It was a hard day. Emotionally draining. Big time.
As a speech-language pathologist, I am used to advocating for my clients. I like educating others regarding the client's disability. It is rewarding work. I especially enjoy working with family members in improving the quality of life for the client and family.
One of my daughters has a neurologic disability, perhaps you have heard of it, ADHD. So many people think they understand it or that it is not a big deal. It is. It makes life hard. If you want to learn more about ADHD, visit this website:
http://www.additudemag.com/adhd/article/784.html
Today, I had to advocate for my own child. It was hard. Really hard. It wasn't hard because I didn't know how. It was hard because it was MY child and it was so emotional. I was so emotional.
God worked many blessings though. I am thankful for that.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A special, extra large helping of thankfulness!
I am thankful for good teachers, teacher's aids, lunchroom ladies, and therapists that treat children. What an amazing job they do...loving and bettering our children while they target learning new skills and quality character.
We all have someone who made a big difference in our lives when we were young. Think about it, was it someone who worked at your school?
Mine was. Mrs. Green from Oak Grove Elementary. She was my fourth grade teacher. What a lady! I was taught the traditional academics from her, however, I was also taught about strong character, working hard at a job you love, and finding joy in children.
I also had a wonderful school based councilor. After the death of a great grandparent, I went to talk to her. Later, when my parents divorced, she was there again to help me cope with the news and adjustments. Mrs. Jordan was wonderful.
Who are you thankful for that touch your life when you were a child?
We all have someone who made a big difference in our lives when we were young. Think about it, was it someone who worked at your school?
Mine was. Mrs. Green from Oak Grove Elementary. She was my fourth grade teacher. What a lady! I was taught the traditional academics from her, however, I was also taught about strong character, working hard at a job you love, and finding joy in children.
I also had a wonderful school based councilor. After the death of a great grandparent, I went to talk to her. Later, when my parents divorced, she was there again to help me cope with the news and adjustments. Mrs. Jordan was wonderful.
Who are you thankful for that touch your life when you were a child?
Monday, May 27, 2013
Thanks To A Man I Never Knew
I never knew the man I am writing about today. He change the course of my future long before I was born. It wasn't until I was an adult that I learned about this man.
Carol Poovey. He was my grandmother Elieen's first love. Sometime just before or after the start of World War II, my grandmother married Mr. Poovey. They had a child together, a daughter I believe. He was sent overseas. Before the end of the war, my grandmother had lost both her husband and her child.
My grandmother always had a certain sadness about her. I didn't understand why as a child. After the war, my grandmother remarried and had two more children. She had another daughter, my aunt, and a son, my father. For some reason, my grandfather would not allow my grandmother to talk about neither her first husband, nor her first child.
She had to bear an unimaginable sadness for her whole adult life. Missed birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and life events never to be lived. However, my grandmother did keep all the treasures from her life lived prior to my grandfather. She kept love letters and tokens of time spent together.
I am thankful that Carol Poovey loved my grandmother, that he gave her such happiness during their short time together.
Carol Poovey. He was my grandmother Elieen's first love. Sometime just before or after the start of World War II, my grandmother married Mr. Poovey. They had a child together, a daughter I believe. He was sent overseas. Before the end of the war, my grandmother had lost both her husband and her child.
My grandmother always had a certain sadness about her. I didn't understand why as a child. After the war, my grandmother remarried and had two more children. She had another daughter, my aunt, and a son, my father. For some reason, my grandfather would not allow my grandmother to talk about neither her first husband, nor her first child.
She had to bear an unimaginable sadness for her whole adult life. Missed birthdays, wedding anniversaries, and life events never to be lived. However, my grandmother did keep all the treasures from her life lived prior to my grandfather. She kept love letters and tokens of time spent together.
I am thankful that Carol Poovey loved my grandmother, that he gave her such happiness during their short time together.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Sanks for the memories...
As I have written before, I worked at my parent's pharmacy while growing up. It was in a small community. I learned so much working there. I had the pleasure of forming great relationships. One relationship was with a customer named Miss Annie Mae.
Up until I started driving and making deliveries to customers at their homes, I worked the register. Miss Annie Mae was older and didn't drive. A family member would bring her in several times a month to pick up prescriptions or over-the-counter items.
