School starts soon and the signs are everywhere. School supplies are in and shoppers are filling their carts with the advertized specials.  I picked up five unneeded notebooks, but how can I resists at only twenty five cents each. I remember going to grade school with one notebook and a yellow #2 pencil. We didn't have backpacks or any of the frills available today. I grew up on a farm near Huntley, Wy and had to walk about a quarter of a mile to catch the school bus. On really snowy days my dad would drive us to the bus stop, but mostly my sisters and I walked and then huddled in a culvert to protect us from the harsh Wyoming winds. We were bare legged because girls weren't allowed to wear jeans or slacks except on Fridays. In the first and second grade I wore long brown stockings, if it was cold outside.
When we would hear the bus pull up, we would pop up out of the culvert and run to get on the bus.  By the time we boarded the bus it was about half full and I always opted for a seat up front. Some of the farm boys on the bus could be downright mean, so it was safer to ride up front. Huntley school consisted of a  grade school, jr.high and high school. There was an average of twenty to twenty five students in each class.We all were farm kids and almost everyone rode a bus to school. School started at 8:30 and dismissed at 4 p.m.
The major focus at our school was to learn! Reading, writing and arithmetic. Looking back, we received a good education and no monkey business was tolerated. We had lockers to put our books and personal belongings in and there weren't any locks on them.  I don't remember anyone ever getting anything stolen!
We recited the  Pledge of Allegiance and the teacher offered a prayer to start our day. We respected our teachers and studied hard to get good grades. We had extra curricular activities like music, sports, school plays, band, FHA, FFA, etc. One thing you could count on was homework! We didn't have any television, so evenings when home, were spent doing homework. I could go on and on about what school was like when I was growing up, however that could get boring. I admire the teachers of today because it is often a thankless job and many of them put their heart and soul into their profession.  (I know, because I have many teachers in my family!)  So, give your kids a loving send off and encourage them as they start the new school year.

4th of July - Past

Nostalgic memories -
Always a picnic
at the lake.
Swimming and fishing
Aunts, Uncles and Cousins
have joined us.
Free to run and play
No worries or cares
It's the 4th of July!
Celebrating our Nation's
Freedom.
We all knew it was a day
to honor our country and
the freedom we have.
A picnic lunch is ready
to eat.
Gathering around the
picnic table.
We all enjoy this time
together.
We pop all our fireworks
in late afternoon.
Say our goodbyes
and head for home
Tired, but happy
we live in the
 "Land of the Free"

My mother Viola Strecker

Tomorrow is Mothers Day and I am happy to be able to go to my granddaughter's home to enjoy a brunch with my family that lives here.  Being a mother has been a privilege that I enjoy.  I loved the years when my children all lived at home and I could nurture, raise and be with them.  One hears often "Enjoy these years when your children are young because they go all too fast!" How true it was! I have had the joy of watching my children become parents and raising them to be good people. In March I became a great grandmother for the first time. All of these events hit home how fast life goes by.  My mother passed away January 1990 and at times I long to be with her and just sit and visit. She was a good mother and tomorrow I will honor her in a special way on Mothers Day.  She raised seven children and worked hard on the farm where I was raised.  Her cooking was 'par excellant' and I think of her whenever I cook some of her dishes that I loved. She took us to Sunday School and Church every Sunday and I'm thankful for the spirituality that she passed on to me.  She taught me how to work until the chore was finished and to not be lazy. My clothes were made by her hands and I in turn learned to sew.  I owe a great debt of gratitude to her for the way she raised me for I am the person I am today because of her.  So I begin this day honoring my mother, Viola Strecker and thank God for choosing her to bring me to this earth.

"A New Day"

Happy February! So good to feel the sunshine today and have temperatures on the plus side! I'm dog sitting for my daughter this week and the dog did not want to go outside, however she was excited to go for a long walk today.  We enjoyed the walk until we came to a street that no one had bothered to clear their sidewalks, so that was a bit like tramping in the back country! I've been trying my hand at some poetry the past few months so I am going to share with you "A New Day" which I wrote one very early morning. Hope it inspires you to spend some time in prayer when you are up early.

A NEW DAY 

                                                   

I awaken early each morning

tossing and turning.

It’s no use – I get up.

The darkness hasn’t lifted

I await the light.

All is quiet and calm.

It is good to be up and awake.

No noise to clutter my brain.

What to do first?

Thank God for a new day.

Praise him for being with me

through the night.

Love and adore him and

acknowledge I am nothing

without Him.

Read His Holy Word.

Let it speak deep within.

Ready for the day

with God by my side.

Nothing can shake me -

I am steady as a rock.

God has prepared me

for whatever comes my way.

His love enfolds me

and tenderness surrounds me.

The light is beginning

to shine through the window.

My soul has been nourished

I’m ready to begin,

a new day has dawned.

