Years Ago,

my husband and I spent quite a bit of time in doctor appointments, of course that grew into more frequent over the years.  At the time we were always hopeful his condition would improve.  One day we went to an appointment, and it was one of those times where you were starting to wonder about everything in life, your life. Not that I didn't believe God to be all that is spoken of in His word and we certainly were going through many trails and testing - we had faith that God would sustain us in this life and be there.  My laughter though seemed to have gone on some vacation and humor was becoming few and far between.  To be honest here many years later I have glimmers of what was with old humor that may come in bits and pieces or what I've written down.

The important thing is to keep laughing - God is good and He gave us all a sense of humor we often overlook for whatever reason.   I had to smile when thinking of this as a post though, it didn't come to me from memory I happened to be looking at a little silver notebook and in there was written many things as well as that one day waiting at Jim's doctor's appointment that had a bit of humor - a funny for me.  .  .  .

From my little notebook ~

Monday Oct 5 - 12:45 Jim has a doc appt. 

So, we get to the building the doctor's office is in and just beyond entering - straight ahead is the elevator. And an elderly lady was sitting with a walker in between the entrance and the elevator against the wall. When we got to the elevator she said to us, "the elevator isn't working." I commented I guess they just didn't get it fixed. I'm not sure why I said that, but I recall it wasn't working well the last time we were there. So, we went down the hall and found the stairs. The building had only two floors which was good - so into the doctors we went and sat in the waiting area. As we sat there, I was thinking out loud, "what if the elevator wasn't broke. What if the elderly lady made a mistake or just made it up to see how many would fall for it." Jim looked at me asking, "and why would she do that?" Smiling I said, "Old people get bored too." We had to laugh.  Later on, it was confirmed it was broken. However, I still think if the other had been true I wouldn't have been upset - though a couple flights of stairs were tough for Jim at the time. 

It would have been funny if she did, older people do have a sense of humor also it's just sometimes overlooked.

from memory

This was a good memory and reminder for me. My dad is ninety-two and I get so busy caring for thisand that - and when I'm too busy, I can misconstrue what my dad is saying not realizing his being funny. 

God can and will take burdens that we do put on to much. Jesus himself - Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30 ESV

and as the psalmist tell us of as when the Lord restores Zion in Psalm 126, I would like to believe he'd do the same for us as we give it all to Him and trust Him.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy . .  .  .  "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us: we are glad. Psalm 16:2-3 ESV (in part)

 

Growing Up at Grams 💗

There are times in a person's life as they grow older that memories of childhood can pop up. If this happens to you, I hope they are all blessed - good memories for you. Today was one of those days for me and as to not let the memory pass, I thought I'd take a short break and post.

When my brother and I went to live with gram I think I was close to seven years of age. Though, my brother was much younger he doesn't remember what I do; I remember having some of my best times and most fun memories there. We were in and out, riding bikes and playing with cousins, spending time at the old farmhouse, enjoying just being kids. When you'd make it back into the house you would smell home cooking. I don't know exactly the family favorite for dinner was, but I would venture to say spaghetti and meatballs was at the top of that list. Gram's go to brand seemed to be Contadina and maybe Hunts, my favorite go to can tomatoes is Cento, hands down and Hunts if they're out of the other.  

This all brings me to my childhood memory I had to smile about. When I was working around the house today, I decided to do a bit of rearranging. I had been keeping a "Christmas/Thanksgiving" cactus in a very large Starbucks mug we bought in Cleveland. Would you believe it bloomed again this Spring! Well, I decided that I would take the already plotted cactus out of the mug and put it somewhere else in doing so what the pot was sitting on in the mug was a large can of Cento tomatoes that I had forgotten about. Then I had to laugh as the memory hit me. 

Taken March

Once placed never removed.

We didn't have the amount of toy kids seem to be embellished with today, so we had to be a bit more creative. I loved playing store, and sometimes my grandad (Pap) would be one of my customers. I set up a pretend checkout area by the couch and have products curtesy of the spinning corner cupboard that had all the canned items needed. Everyone seemed to be buying the canned tomatoes, which I figured my customers were making spaghetti and meatballs. I had a lot of fun and when I was done, I must have placed the "leftover" supply in my pretend warehouse behind the couch and went on about my day. Of course, as time went on it was forgotten about and my gram didn't have a clue since she never came into my store. She shopped at Thorofare just across from Kroger's. Ha-ha Well anyway, she planned on making some "skeddy" as my brother would say and of course, she was out of tomatoes and paste. ;) So, it was put off till she went back shopping, though she was certain she previously bought some!

I'm thinking this happened a couple times in which I had overlooked my warehouse and just grabbed new products from the spinning corner cupboard. Eventually she found my warehouse while she moved the couch out to clean. She might have found the cans sooner if she moved the couch, but that house was NEVER dusty or dirty, never! When she did find them, I heard down the hall WHAT! and run to see what it was all about - When I got there, I'm sure Imade a sheepish face and smiled. The moral to the story, if there were one, is shop local~ ha-ha

Though funny I need to be honest, I thought a time or two I had an extra can myself, now I'll just look in flowerpots. :)

I would love to have a photo of where we shopped, I believe I read they had one hundred stores in PA opening up in 1938 and closed they're stores in 1982. We kids loved going there and we always seemed to get ice cream from Isley's mostly Klondike bars for twenty-five cents.

Looking At What's Important ~

Oh where does time go?

Oh I don't know, I don't know.

It is here and then it's gone

As if it wasn't here at all.

We get up and start to move,

Turn around - the day is gone!

Oh the should of's and could of's

That never get done.

We hurry here, we hurry there,

Quick as fast as you can!

Still time disappears ~

A worry to man.

A wise man once said,

Spend time in the WORD

And, He will multiply your time ~

Tucked away in his Bible, 

was a piece of torn envelope;

To which was written, 

Return, O Lord! How long? Have pity on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:13-14 ESV

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:1-2 ESV.  

JMB

So, what is time we so need?

Accept that which we ran out of.

What is so important about it,

That we should spend it wisely ~

For we are but a vapor,

a mist that is here then gone.

Is there such as, "time well spent?"

The older I am I so wish to number my days wisely ~ 

As it's been said, 

What does man gain by all the toil

 at which he toils under the sun? (Ecc. !:3)

As a hopefully wise person has said.  .  .  

Maybe, just the mood I'm in or fighting with allergies this time of the year. But looking at what's important in life and what we all seem to take for granted. Since we do miss loved ones, think on spending valued time wisely recognizing what truly is important, while we are here.

 VB 

Looking ahead ~

Hebrews 11:10