Time

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under the sun. A time to be born and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill and a time to heal ... a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance ... a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to lose and a time to seek; a time to rend and a time to sew; a time to keep silent and a time to speak; a time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8 My friend Marilyn just called me the "Queen of late night projects". I suppose that would be because it is after 10 p.m. and I am still painting and stripping wallpaper. I haven't done supper dishes yet, and I have to dry a couple loads of clothes especially to find Marissa's track uniform for tomorrow night. I don't get to see the track meet....teacher duty time....I get to chaperone the Junior High dance tomorrow night. I am trying to scan all kinds of old pictures of Tyler so they can have their slide show made for their wedding which is right around the corner. I listened to several songs on YouTube and they all made me cry. I am supposed to find THE perfect song to put in the video. THEN I started listening to find THE perfect mother/son dance song....talk about floodgates.....I better practice the tears and get them all out before June 11! I took grandbaby Braylyn to have her flowergirl dress fitted last night and she threw a FIT. She is 2, but really!!! I am not sure exactly how long that dress will be. We never got her to stand up with her dress on. We just sorta held her by the armpits and let her hang down for the seamstress, Nancy. God Bless you, Nancy and good luck! This is NOT the dress she is wearing, but really now, could anyone be any sweeter? Nancy did not see THIS girl, believe me!!!! We have to get Marissa's dress for the wedding fitted, and there are more track meets and soccer games. We made it through the prom, all the painting and making and fixing and buying and ...only a few tears..to see your baby all dressed up like that!!! That is not right! Midterm reports were due this week too, so that means only one grade report left. Supposed to find more time to walk and exercise and then there may be some room for sleep... Missing my mama too, which might add to the tears. It is nearing Mother's Day and I see the cards and hear the ads on TV and wish I had Mom here to buy something for. I dug out an old CD that I really liked when mom left. I have a radio station I always listen to and when it is evening and I am coming home from somewhere, I usually hear a sermon or two. Chuck Swindoll had a series called, "Getting Through the Tough Stuff". The series has many different life altering problems to address, but the one CD I have listened to over and over is "Getting Through the Tough Stuff of Death". My friend, Suzi just lost her mama. My friend, Carol, lost her mama. Doug lost his Dad. Two co-workers lost their mom's this week. I KNOW their pain. I recently lost my friend, Mary Jane. That means Jennifer lost HER mama. Friends around are facing such monumental illnesses. Matt has a brain tumor. He is just 30 years old. Makayla has a brain tumor as well. She is only 4. Brian has cancer. Penny misses her Ike. My friend, Marlys died a few years ago. Her children's children never got to meet their Grandma. Marlys' daughter just had her first child, a daughter and named her.....Marlys Rose. How special is that??? I haven't studied my Sunday School lesson yet...it IS only Thursday! I practiced with a friend to sing a couple duets in church Sunday for Graduation day, and I practiced with a quartet I am in for another special song Sunday, "The Lord bless you and keep you". I am singing a solo too, "Remember me". The Sunday School Supt. is really needing my input about the Bible School Crafts I need, and I should begin working on the backdrop for the Bible School set. I do need to take 3 classes in June before the wedding, try to get something together for a new adventure in the fall, a new class in Photography. I promised to help Tyler with their new house, and I have a mural project I need to do for a friend who recently had twins. I also have promised some major rocking for a friend who just had triplets!!! I really must take the grandkids to the zoo and the butterfly house, my baby is turning 17 in June, I do not have my curriculum maps done.... I thought when your kids grew up, your life would slow down. Not necessarily so. I think your "busy"ness just reorganizes itself.

Life does go on. Season's change. "Busy"ness changes. Friends and family grow up, grow away, grow apart, grow closer, but life does go on. When my grandsons were born, mom was dying. She said..."life goes on", and so it does. She said, "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it". Those grandbabies passed through pre school and are headed to Kindergarten....oh, and they love their Grandma Carol. I take all the hugs and love I can get because....life goes on....season's change...families grow up, grow away, grow apart, grow closer...but life does go on, and, "For everything there is a season...." I read that passage and I keep seeing the word, "Time". I am praying for more time...time to reflect....time to be silent...time to keep learning and loving and being grateful for all of my blessings. Thank you God, for this time in my life.....just keep it coming!

