AND THEY NAMED HER LINGERIE -

When my mom married my dad, like all marrieds, she inherited his family.

Included in this family was an aunt and uncle. The aunt and uncle, through the years, taught her how to do many 'farm things' like gardening, canning, taking care of livestock, etc. - even how to 'clean a chicken - start to finish and all that comes between' (ewww!). Across a couple of fields and a railroad track, we could see their house from ours.

A couple of years later the aunt and uncle gave mom a ride to Manhattan KS when I was 6 weeks old to meet my dad for the first time. (I was meeting dad, mom had met him before.) On the way they had to stop and get new bottles because the ones that had been sterilized were still at home. Then they went to a restaurant where they talked the folks into sterilizing my bottles.

When they stopped at a motel the aunt and my mom (and me) shared a room. The uncle got a separate room. Both rooms had one double bed. Some guy was at the check in counter wanting a room, the motel was full. The uncle told him "if you want to share the bill, you can sleep with me". And there he was in a double bed with a strange man he'd never met before. (Things were so different 'then'.) He says they both got a good night's sleep for 1/2 price. I know if I was in bed with a stranger - I'd not be sleeping no matter what the price (especially in a double bed!). Ha!

The uncle always calls me Lingerie. When I was born they told him my name was Vonda Rae - he thought they said Lingerie. 'LINGERIE?' he replied - 'what kind of name is that for a baby?' As it turned out HE was the only one that named me that. For - EVER!!! *smile*

Years have come and gone. Hair has turned white (even mine in spots - often smack down the middle!). Those inherited relatives have, a lot of them, been laid to rest. Now the old uncle lives his life in a nursing home. This has been a hard week for him.

During the blizzard this week, he called mom. He wanted her to come, as he often does. With wind blowing and snow swirling, it was a treacherous day to venture out. Mom called me because I am close. I was able to go check on him. He had failed since I saw him 2 weeks prior. I read to him, prayed with him and left him alone as I braved the elements to go back home (not a great distance, except in a blizzard!). Later a second check found him enormously uncomfortable. Barely able to make coherent words, he said "I'm in misery".

I asked what he meant. Where did it hurt? What did he think would make him feel better? All day he had wanted someone near to him, yet he slept often. When he woke he became anxious and distraught if he was alone. He replied he was so miserable EVERYWHERE. Like he had mentioned earlier, he said, "I wish Shirley would come." I explained about the blizzard and he said, "I know, I'm in misery though. I wish she would come."

So when my mom married my dad, now 57 years ago - she inherited some family. Including an uncle who, at this late stage of life when he is in misery, wishes for her, HIS family, to be there with him to comfort him.

At 92 or 93 he has had a good long life. But, is life ever long enough? Probably not. However, when you are miserable and know that here on this earth there is only one option ...

Thankfully we know that one day all of the misery and death and destruction of this world will end. 1 Corinthians 15:56 SINGS with the words "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" Praise God for the promise of a resurrection and eternity!

Pray for Uncle Hib that he feels better, that whatever was/is making him miserable will subside. Mostly pray that he has accepted Jesus into his heart and is ready for Jesus' to return and bring him from the grave on that most amazing day.

NOTE: Some stories told in this Ludke-ville are from my recollection of being told the stories. They may need correction or alteration from persons who have a better recall of the events than a 6-week old ME has!

WAXING NOSTALGIC - or indigestion, one of the two!

Okay - either I need to put up the ornaments for the holidays or drag them back to the basement.

So today, I didn't feel well and stayed home from work. I'm not SERIOUS sick, no need for flowers or cards. I'm tired. I'm sniffling. I am coughing slightly. I have a touch of a sore throat. I just could NOT get my "umph" up to get out of bed this a.m. So I called in. I RARELY miss work, I hope they knew I truly didn't feel so grand.

Anyway, while I don't feel great - I can't sit tight and not do anything. (CLOSE to nothing, but not NOTHING!) I have had in the back of my mind to make granola for awhile. I usually use Jill's recipe (see www.vondasvine.com/toolbox/recipe.htm for her recipe, click on BREAKFAST and scroll down. I think I've named it Jill's Delightful Granola) My eye caught Sister Mary's (not as in SISTER Mary, 'cuz we don't have that sorta thing around here - but sister as in sister/brother/cousin/aunt/uncle ...) recipe. It looked like it would net a little more granola, so I made that one instead.

Sorta. I ended up using a 7 grain rolled cereal (oats, wheat, barley, etc.), sliced almonds, coconut, flax seed, sunflower seed, millet, another grain tinier than millet (quinoa? - I don't remember what it was, I just remembered it was cute and tiny), wheat germ - LOTS of awesome good stuff. Baked it a super long time and if Nick remembers to pick up milk on his way home from work - he can have granola for breakfast. I sampled a little handful and it tastes pretty good!

Last time I made granola -- bad experience, huh Nick? He was at Cedar Falls going to school. He came home and I sent back a care package INCLUDING homemade granola. Two things to bear in mind here. First,I'm only one person and to eat a whole batch of granola takes time. Second thing is, we'd been battling those stupid little mealy moths or whatever they were called. They get into your pantry and want to breed and live in your flour, cereal, crackers and as Nick unfortunately found out the hard way --- granola!

Full bowl of much anticipated granola with milk and only into it a couple bites when he discovered a worm doing the backstroke. Oops! Sorry kiddo -- I'm always worried about your nutritional intake you know -- PROTEIN!!

So if he remembers milk -- FRESH granola!! I'm happy to say that the mealy moths do not live here any more.

I started to put lights on the tree. I KNOW I didn't twist them up and tie them in knots when I put them away last year. But I spent a super long time untangling cord after cord of lights. ONLY TO FIND OUT that not only were they twisting the nights away in the boxes, they were also expiring. Right now I have more NON-working lights than working lights. Hence only the bottom of the tree is lit right now. Grrr!

As I pulled things out of boxes I had to move things around to make room. That precipitated the thought that ... I HAVE WAY TOO MANY ISABEL BLOOMS. So if anyone needs an Isabel Bloom -- I'm ready for them to move on. Let's play LET'S MAKE A DEAL!!

One of the things we've done through the years (not so much recently, but yet sort of -- ) is have an ornament each year connected to a memory. I have a little canoe from Wyoming that harks back to the trip to Yellowstone we took with Wynter. Stupid mouse thought he owned our cabin, didn't he?

There is an UGLY clear ball with pinkish sand in it, complete with teensy tiny seashells. That is my reminder of the year we did Christmas on the beach in Ft. Myers. We laughed and laughed so hard. Such fun.

There is a set of teensy glass bells. Washington School used to do a 'store' where for just a little bit of money, kids could shop. Randee Rae as she was known then, brought home this beautiful ornament - I think I was in my 'bell' phase at that time! (Me and my phases -- that is why I have so much STUFF!)

Handcarved Santa and little snowmen made by Grandpa Sherman are super special ... there are many, each with a memory attached.

It really reminded me that truly the things that are most precious in life are not really the THINGS, but the people and the love we have for them. God reveals His own love to us through the example of our love for each other here. Only HE LOVES US MORE than we can imagine. Thank you Jesus!!

So even though my mom said it was OKAY to use the "J" word in my blog - dear little Jaimee and her parental units are out in Lincoln right now. So here are a few of my favorite things, none of which are Baby J.

Oh ... I didn't have YOUR picture - so couldn't include you! So many of you have a piece of my heart. And YOU ARE also one of my favorite 'things'.

If you hold your cursor over the picture you'll see words telling why it is there in the slide show!