Month: November 2008

  • Motherhood

    We had dinner Sunday, at my daughters home.  V. had turkey and the side dishes and salad that goes with it. Pop and I came home and spent a quiet evening together, but I couldn’t get V.off of my mind. Any mother  knows the feeling that comes when the children start to leave home. The lonliness along with the blessing of knowing they are doing the right thing, God  in his perfect plan knows that children can’t stay home forever, and how blessed the Mother is that has her children serveing the Lord.

    In spite of that a mother’s heart wants to protect her children as long as she can, away from the pain that life brings.  When my children are hurting, I’ve often questioned who hurts the most? Me or my child?  In spite of how I long to reach out and protect them, there are times when I have to sit back, pray and trust God. A God that never fails and is with us, even when the outcome is different that what would like.

    V. has a husband, and 9 beautiful children. They all love the Lord, have a roof over their heads, clothing and plenty to eat. Who could ask for more? But V. is feeling the emptiness of her children leaving home. I’ve often said there is no worse pain, than the heart of a mother when her chilodren turn their backs on the Lord.  THANK GOD, V. does not have that kind of pain.

    Yesterday evening her husband along with their third son left.  They were driving thru the night 376 miles across the state to get a load of supplys.  Her oldest son was leaving in the afternoon, by plane, to the other side of the world.  Her second oldest son was starting on a 1200 mile trip, home from Bible School. He would leave again in a couple days for missions leadership training.  I can’t count the miles that her family were seperated from a mothers protective care. I understand well that other mothers have had worse pain, but I’m talking about a Godly mother’s heart when her chldren start to leave the nest.

    She tells about it on her blog this morning and I faxed it to my oldest daughter R.  R. faxed back this poem to me, I would like to share with you,

     The Mother’s of Men

    The bravest battle that ever was fought!  –  Shall I tell you where and when? — On the maps of the world you will find it not — Tis fought by the mother’s of men.  –Nay, not with cannon or battle shot, nor with sword or nobler pen! — Nay, not with eloquent words or thoughts from wonderful men. — But deep in the walled-up women’s heart– Of woman that would not yeild. — But bravely, silently bore her part- — Lo, there is that battlefeild! — No marshaling troops, no bivouac song,   –  No banner to gleam and wave: — But O, their battles, they last,  –  From babyhood to the grave. — Yet faithful still as a ridge of stars, — She fights in her walled-up town– Fights on and on in endless wars,  –  Then, silent, unseen, goes down. — O, ye with banners and battle shot  –  And soldiers to shout and praise! — I tell you the kingliest victories fought –  were fought in those silent ways, — O, spotless woman in a world of shame: — With spended and silent scorn — Go back to God as white as you came– The kingliest warrior born!    — by Joaquin Miller

    My daughter’s mother heart was lonely, I just wonder if she knew her mother’s felt some of the emptiness with her and for her.  My memories went back to long, long ago, when…………………

    This mother is thankful beyond words for the love, and presence of God.

     

  • To you and you and you

    I want to thank my dear daughter-in-law www.xanga.com./stumpy_babe (Ruth) who has honored me with this award.

                                                         

    z173423697

    AWARD RULES.

     1. Please put the logo on your blog.

    2. Place a link to the person from whom you received the award.

    3. Nominate 3 or more blogs on your blog.

    4. Put the links of those blogs on your blog.

    5. Leave a message on their blogs telling them they’ve won an award.

    I would like to anominate the following ladies:

    http://www.xanga.com/katietroyer  She has a fun and diiferent sort of blog. Follow her as she moves to Florida in the winter, and to midwest in the summer.

    http://www.xanga.com/VirginiaDawn She posts everyday life, and is the normal housewife that lives in the Willamette Valley.

    http://peterpanandfamily.blogspot.com/  When one is looking for advice of any kind go here.  She is very busy, but loves to write.

    http://www.xanga.com/MommaOnTheMountain  She has children in school, and at the same time sews for here country store. You can buy on line from her store.

    And I must add my daughter, who has taken a lot of time out of her busy schedule to drive us to the doctor and run lots of errands for us.  You can find her at http://www.xanga.com/alltheveas

    I could add so many more, but afterwhile I guess one has to stop.  All the people that comment on my site are special to me. I don’t want to leave anyone out.