Once I started driving, I would make deliveries to Miss Annie Mae's home. It was small and humble, and covered in the same type of asphalt shingles that my grandparents' home was covered in. Miss Annie Mae was a widow. At least one of her grown children lived close by to help care for her.
My Pop (who was the pharmacist and my step-father) remembered a time when Miss Annie Mae would bring him homemade treats. Her dinner rolls, he said, were some of the best he had ever eaten.
She was a quiet woman of few words, however, she had a slight speech impairment. So when she did speak, you had to pay close attention to her words. I recall her saying "Otay, honey" a lot. During her twilight years, I made frequent deliveries to her as her health declined. We had a lovely relationship. I especially remember how precious it was for her to show me her recent clothing purchases. Dresses for a grandchild's wedding or for Sunday church were her favorites to have me oh and ahh over.
I was just a teen but knew, thanks to my mother, how important some attention to those who spent most of their time alone was. Miss Annie Mae would always give me candy, peppermints, butterscotch, or hard strawberry candies. I learned quickly to politely accept it and tell her I would eat it later after nearly losing a molar to an old and overly chewy piece of candy once.
Sometimes Miss Annie Mae would want to discuss current events or watch T.V. together. If I knew I could spare the time, I would try and visit with her for a spell. She occasionally would ask me to do a small chore, life fetch the mail or empty the trash for her.
My Pop, being one of the best business owners at customer service, once agreed to send me to Miss Annie Mae's home to relight the pilot light on her stove/oven. I was very concerned I might blow up her house if I did something wrong, so I asked for detailed instructions from Pop.
I was greeted with an enthusiastic "Hay-whoa Honey" from Miss Annie Mae. She walked me into her kitchen and gave me a box of matches. I had brought a lighter from the store and had to carefully consider the best tool to use. I settled on the lighter.
I didn't realize until I was down on all fours on the floor that Miss Annie Mae's floor was dirty and greasy. I felt the grease soak though the knees of my pants as I maneuvered into position. I successfully got the pilot light relighted. However, I was in a predicament. I couldn't get off the floor. I was a bit stuck in the grease! Trying not to make a big deal about it, I squirmed myself off the floor.
Sweet Miss Annie Mae was so thankful. I got a few extra candies that day!
What a kind woman she was. I am so thankful for knowing her.
Up until I started driving and making deliveries to customers at their homes, I worked the register. Miss Annie Mae was older and didn't drive. A family member would bring her in several times a month to pick up prescriptions or over-the-counter items.
Once I started driving, I would make deliveries to Miss Annie Mae's home. It was small and humble, and covered in the same type of asphalt shingles that my grandparents' home was covered in. Miss Annie Mae was a widow. At least one of her grown children lived close by to help care for her.
My Pop (who was the pharmacist and my step-father) remembered a time when Miss Annie Mae would bring him homemade treats. Her dinner rolls, he said, were some of the best he had ever eaten.
She was a quiet woman of few words, however, she had a slight speech impairment. So when she did speak, you had to pay close attention to her words. I recall her saying "Otay, honey" a lot. During her twilight years, I made frequent deliveries to her as her health declined. We had a lovely relationship. I especially remember how precious it was for her to show me her recent clothing purchases. Dresses for a grandchild's wedding or for Sunday church were her favorites to have me oh and ahh over.
I was just a teen but knew, thanks to my mother, how important some attention to those who spent most of their time alone was. Miss Annie Mae would always give me candy, peppermints, butterscotch, or hard strawberry candies. I learned quickly to politely accept it and tell her I would eat it later after nearly losing a molar to an old and overly chewy piece of candy once.
Sometimes Miss Annie Mae would want to discuss current events or watch T.V. together. If I knew I could spare the time, I would try and visit with her for a spell. She occasionally would ask me to do a small chore, life fetch the mail or empty the trash for her.
My Pop, being one of the best business owners at customer service, once agreed to send me to Miss Annie Mae's home to relight the pilot light on her stove/oven. I was very concerned I might blow up her house if I did something wrong, so I asked for detailed instructions from Pop.
