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.

Stan and I  -  1958 

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

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.

I shoud give you all the reason’s why I haven’t writen, but since it woud take too long to write, I give you this to read instead………

Some of you have heard the song the “The Farmer and the Lord,” That is kind of the way I feel tonight.

“I so tired, Lord, of writin’ everything down so people know what I’m a thinkin’, I get so tired a writin’ and a typin’. Why, till I git done a writin, the rest of them people have gone on to another subject. And what I have to say ain‘t no good anymo‘.

And, Lord, I’m gittin’ so tippy, ain’t hardly able to keep myself right side up anymore.

Lord, I am so weak today? Ain’t no good to no body. My granddaughter helped me and I felt so good yesterday, why I jest painted to ‘beat the band.’ (a bookshelf, the wicker hamper, waste basket, and shelf in the bathroom) Today I’m no good fer nothin’

And Pop, Lord, I ain’t able to take ker of myself Lord, much less him, although Pop is my first and only love. Why, Lord if’n I jes felt good I would gladly take care o’ him.

My eyesight is a getting dim an I can’t see ta read them books I got in the garage. Would be so much fun to read about the Limberlost and Elsie’s southern home. I got lots of books about you Lord, and the missionaries in other lands. An to think I can’t read ‘em

AAWWWWWW, Listen to me Lord, if you didn’t know me so good, you’d think I wasn’t grateful.

You’d think I was down right hateful.

Why-y-y-y, my granddaughter (Elsie) is here a helpin’ me, and I so glad you sent her, Lord, don’t know what I’d do without her. 

And one time I got ta see the Limberlost and the big butterfly collection.

I remember too, one time I was in Mississippi and went through a southern mansion, and seen the old library with it’s massive book shelves, and old desk with the big leather chair, I done seen the plantations, where your dear colored children used to work. You died for them as well as us, why was they treated so badly?

And Lord, you’ve given me 9 lovely children that love you, and a home to live in. Why you’ve even given me almost 50 years of marriage, to dear ole Pop.

Lord, I remember the time we hiked up to Delicate arch in Arches National Park and watched as the sun set behind the LaSalle mountains and the quietness of evening settled over the valley below.

I guess, when I count my blessin’s Lord, I get so excited I can’t remember my troubles. But everything has a bleesing to it, even the blessin’ of lossin’, what the smart folks call, short term memory. You can’t remmber your troubles from yesterday, but you can remember the blessings of yesteryear. 

Well, I guess I be moseying along now, I won’t be a takin’ up any more of yor time, I’m sure there is a heap of other folks a wantin’ to talk to ya, so I’ll jest say Evenin’ to you Lord. Thank ya for all my blessings, and I know everything is goin’ to be alright.

“Dear Lord I am so blessed, forgive me when I grumble”

Thank you Maggie58 for giving me the ‘Kreative Blog’ Award!

Because I can’t find another word in the dictionary to espress my gratitiude. I’ll just say a great big THANK-YOU !  It brightened my day!!
I guess I am supposed to name 6 things that make me happy. Believe it or not there are a lot more than 6.  But I’ll stop at six.

 

 

 

 

1. Jesus makes me very happy, without Him I don’t know how I could be happy. The thrill of my sins forgiven and knowing The Master of the Universe loves me, makes me happy.

2. Pop make me happy, even with him buying all his sales I feel safe with him, I have fun with him. The way he spoils me makes me happy.

3. The love of my 52 grand children make me happy. The things they say and the little tokens of love, that the little ones give. A few crooked lines on a paper mean “I love you grandma”

4. Pictures bring many memories that make me happy, and scrap bookking makes me happy, as do all my crafts.

5. Friends, including my blogging friends, bring me much happiness. So much so that I look forward everyday to comments from friends.  They are a bright spot in my day.

6. Each season brings me happiness. I love the vigor I feel when spring arrives, I love the lazy daze of summer, I love the soft winds of atumn and the harvest it brings along with the colored leaves.  There’s nothing like waking up to see a blanket of freshly fallen snow. and  a warm crackling fire in a fireplace.

 

Tonight we ate out with old time friends, along with our son and his wife, and my grand daughter from PA.

 

My grand daughter is going to be with me for 7 weeks and wouldn’t that make me happy? Of course it does.