    Deuteronomy 31:6  BE STRONG AND OF A GOOD COURAGE, FEAR NOT, NOR BE AFRAID OF THEM:  FOR THE LORD THY GOD, HE IT IS THAT DOTH GO WITH THEE; HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.

    Also……   Psalm 27:14 & 31:24

     

  • Exhortation

    Nearly every blog I open, has a post on it, about how they realize that prophecy is being fulfilled. I agree. But, my Bible says, in Luke 21:28 “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

    It also says in Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is To day: lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” Some synonyms for exhort: encourage, stimulate, inspire, pep talk. Are we doing that? I think it’s great to tell the word when we realize that prophesy is being full filled, I myself love to study prophecy. But now that we recognize it and we must go on living, let’s encourage one another to hold fast.

    I know, I wasn’t going to post for 2 weeks and it hasn’t been 2 weeks but I think and think about this and this post isn’t very long.

    I ask the question. Do we encourage one another to stay true or is all we dwell on is the doom that awaits our beloved country.

    Let me hear some encouragement. Lets encourage one another

  • Dear Diary

    Due to eye problems. —– I cannot and must not post for another couple weeks.  I hope it gets better soon and I will be back to writting again.  Meanwhile, I’ll pray for you and you pray for me. The number one request right now is for our country. God only gives grace as we need it, so I pray I will not borrow trouble, till I need to.  We still appreciate your prayers for our health.

    I miss you all when I don’t post so don’t forget to come back in a couple weeks. I hope to talk to you then. And if you catch me lurking once in awhile you’ll know I couldn’t stay away and it don’t me as long to read as it does to write.  Until I come back, God bless you and you and you.

  • IMG_8845

    THE SWARTZENDRUBER’S

    To enlarge the picture left click on the photo.  To see some more of the family pictures read the post below.

    I’ve worked an 2 1/2 hours to get this pictures on my website and believe me I’m tired, I’m going to bed. Tomorrow Pop goes to the Hospital and doctor again, this time it will be out patient.

    Need I say, I THANK GOD for my family.

    God has blessed me so-o-o-o-o much. I can never thank Him enough.

  • Reunion

    image-2

    Stan and I  -  1958 

    IMG_8843

      Stan (Pop) and I  – 2008

    IMG_8864 

    Seventeen years later ….                                             Left to right:  Robin, Tam, Gwen, Laurie, Valerie,   Scott, Ted, Mom and Pop, Mart, Ben

    IMG_8857 

     

        44 years later   image-3.jpg                              Ben’s wedding in 2003                     ———————————————————–

    IMG_8840

    50 years after we were married.  2008                            

            ————————————————————-50 Year after we were married5000000050 years later 10

    #1 ( daughter) Robin her husband Nevin and their Family.                                                                               —————————————————————-

    11

    #2 (daughter) Tammy her husband Greg, and family.                                                         (Tammy’s oldest daughter Shelly, Justin and their 2 little girls weren’t there. )                                                          

    —————————————————————

     12

    #3 (daughter) Gwen her husband Henry, and family (2 of her older children couldn’t be there)

    ————————————————————-

    13

    #4 (daughter) Laurie, her husband Jake, and family

    (Laurie’s 2 oldest daughters and their families weren’t there)

    ——————————————————–

    14

    #5 (daughter) Valerie, her husband Veasy and family.

    ——————————————————

    15

    #6 (son) Scott his wife Annette and their 6 daughters. ——————————————————-

    16

    #7 (son) Ted, his wife Jolynn and family

    17

    # 8  (Son) Mart and and his wife Elizabeth                  ————————————————————

    18

    #9 My younest son Ben, his wife Ruth, Mckinze and Finley.

    —————————————————–

    There were some married grandchildren that were there.

    IMG_8823

    Robin’s son, LaRay his wife Esther and baby Nora

    ————————————————–

    IMG_8826

    Robin’s daughter Jolene and her husband of of 6 months.