I was greeted with an enthusiastic "Hay-whoa Honey" from Miss Annie Mae. She walked me into her kitchen and gave me a box of matches. I had brought a lighter from the store and had to carefully consider the best tool to use. I settled on the lighter.
I didn't realize until I was down on all fours on the floor that Miss Annie Mae's floor was dirty and greasy. I felt the grease soak though the knees of my pants as I maneuvered into position. I successfully got the pilot light relighted. However, I was in a predicament. I couldn't get off the floor. I was a bit stuck in the grease! Trying not to make a big deal about it, I squirmed myself off the floor.
Sweet Miss Annie Mae was so thankful. I got a few extra candies that day!
What a kind woman she was. I am so thankful for knowing her.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Give me a S, Give me an A, Give me a N, Give me a K, Give me another S...what's that spell?
Have you noticed how stingy folks are with saying "thank you?"
People are sometimes taken off guard when you thank them. If you have ever worked a retail or food service job, you know how nice it is to be told "thank you." I suppose regardless of the type of job you do, it is nice to be told "thanks."
Acknowledgement for work done, service provided, or effort made is rewarding. So, please do humanity a favor, and tell someone "thank you."
People are sometimes taken off guard when you thank them. If you have ever worked a retail or food service job, you know how nice it is to be told "thank you." I suppose regardless of the type of job you do, it is nice to be told "thanks."
Acknowledgement for work done, service provided, or effort made is rewarding. So, please do humanity a favor, and tell someone "thank you."
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Sanks....I think.
You know when something "bad" happens to you and you are left confused about it. You may wonder why this thing happened to you or its purpose. You may have well intentioned people giving you advise or suggestions regarding the thing. By my nature, quite honestly, I am nosey. I am one who likes to deconstruct and figure out root causes. I also like my ducks in a row.
In our society, we like knowing EVERYTHING about everything. We have such an immense amount of information at our fingertips. I love searching the internet to find out more about various subjects. I love talking to others about what's going on. I love watching television to get the inside story.
But, I think that there is a dark side to that. Like I need to be asking myself who am I that I should know all this information?! Sometimes, not knowing the why is okay. You are protected from knowing more than you should. You are shielded from ugliness. You are free to form your own opinion. You don't take on responsibility that isn't yours to begin with.
When my husband and I were first married, the Lord blessed us with a whopper of a challenge. I am talkin' about a huge, hard, and painful obstacle. Seriously. It was more than I could wrap my head around. I came to understand about "the peace that passes understanding."
I really, really, really wanted to know the why. I prayed over and over for the why. I remember at one point, literally, laying on the kitchen floor crying and praying. I asked why over and over again. Why, Lord, why? At that moment, I remembered that I could ask the Holy Spirit to pray on my behalf, to pray for me when my words failed. That Holy Spirit can really pray, too. Wiser than I could ever be, the Holy Spirit must have prayed for something that I could have never asked for on my own. God told me to rest in Him, to know that He had our best interest in mind and He was working all the details out.
God's answer irked me. Big time. I could not believe it. I knew I should be thankful for this. But I really wasn't. I thought I needed to know the why and all its details. Come on God. Really? Don't you know that this is a very serious situation? Don't you know we are hanging on by a frail thread? Don't you know how hard it is to have peace right now?
I wonder if God ever wants to answer us in a Valley Girl voice? "So, like, ya. I tooooootally know what you mean. Like, peace is, like, so hard to have."
Of course He knows. Like, duh.
So, I began a tough journey. I was to really rely on God for peace and not ask why. I could never fully tell you what a honor and blessing this situation turned out to be. In not being worried about the why, God worked out some really awesome things. Even 13 years after the fact, I am still blessed. God did reveal some of the why. But not all of it. That's okay. Know why? Because it was never my business in the first place.
In our society, we like knowing EVERYTHING about everything. We have such an immense amount of information at our fingertips. I love searching the internet to find out more about various subjects. I love talking to others about what's going on. I love watching television to get the inside story.
But, I think that there is a dark side to that. Like I need to be asking myself who am I that I should know all this information?! Sometimes, not knowing the why is okay. You are protected from knowing more than you should. You are shielded from ugliness. You are free to form your own opinion. You don't take on responsibility that isn't yours to begin with.