Spring Celebration

The after Prom party this year has a carnival theme...jugglers, strong men, two headed chickens, clowns, lots of cardboard and paint....Have I told you what we can do with cardboard and paint?







The Prom theme...."Eastern Elegance"



After all of the work involved in the creation of this unforgettable night, I wonder...what happened to my daughter who can't possibly be old enough to wear a formal, have her hair put up, OR have a date with a boy......where have the years gone? I am hanging on to this one, my baby! I am so thankful she still gives me hugs from time to time!



She gained some inspiration for all the decorations being put together in my room, or maybe she has a message in this for her mama...after all this work, I just need some peace!!!

Have a wonderful celebration of the arrival of spring...dresses, makeup, tanning, shoes, hair styles, jewelry, tuxes, cars, decorations, pictures, DJs, flowers, garters, the grand march, the banquet, the after prom party....at least a million dollars.

A night of safe, wholesome fun that will make memories for a lifetime....priceless!
Make it fun...make it safe....drive to arrive!

Lanny's Gift

Lanny is amazing! He is a custodian at my school. He is kind. He is helpful. He is loving....and he can fix anything.

Something breaks.....call Lanny.
Something needs to be done....call Lanny.
Someone needs something fixed...call Lanny.

This is Lanny and his wife, Pam. They look healthy, well, and full of life...except Pam has lost a vital function in her body, that of her kidneys. She was in need of a transplant.

Again....anything needs to be fixed, call Lanny.

Pam was diagnosed with kidney failure in February 2009. She went on home dialysis in July 2009. In November 2009 she went to Mayo Rochester MN to get tested to see if she could have a kidney transplant. I was approved and was put on the national transplant list. At that time her family started to get tested to see if anyone was a match to donate. Out of 8 children and her husband, 6 were matches. Lanny insisted that if anyone in their family had to go through this surgery, it was going to be him. Lanny was tested further and in January 2010 they made another trip to Mayo and he was approved to give her one of his kidneys.


Their CaringBridge site is: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/pamsteen

My words to them in their guestbook: "I will miss you as you are the greatest fix-it man! Pam, you are so blessed, you LIVE with the greatest fix-it man!...he is even going to fix this for you !"


The man who gave Pam his heart many years ago has now given her his kidney.
Lanny the fix-it man....he can do anything...

Now they must wait...wait for God's hand to heal them. They are up and around. They are walking. They are talking. They are eating. They are smiling. They are loving. They are surrounded by family and have so much support from this community. Now they wait.

Those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary. Isaiah 40:31
Teach us Lord, teach us Lord to wait.

God Bless you as you continue your journey to full restoration of health. Thank you Lanny for your gift of life!!!! You are a rare jewel!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

God's Masterpiece

From graceful lilies pure and white,
God fashioned lovely skin,

Forget-me-nots he chose for eyes,
Then formed your baby chin.
He took a tulip bright and red --
Twas one that did not fade; A
softer, sweeter little mouth
Before was never made.

Another flower next He used --
A rosebud, pink and fair;

Touched it to your dimpled cheeks
And bade it blossom there.
Then with His magic fingers picked
Two morning glories white;
Curled and shaped your little ears,
Soon they were fastened tight.

That crowning bit of golden down
Will soon become your hair;
He gathered pollen from the flowers,
And sprinkled it with care.

For dainty little fingers dear
And precious, tiny toes,
He used slender daisy frills;
A snowdrop made your nose.

This world and all within it
He created here for man;
But Braylyn was "God's Masterpiece"
Since time and life began!
-author unknown

Happy 2nd Birthday Braylyn Ray,! You are our little "Ray" of sunshine.
Love you forever, Grandma Carol