    Jolene and Sidney

    ———————————————————–

     

    IMG_8828

    Anthony (Gwens oldest boy) and his new bride Abigail

    ————————————————–

     IMG_8867

    My boys (including the one I married)

    ————————————————————-

    On the picture below…If you look close you can see Mrs. Darling’s boots   

    IMG_8870

    ——————————————————————–

    IMG_8873

    My 5 daughters and I 

    IMG_8885

    My nine darlings

    The reunion pictures were taken by my daughter-in-love, Ruth Swartzendruber

    The wedding picture was by permission.

  • I’m sorry but I don’t how to get the whole family on.  This about 2/3  I try to get the other third later

    b169526660

  • AT LAST !

    I apologize for not posting sooner but so much has happened, I couldn’t keep up.

    The family flew in and things began to buzz the week of October 6 – 12. Many a prayer was sent heavenward for Pop, that God would make him feel good enough to go to the family reunion. We were still fearful that it wouldn’t come together.

    We was to leave for camp around noon, Wednesday, October 15, 2008. On Tuesday October 14 we made a trip to Boise to Pop’s blood work done for his surgery on October 22. Although it tired him out, he was still looking forward to the reunion.

    Wednesday he got up and my grandson’s came around 9am to load his couch in the pick-up. (He said he wouldn’t go if he couldn’t have his couch, which he has slept on since July, since it is softer than the bed) Arrangements were made, and it was decided that my son would drive the pick-up with the couch and I would come with my daughter-in-law n their mini van. Pop had other ideas…. Pop drove the pick-up and my son drove his mini van, leaving a little before noon. We stopped at LaGrande for lunch after which we headed up into the mountains just out of LaGrande. Seventeen miles up a beautiful mountain road to our destination. We arrived soon after my daughter and family got there.

    We arrived… we arrived… I couldn’t believe it was so. It was in the planning for over a year, first near the Oregon coast, then it was changed to a closer place, when Pop got sick. There were plans, fears, discussions between family members whether it should be, or be called off because of Pop’s illness. More plans. The work of changing places, more input from family. Games to be planned and discussed. Song to be decided on. Worry about the weather. Songs that the family sang to be found and copied so everyone could have a copy. Pop and I had chosen the 3 oldest girls to be charge of making it happen, and between them, they would encourage one another and plan, and make phone calls for hours, back and forth across the US. Letters were sent out with information. But in spite of all the doubts and fears, bad news and good news. The committee (as they were soon called) kept on planning, and it came to pass.

    Praise God, He allowed it to take place. God blessed it, and it became the happiest three days of my life. The reunion took place and now the memories…..

    I just got a fax from Rob, (my oldest daughter) and she said just this evening she was pouring over the reunion pictures again, she wished it had been longer. (some of the rest of us wouldn’t have minded.) It made so many memories and hundreds of pictures.


    The mornings were cold and crisp. (but not too cold) You would crawl out of a warm toasty sleeping bag. Get dressed. and step out into the crisp morning air. As you looked out through the cabins, you could see the wood smoke curling upward from the chimneys, as an early morning fire welcomed the day. As you walked through the tall trees, you would breath deep to smell the smoke that hung lightly in the air. (the faint smell of wood smoke there is nothing like it.)
    It was a short way over to the main hall where the cement floor is covered with needles from the trees, which suggests there must have a wind that blew, just before they put the finish on the floor. The first thing after stepping through the door was to see how my darling made it through the night. A kiss, and then the day began. Turning toward the kitchen one could smell the wonderful aroma of coffee, letting you know that Mr. Darling had been there before making the early morning, wake-up coffee. I poured a cup and sat to a table, and watched. Looking around one could see the young people, grandchildren, and couples slowly, aimlessly drift into the dinning hall, Pour a cup of coffee and sit down with you for a chat, before the fast pace of the day began. Meanwhile the families in charge of breakfast for that day, would be busy in the kitchen making eggs, hash browns and sausage. Wonderful, delicious smells that would greet the hungry tummies that soon filled the dinning hall.

    I think I will edit and finish this tomorrow, I’m getting sleepy but meanwhile I THANK THE LORD MY MAKER FOR ALL HIS GIFTS TO ME AND FOR DOING GREAT THINGS FOR US, FOR MAKING US GLAD.