When my husband and I were first married, the Lord blessed us with a whopper of a challenge. I am talkin' about a huge, hard, and painful obstacle. Seriously. It was more than I could wrap my head around. I came to understand about "the peace that passes understanding."
I really, really, really wanted to know the why. I prayed over and over for the why. I remember at one point, literally, laying on the kitchen floor crying and praying. I asked why over and over again. Why, Lord, why? At that moment, I remembered that I could ask the Holy Spirit to pray on my behalf, to pray for me when my words failed. That Holy Spirit can really pray, too. Wiser than I could ever be, the Holy Spirit must have prayed for something that I could have never asked for on my own. God told me to rest in Him, to know that He had our best interest in mind and He was working all the details out.
God's answer irked me. Big time. I could not believe it. I knew I should be thankful for this. But I really wasn't. I thought I needed to know the why and all its details. Come on God. Really? Don't you know that this is a very serious situation? Don't you know we are hanging on by a frail thread? Don't you know how hard it is to have peace right now?
I wonder if God ever wants to answer us in a Valley Girl voice? "So, like, ya. I tooooootally know what you mean. Like, peace is, like, so hard to have."
Of course He knows. Like, duh.
So, I began a tough journey. I was to really rely on God for peace and not ask why. I could never fully tell you what a honor and blessing this situation turned out to be. In not being worried about the why, God worked out some really awesome things. Even 13 years after the fact, I am still blessed. God did reveal some of the why. But not all of it. That's okay. Know why? Because it was never my business in the first place.
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Sanks from the bottom of my heart
5/22/13
Okay, so this may be a weird thing to be grateful for, however, I am grateful nonetheless. I am grateful for pain. Say what?!
You read correctly. I am grateful for pain. Let me tell you a somewhat long story:
As a child I was plagued with headaches. I remember being put to bed with them. During the summer, my momma would ask me to wear a hat, trying to keep the heat off my head, I guess. I remember taking medicine for headaches. I recall telling my elementary school teachers that I had a headache. It was the pits.
As I aged, I still had terrible headaches. When the hormones started shifting during puberty, the headaches got worse. The family doctor I saw remarked that I was immature and couldn't handle the stress of high school and then college. What a fool!
During my senior year in college, I finally saw a specialist who diagnosed me with something I had never heard before: fibromyalgia. What the what?!
You may be familiar with this condition. If you are not, you can check out this site to learn more:
http://www.fibrocenter.com
It was a shocker. My new doctor said I was quite young to be diagnosed with it but he was certain that was a correct diagnosis. As he did a physical exam, he walked to a headache/pain chart and pointed to EIGHT different headaches that he suspected I constantly had. Holy cow. He got my attention then.
So now it is 15 plus years later and I want to testify what a blessing pain has been to me. Now for some of you naysayers, you may not be able to fully accept what you are about to read. My comment for you is this-GET OVER IT. Since there is no other way to say it, I just had to be blunt.
In David Letterman fashion, here are the top ten reasons pain has been a blessing:
10. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff.
9. The kindness of others does not go unnoticed, especially on a painful day.
8. My perspective of others is greatly influenced for the better.
7. I have a great excuse for taking a LOOOOOOOONG hot shower daily.
6. I know what I am truly made of.
5. Bad days make good days even better.
4. I don't take exercising for granted.
3. I know that "fake it until you make it" really has some truth behind it.
2. Knowing that my circumstance isn't the fault of others helps me deal with everyday with grace.
1. Being in pain has drawn me closer to God.
You know, it is all about the perspective. If you don't agree, maybe you need a new one.
Today, pain is good.
Okay, so this may be a weird thing to be grateful for, however, I am grateful nonetheless. I am grateful for pain. Say what?!
You read correctly. I am grateful for pain. Let me tell you a somewhat long story:
As a child I was plagued with headaches. I remember being put to bed with them. During the summer, my momma would ask me to wear a hat, trying to keep the heat off my head, I guess. I remember taking medicine for headaches. I recall telling my elementary school teachers that I had a headache. It was the pits.
As I aged, I still had terrible headaches. When the hormones started shifting during puberty, the headaches got worse. The family doctor I saw remarked that I was immature and couldn't handle the stress of high school and then college. What a fool!
