Monthly Archives: November 2015
What a wonderful Gift to Receive
December 1st is the big day. The day to help my brother . I posted last evening but now have to give you the proper address .
Https:// www.crowdrise.com/givingtuesdayformsa/fundraiser /terry shepherd
Thanks dear friends
Terry Shepherd
Remember My Brother , Al Miller?
December 1st is a huge day, not only for me, but for many who are suffering from a rare illness called MSA , and let’s not forget my brother who passed away last year from thi111s ugly, terminal illness.
On Tuesday I’m asking each of you to donate money of the value of eating out for one lunch. There are foundations who have committed to match our donations up to $150,000. ♡. Now in my eyes that is a lot of money.
Only December 1st will our donations be matched . Please help in honor and memory of my dear brother , Alvin Miller, who suffered terribly from this.
The body shuts down in the end by slowly taking away the use of speaking , eye sight, and body movement. There is terrible pain that even with the strongest medications , my brother remained in pain.
The memory is usually left in tact, so imagine how embarrassed Alvin was when he had no choice but to have total care. So please help me find a cure, or at the very least some rhyme and reason to MSA .
The address to donate is; https:// http://www.crowdrise.com
Turkey Be Gone
I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving . We wait and wait for those delicious meals and before you blimk, the day is gone and thoughts turn to Christmas .
The day after Thanksgiving , we went Christmas shopping . I didn’t see anything that I couldn’t live without , so anything I purchased was done stress-free. That evening we went to the zoo about forty-five minutes from home and looked at all the Christmas lights.
Yesterday we went to a Christmas auction. That lasted about three hours . I bought a few things but mainly chatted with friends and played with the grandkids. Today was much slower. I tagged along with family and looked around while they bought groceries . I can officially now say I am sick of turkey! 😯
So tell me what you did on this holiday .
THE TONGUE
THE TONGUE
Behind the mask of a beautiful moon
Lies another face; no shine, all gloom
It snarls, it shows it’s ugly side
Shows all its sides, no place to hide.
The hearts who happen to be around
Find feelings turning upside down
The hole that holds the guilt inside
Suddenly appears from clouds so wide.
The smiles once shining on the face
Disappear, go running, taking up precious space
If only thoughts would run first base
The tongue would burn, no harming race.
The Little Town That Could
Maggie had been the eldest child of a family of eleven. She had helped raise many of her siblings. She could whip up a white cake in less time of a blink of an eye.
At 10 years young, she was not only helping mama, she was helping papa clean the chicken coop, gather eggs without dropping one. She could use a pitch fork almost as good as papa.
At 14 year old, she learned the trade of cooking for several people in the only cafe the small town had. She learned how to rely on God when the stress became too much from every table being full.
She met and married one of her customers and gave up her job to raise a family . The newlyweds built a house about a ten minute walk from her parents.
They worked the land. They grew soy beans and corn. On Sundays they went to his parents home for dinner. As each child arrived, Maggie used her experiences from her childhood to make new clothes . She used her imagination to create new menus for her ever growing family.
They didn’t have much, but they were blessed with love and food on the table. Life was good. The kids were doing good in school . They had good neighbors, and they belonged to a good church.
It was one Saturday morning when shivers went down Maggie’s spine. She heard the horrific scream. She recognized the voice of her husband, Mac.
She yelled at the oldest child to tend to the younger ones as she tore off her apron and ran to the voice. Her mind was racing as she saw a bear tackling her man.
She screamed, “Hold on Mac, hold on. I’m going to fetch the gun.” She turned and ran faster than she ever had. She threw open the door and grabbed the key. Unlocking and grabbing the shotgun , she quickly locked the cabinet and raced back to her husband .
The only thing she could see was blood. Blood covered Mac. The bear had blood soaked teeth. Her husband was trying to fight the bear off, but was becoming too weak.
He went to the ground with the bear hovering over him. Maggie aimed and fired . The bear stood his ground. Maggie fired again, hitting the bear in the side. The bear let out a loud groan, but didn’t go down without his trophy.
Maggie had to tell the children about the accident . The parlor had to be notified. There was a line of people paying their respect and food covered the table.
The winter was rough. Money was tight. Maggie couldn’t seem to rouse herself to do more than care for the children. Visits from friends came and in time slowly faded. The holidays came and went.
The beautiful Christmas tree that usually garnished their living room was replaced by a small spruce one of the kids had cut down. Somehow they made it through the holidays and soon it was Spring .
Along with new hope also brought sickness to Maggie’s worn down body. The older kids took over her chores. The eldest was hired in the same cafe her own mama had worked.
Month after month became the same more difficult . Food was sparse in the pantry. Meals were made and eaten, but tummies were not full anymore.