    --Dorothy Lansing

 

Graduation

I am sure we are all shivering at certain times during this latest cold spell.  I woke up early this morning and after being up only a minute decided to crawl back into my warm bed. The electric blanket was still on and it felt so nice and toasty.  I don’t know if it is an old wives tale, but I used to hear that a really good cold spell kills all of the germs that are in the air.  I certainly hope so, because I have had two colds already and winter isn’t even officially here.  My husband and I went to Laramie on Friday to attend our grandson’s graduation and it was bitter cold there.  However, seeing Craig graduate warmed our hearts and the tears welled up in our eyes as we watched him walk across the stage and stretch out his hand to receive his diploma. This is a beautiful milestone in his life and a proud moment for all of his family.  I always feel so very grateful when someone from my family accomplishes a goal they have set out to do and getting a good education is one goal that I am especially happy about.  Raising six children has afforded me many opportunities to attend graduation ceremonies and so far I have attended all of them from High School, College, Master Degrees, and Doctor Degrees.  I’ve been to six grandchildren’s high school graduations and four college graduations and have two grandchildren that will graduate from college in the next few years.  I have four little grandchildren ages 3-7 and am hopeful I can attend theirs as well.  All in all that is a lot of speeches to hear and tears to shed, but seeing them all reach their goal is a proud moment that is etched in my memory.  So, back to the minus degree temperatures we have been having, it was worth the time and effort it took to trek over the hill to attend one more beautiful celebration and to be there to give a big hug to my smiling grandso

I am sure we are all shivering at certain times during this latest cold spell.  I woke up early this morning and after being up only a minute decided to crawl back into my warm bed. The electric blanket was still on and it felt so nice and toasty.  I don’t know if it is an old wives tale, but I used to hear that a really good cold spell kills all of the germs that are in the air.  I certainly hope so, because I have had two colds already and winter isn’t even officially here.  My husband and I went to Laramie on Friday to attend our grandson’s graduation and it was bitter cold there.  However, seeing Craig graduate warmed our hearts and the tears welled up in our eyes as we watched him walk across the stage and stretch out his hand to receive his diploma. This is a beautiful milestone in his life and a proud moment for all of his family.  I always feel so very grateful when someone from my family accomplishes a goal they have set out to do and getting a good education is one goal that I am especially happy about.  Raising six children has afforded me many opportunities to attend graduation ceremonies and so far I have attended all of them from High School, College, Master Degrees, and Doctor Degrees.  I’ve been to six grandchildren’s high school graduations and four college graduations and have two grandchildren that will graduate from college in the next few years.  I have four little grandchildren ages 3-7 and am hopeful I can attend theirs as well.  All in all that is a lot of speeches to hear and tears to shed, but seeing them all reach their goal is a proud moment that is etched in my memory.  So, back to the minus degree temperatures we have been having, it was worth the time and effort it took to trek over the hill to attend one more beautiful celebration and to be there to give a big hug to my smiling grandso

Fun with granddaughter

I am so thankful that our country sets aside a special day to give thanks! I awakened early Thanksgiving morning and the first thing on my mind was the many things I am thankful for.  First off – I thanked the Lord for a good night’s sleep.  I had been having pretty restless nights as my muscles have been aching and I can’t sleep on the side I’m used to sleeping on.  So to have a restful night for a change was truly something to be thankful for.  I thanked the Lord for the safe arrival of my family from up state. Later in the day I thanked him for the phone calls from my family that could not come for Thanksgiving, but will come for Christmas. I am very thankful for my three year old granddaughter.  She is such a joy and fun to be with. I was playing “My Little Ponies” with her and we had them all lined up in a row. Seven of them. I asked her what we should do with the little ponies? She replied “Oh just let them horse around.” She is always coming up with really cute little sayings and also trying out big words.  I asked her if she would like some chicken noodle soup and she said: “Grandma, I don’t particularly like that.”  She is also into great imagination in her play.  We start to play together and soon she is in her own little world talking to herself and having great fun with whatever she is playing with.

My daughter and son-in-law helped us bring up the tree decorations from the basement today and then said “Let’s just put the tree up too.”  I was dreading my husband and I having to do it next week and having all of the boxes setting in the family room, so this was an unexpected blessing.  We all pitched in and soon the house was decorated and the tree looks very pretty. So, I have much to be thankful for in just the past two days.  My daughter prepared the Thanksgiving feast and had us all to her home, so I didn’t have to do that and my husband and I could just enjoy everyone.  I did my Christmas shopping in early November and decided we would only buy gifts for the four young grandchildren. That was quite a challenge!  As soon as I thought I was finished I received telephone calls with ideas of what they would like. Naturally nothing I bought was on their lists!  So we rushed out and bought one nice item that they each had requested. Our older grandchildren like getting money, so they are easy. 

All in all it was a wonderful week filled with many blessings and to me the greatest blessing is to having family all gathered around the Thanksgiving table eating a hearty meal, laughing and enjoying this time together.