During my senior year in college, I finally saw a specialist who diagnosed me with something I had never heard before: fibromyalgia. What the what?!
You may be familiar with this condition. If you are not, you can check out this site to learn more:
http://www.fibrocenter.com
It was a shocker. My new doctor said I was quite young to be diagnosed with it but he was certain that was a correct diagnosis. As he did a physical exam, he walked to a headache/pain chart and pointed to EIGHT different headaches that he suspected I constantly had. Holy cow. He got my attention then.
So now it is 15 plus years later and I want to testify what a blessing pain has been to me. Now for some of you naysayers, you may not be able to fully accept what you are about to read. My comment for you is this-GET OVER IT. Since there is no other way to say it, I just had to be blunt.
In David Letterman fashion, here are the top ten reasons pain has been a blessing:
10. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff.
9. The kindness of others does not go unnoticed, especially on a painful day.
8. My perspective of others is greatly influenced for the better.
7. I have a great excuse for taking a LOOOOOOOONG hot shower daily.
6. I know what I am truly made of.
5. Bad days make good days even better.
4. I don't take exercising for granted.
3. I know that "fake it until you make it" really has some truth behind it.
2. Knowing that my circumstance isn't the fault of others helps me deal with everyday with grace.
1. Being in pain has drawn me closer to God.
You know, it is all about the perspective. If you don't agree, maybe you need a new one.
Today, pain is good.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
No, no, no...sank you.
5/21/13
I am grateful today for laughter. Don't you just love a good laugh? I am blessed to work with children. Kids are always doing or saying something that can make me laugh. My co-workers are fun to work along side day after day. We are constantly looking for some silly or outrageous way to laugh.
My family likes to laugh too. Both of my daughters are funny girls. One is just a clown, while the other has great wit. They are so pleased to entertain my husband and me.
I really do think laughter is the best medicine. It can ease a tense situation, provide prospective, and generate warm feelings. It is what helps give people humanity. Laughter is universal, just like the common sounds just when laughing. People like laughing when they are together. Often, laughter is about social relationships rather than events meant to be comical. Laughter is natural.
Today, I am grateful for the comedy of life and the laughter that fills it.
5/21/13
I am grateful today for laughter. Don't you just love a good laugh? I am blessed to work with children. Kids are always doing or saying something that can make me laugh. My co-workers are fun to work along side day after day. We are constantly looking for some silly or outrageous way to laugh.
My family likes to laugh too. Both of my daughters are funny girls. One is just a clown, while the other has great wit. They are so pleased to entertain my husband and me.
I really do think laughter is the best medicine. It can ease a tense situation, provide prospective, and generate warm feelings. It is what helps give people humanity. Laughter is universal, just like the common sounds just when laughing. People like laughing when they are together. Often, laughter is about social relationships rather than events meant to be comical. Laughter is natural.
Today, I am grateful for the comedy of life and the laughter that fills it.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Sanks for Today
5/20/13
I am grateful for a child's prayer. Both of my girls are believers in prayer. We pray often, sometimes together and sometimes alone. They both recognize the need to lift up our needs to God and thank Him for blessings.
Today I was driving my oldest to her gymnastics class. I told her about the severe weather in a neighboring state and how many people had been affected. She knew those folks needed prayer. I watched out of the corner of my eye as she folded her hand, bowed her head, and prayed silently for people she doesn't know.
This reminds me of two other special times my daughters prayed on behalf of others. Over the Christmas break this year, my youngest daughter had a classmate whose father unexpectedly passed away. She didn't know the details, but her heart was broken for her friend. She asked for the two of us to pray for her classmate and her family. After we finished praying, my daughter told me she knew that what we had just done was important.
Several years ago, my oldest daughter and I were traveling to school. She was attending the preschool at my place of employment. As we drove through a run-down neighborhood to get to the interstate, we passed a home that had been damaged in a fire. She had many questions about what happens to a family when their house is destroyed in a fire. I tried to answer her questions as best I could given her preschool age. She asked if we could pray for the family.
Some time later that year, she brought home a class project. I think they had studied about community helpers. She had to fill in these blanks: If I were a ___________ I would ______________. My sweet girl had her teacher's help to write: builder and make a new house for the one lost in the fire.