By Fall, mama could barely get out of bed. The cafe owner was sending the extra food home after her employee got off work. The meat store sent a small bird to Maggie’s home, which the children did their best to fix a nice Thanksgiving meal. Mama ate a few bites, but then went back to sleep.
Christmas was coming but Mama was leaving. There was no tree this year, no strung popcorn, no joy. It was one week before Christmas when mama went to see Jesus.
Six children , two being old enough to look after the others but no one old enough to keep the house and land going. It was snowing outside. It was the only light coming through the dark windows . The children were watching the snow when they saw a person walk up to their door.
They opened the door, letting the minister in. He motioned to the others outside, and one by one each came in with a gift. A decorated tree, food, wrapped presents.
The children smiled for the company that had arrived. The visitors sat down with the children and holding hands they prayed for the food and the kids.
After most of the food was eaten, a knock came at the door. The minister opened the door and let two of the town’s leaders come in. The two sat down at the table and without hesitation explained why they were there.
“We came here today because we hope you can help us. You see, money can’t buy everything . We have so much. We have money, a nice home, many wonderful friends. The one thing we don’t have is a family of our own. We have all those extra rooms, but they stand empty. We were wondering if all you children would give us the biggest gift of all; would you come live with us and let us be a part of your family . ”
One by one each visitor stood up and waited to see what the kids were going to do. The kids looked at each other, and they looked around their home. They loved their mama and papa, but they were sad and lonely . Together they nodded and got up and gave their new parents a big hug.
It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas
The time is nearing the holidays . Every day it looks more like Christmas inside my family’s home. With two levels of living space, it takes awhile to complete the look.
I go downstairs to the family room and a glowing tree catches my eyes immediately . Standing with smiles beside the tree is Mr. And Mrs. Santa Claus .
Decorating the fireplace mantle is silver tinsel with flickering lights all in a row. On the main floor, a Christmas tree ornates, the window. A tiny tree decorated with candy cane lights sits upon the television .
When I lookout my bedroom window in the still of the night, I smile at the decorative lights softly shining through the glistening snow. If I was not feeling well for this day, thinking about how my grandchildren see the decorations through their eyes, puts a smile on my face.
It is so different being a grandma and putting mom as second. I don’t have to worry and stress throughout the holidays like I used to. Now, I just ask a few questions and make my purchases and in no time at all, I have made my edibles for the table .
It is almost Thanksgiving so I need to slip away and head for the kitchen. One of the foods I am making is my grandmother’s recipe for her dressing. I want to do whatever I can ahead of time in case Thanksgiving would happen to bring along with the good food, my nasty tremors.
Are you decorating for the holidays yet? Are you beginning the preparation for Thanksgiving Day?
Thankful for Each Other
The first cold morning
Where the snow glistens
The streets crunch
You shiver leaving the house
Wishing Christmas shopping was done.
Stores are wagging gala music
Sparkle blinds your eyes
Is that a trick; hoping
I will overlook those price tags?
Looking inside my purse
Know I placed them there
You know; the aspirin, the cure-all,
Oh, I knew this was going to happen
Too many shoppers, need my quiet space.
He’s going to kill me when he sees this
The receipt , it’s a mile long, better hide it
But then again, if he had come with me
Instead of watching that stupid game
Probably could have had less stress and did a better job.
I enter our driveway , and he meets me at the door
He helps me, while telling me his team loss
I mourn my sore feet, he mourns his loss
He pours us a drink
Holding my hand, he walks
Towards the sofa and we put our feet up
The remote turns soft music on, and we
Gaze into the crackling fire and sigh
Each silently thanking God for the other.
An Award, The Book Award
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I was nominated for this book award by a person who has remained by my side ever since my brother was so ill from Multiple System Atrophy . Her name is Ute. She is one of the most positive people I have ever met. Make sure to check out her blog .
Unfortunately , I can’t do as much on my tablet so I can’t make my own page telling you all the things about me through the questions asked ; but I can say a a big thank you to you, my friend. Thanks Ute for thinking and sharing the Book Award with me.
Thanksgiving Day
It saddens😯, my heart and yet in some small place inside of me; I understand . Thanksgiving Day; without the biggest share of the family being together.
It was an unspoken understanding when I was growing up: the entire family would be sitting down together for a family meal. Oh, I know and have heard so many voices speak about why this doesn’t happen anymore .
Businesses are open. Split families, too many places to go, have to work, couldn’t get the day off. Times sure have changed. Maybe, people expect others to understand when this one or that one doesn’t make an appearance .
This doesn’t stop here either . It continues into the Christmas holiday also. Is the word family as important to us today as it used to be?
All I know for sure, is this year, I would give my right arm to have mom, dad, my brother sitting by my side at the Thanksgiving meal. I miss you three. I wish I would have appreciated the little things more back then. I learned too late, but it isn’t too late for you to be thankful for everyone who is taking the time to sit next to you on this special day. Tell them you are so thankful for there presence .