
But I am afraid. Two of our children serve and there doesn't seem to be any direction for this war and while their deployment is not imminent (so they tell me), this mom's heart is tired of worrying. I know many of the soldiers who are in the sand...love them all ~ and their moms as well.
God hears my prayers every single day for our troops - some I can call by name, and the rest He knows...in fact He knows exactly how many hairs are covered by their Kevlar helmets. If we THINK we know the number of men's and women's and children's hearts who are affected by this war...well we could think again, because they are countless. Countless to us...yet God knows each and every one.
And He also knows the heart of our President. Dear God, guide him...give him your wisdom..give him the answers we all need to hear about this war.
We are weary, Lord...and we put all of our trust in you. May our President and all who lead our men and women of the military put their trust in you as well.

It's time, Lord. It's time.

God bless our great nation and those who serve and protect her. And those of us who wait, and pray and listen for His answers.

Cleaning house!!

Well, now that the holidays are over, and I am feeling quite a bit better, and the winter weather is finally moving in, the time is right for pitching and tossing...otherwise known as cleaning house. Because I wasn't feeling well for several weeks, the stuff just kind of kept accumulating and I have a ton of papers and magazines and books that I want to ditch. But I need to check them out first, so tonight I will take one or two groups of these things and sift through them. I will show no mercy - anything that doesn't look important will go. That's what I did when I cleaned my closet in the fall - haven't worn it in a year? TOSS IT!! Of course the real reason behind the project is to get rid of stuff that we can't take with us when I retire in a couple of years and we buy our RV and go traveling for a year or two. I have been told that we are having a garage sale in the spring, the first of many no doubt - everything that isn't needed will be sold by the time we move. Yikes!! Scary thought.
I also need to write a sort of post holiday letter to my friends and family who are out of town cause I didn't get cards mailed this year. Time is going quickly - in another month or so our busy time will be upon us at work and it won't lighten up until at least July. Four or five months of nonstop processing and busy-ness. I thrive on it but it is stressful as heck.
Sounds like we are starting to kick some behind over in the sand - may God protect our men and women. My soldiers are both stateside and our family feels blessed for that - but those who are serving over there are my soldiers too - and they are not forgotten.
May God's peace be with you - and thanks for stopping.
Sue

Home again...

It's always such a wonderful trip when we go to visit Laurie, Stephen and Kasey...and also a very short trip no matter how long we are there. The time passes so quickly and then the trip home seems so long. You know what that's like.
But we really did have a wonderful time - Kasey knew who we were and was happy to see us and we enjoyed him so much. He is so busy and so much fun...and so lovable. Laurie and Stephen had a great New Year's Eve party catered by me....spreads and dips and shrimp, deviled eggs and a cheese and sausage platter. I LOVED doing that - felt like I was "earning my keep" and helping a little bit. We went out for lunch and dinner quite a few times - even breakfast a couple of times. Thankfully I did not gain any weight - managed to burn the calories playing with Kasey and following him up and down the stairs. But all good things must come to an end. Yesterday we needed to be at the airport early since Laurie was also leaving to go to school for her Reserve job. As we turned down the road leading to the airport, Kasey - in his most forlorn little voice - looked at me and said "bye bye?" That wasn't good for this grandma but I kept my act together til we got to the airport and he started crying. Now, it was hard enough to say good bye, but then to see Laurie saying goodbye to Stephen and Kasey...THAT was even harder. Yes, they are military, Laurie and Stephen are used to separations, but it's hard for a 21 month old little boy to understand. So, we got through the goodbyes to Stephen and Kasey and then checked in. Ron and I kept our confirmed tickets but were put on standby for earlier flights - our luggage was tagged likewise so that it would travel with us no matter which flight we ended up on. Right.
After Laurie's flight left, we went to the gate for the flight we were on standby for. In the very last moments of boarding, we were able to get seats...likewise for the earlier connecting flight to Buffalo. We got back a couple of hours early...our luggage did not. Surprise, surprise.
They delivered it this morning. When we opened our suitcases, everything was thrown all over the place. They had inspected it and neglected to put the straps back on the contents inside - everything was all crumpled together and wrinkled. But all in one piece so I guess we are grateful for that. The one thing that upset me more than OUR luggage not arriving was the fact that when I called Stephen to let him know we were home, he told me that LAURIE'S luggage did not arrive with her either. THAT upset me more than anything. They had put her luggage on the flight to the same destination which left after hers did - and it didn't make the connecting flight. Hopefully it got to her last night.
So, after 3 weeks of being out from work due to illness and travel, I will return to the rat race tomorrow. Lots waiting for me I'm sure but it will all get done in a day or two.
While we've been gone, a former President has died and his State funeral viewed by millions (me amongst them) and a former dictator has been executed. I have heard some people find fault with the undeserving (??)expense of President Ford's funeral, others found it terrible that Saddam was put to death on a Muslim holiday. Maybe I can explain my feelings about both men in this manner...I cried with the Ford family - Gerald Ford was a kind and decent man whose gentle and forgiving ways lost him an election....and I cried during Saddam's execution - NOT for him, but for the people who were not given a solitary thought before he killed them. And for the military we have lost during and since his tyranny was toppled.
And of course, a new year has arrived as well. 2006 was - for our family - probably no different than it was for yours. Triumphs. troubles, times of change. But always our cup overflowed with blessings. Praying that yours did as well.
I've missed Scott and Tina and the kids - it was time for us to come home.
But it will be awhile before we can go back to visit Laurie and her family, so for now I'll have to be content with the memories, the pictures, and the sound of a little voice running through a house far away saying "Mam ma !!" (Grandma) and "I ou." (I love you) in Kasey talk. It echoes in my heart as well.
Blessings to you all in 2007 - may it be a year of good health, of much happiness - and of peace.
Sue