Children can teach us a lot. Today, I am grateful for a child's prayer.
5/20/13
I am grateful for a child's prayer. Both of my girls are believers in prayer. We pray often, sometimes together and sometimes alone. They both recognize the need to lift up our needs to God and thank Him for blessings.
Today I was driving my oldest to her gymnastics class. I told her about the severe weather in a neighboring state and how many people had been affected. She knew those folks needed prayer. I watched out of the corner of my eye as she folded her hand, bowed her head, and prayed silently for people she doesn't know.
This reminds me of two other special times my daughters prayed on behalf of others. Over the Christmas break this year, my youngest daughter had a classmate whose father unexpectedly passed away. She didn't know the details, but her heart was broken for her friend. She asked for the two of us to pray for her classmate and her family. After we finished praying, my daughter told me she knew that what we had just done was important.
Several years ago, my oldest daughter and I were traveling to school. She was attending the preschool at my place of employment. As we drove through a run-down neighborhood to get to the interstate, we passed a home that had been damaged in a fire. She had many questions about what happens to a family when their house is destroyed in a fire. I tried to answer her questions as best I could given her preschool age. She asked if we could pray for the family.
Some time later that year, she brought home a class project. I think they had studied about community helpers. She had to fill in these blanks: If I were a ___________ I would ______________. My sweet girl had her teacher's help to write: builder and make a new house for the one lost in the fire.
Children can teach us a lot. Today, I am grateful for a child's prayer.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sanks A Lot
I am a worker. I was raised working my parents' small pharmacy growing up. My momma taught me the value of good manners, especially in a retail business. Learning to say "thank you" was not a choice. When my oldest daughter was learning to talk, her first words were "tan to," for thank you. As her articulation skills improved it became "sanks."
My daughter is now in elementary school. But, my husband and I still say "sanks." I makes us happy. He even had a co-worker who picked up saying it!
Writing a blog is something I have wanted to do for some time now. I didn't know what my blog would be about. Even as I registered to start the blog site up, I wasn't sure of its subject matter. I am now. I want to write about living a life filled with "sanks." Life with gratitude.
So, until I get my wits about me regarding writing, I think I will write a daily note about something I am grateful for.
5/19/13
I am grateful for chubby baby legs. I teach the babies in Sunday school at church with a sweet friend, Mandy. We love babies. Especially fat ones. The ones with fat rolls on fat rolls. The ones who are so chubby they have fat rolls on their writs. You know the ones.
One chubby baby we have has the squishiest legs you've ever seen. So sweet. I just love squeezing those fat tights.
My grandma, Ethel, had strangely strong hands. She loved babies too. Her favorite thing was squeezing a fat baby's tights to tickle the unsuspecting child. She'd say "horsey bites an apple." So I do the same.
My husband swears I have the most random thought process ever. Fat chubby legs remind me of "horsey bites an apple" which makes me think of Grandma Ethel.
For that I am grateful for chubby baby legs.
My daughter is now in elementary school. But, my husband and I still say "sanks." I makes us happy. He even had a co-worker who picked up saying it!
Writing a blog is something I have wanted to do for some time now. I didn't know what my blog would be about. Even as I registered to start the blog site up, I wasn't sure of its subject matter. I am now. I want to write about living a life filled with "sanks." Life with gratitude.
So, until I get my wits about me regarding writing, I think I will write a daily note about something I am grateful for.
5/19/13
I am grateful for chubby baby legs. I teach the babies in Sunday school at church with a sweet friend, Mandy. We love babies. Especially fat ones. The ones with fat rolls on fat rolls. The ones who are so chubby they have fat rolls on their writs. You know the ones.
One chubby baby we have has the squishiest legs you've ever seen. So sweet. I just love squeezing those fat tights.
My grandma, Ethel, had strangely strong hands. She loved babies too. Her favorite thing was squeezing a fat baby's tights to tickle the unsuspecting child. She'd say "horsey bites an apple." So I do the same.
My husband swears I have the most random thought process ever. Fat chubby legs remind me of "horsey bites an apple" which makes me think of Grandma Ethel.
For that I am grateful for chubby baby legs.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)