 

Now:….. How does one pick friends to pass on the award to, this is the hardest part.  I would like to give it to everyone who comments on my blog and some I lurk on I would even like to pass it back to Maggie, I like her blog, it inspires me and gives me more ideas for crafts. It thrills me to read her personal testimony for Christ.

 

I will pass it on to

 1. “scentedgeranium” who is always busy working, Writing blogs about her darling little boy (a special needs child,) .taking care of her grandbaby or commenting on my blog.

2. “Thats_italian” I admire the way she shows her love for her family, the way she deals with the family, and her desire to put God first.

3. “islandlife” a young mother that writes honestly about her every day life with bringing up 5 children for God.

4. “Threads_of_faith” she shows that she cares for others very much and is willing to spend time with those that need her. I have been inspired by some of the poems on her site and encouragement to follow God.

5. “Gentle_Shepherd” Although he don’t write as often as he used to, I often used his site as part of my devotions.

6. I can’t decide, I’ll try again tomorrow…Am I allowed to put down all the people I have sucscribed to? or that comment on my blog……..    I don’t know how to use “Mr Linky”, I’m sorry

 

H- handicap – something that makes it difficult to do well.

A -always having to accept the help of others, instead of helping others.

N-not being able to do the things you want.

D-dreams given up, that will never come true.

I-ideas that will never come to pass.

C-care of others that you cannot do.

A-appreciation that consumes you, when others do things for you.

P-prayer for patience, strength, and wisdom.

PLS – Praise the Lord in Song

I am learning:

H- healing of the mind comes in accepting.

A-any trial that God gives He also gives with it, grace to accept it.

N- never give up hope. Without hope one cannot go on.

D-dreams can change.

I-I am blessed with the love of a family.

C-cares and worries go away, when given to God.

A-Always give thanks for the blessings I have, which are many.

P- Pray for others who have it much worse than I.

These are thoughts that come to me as I sit and watch others do the things I used to love and I still love to do, if I could.   I’m sure God loves me and there is a reason for this. Although, today is Labor Day and as my daughter-in-law and my grand daughter prepare this evenings picnic in my kitchen. I wonder if they know how much I long to be out there with them. Or, since I can’t do it, if they know how much I appreate them and are thankful for them.  I have never felt the all consuming feeling of appreciation, that I’ve learned recently. I wonder when can I repay them. Have I done anything to deserve the love they show?

The last week or so I’ve been going through 27 boxes of books that have been stored for 6 years. Some boxes take me longer than others as I walk with Elsie Dinsmore through her southern mansion, and I see butterflies fly gently through the Limberlost swamp.( I remember the time when I was able to see “Shepherd of the Hills” in Branson, MO) and I read about “When a Man’s a Man”. I spent the afternoon with Laurie and Mary in their “Little House on the Prairie.” And ran on the seashore with the “Bobbsie Twins” It was exciting to visit Louisa May Alcott and her sisters as they became “Little Women” again and “Little Men” and to meet “Jo’s Boys” I was so glad to talk with “Pollyanna” again and play her glad game, (in which I am glad Pop (my DH) is feeling better. I’m glad he don’t have to go to the doctor today.)

Tonight I’ll go with George McDonald to “The Shepherds Castle” and I’ll carefully steal down the steps to the dungeon in hopes I’ll get there before anyone else, in time to save (whoever’s down there, I forgotJ ) (our old house, when we lived near Estacada, lent itself well to mystery books, books about country life, “Little House in the Big Woods” and “Cheaper by the Dozen” I remember one night all was quiet in the house and the children were asleep. (or so I thought) but sometime after midnight there were books being read. The upstairs bedroom were arranged thus…there was a bedroom at the end of the house, and an attic bedroom above. Just next to the bedroom below was another bedroom. Well, “altheveas” was in the attic bedroom reading, “The Shepherd Castle“. Mrs.Darling was below reading and #2 son was in the next bedroom reading Huck Finn.#2 son laughed out loud at something he read and that set off a chain reaction. Mrs.Darling heard it and responded with “Hark I heard an idiot laugh” and in turn “alltheveas” was in the attic reading ‘Shepherd Castle” and the tension was building up as the lover in the book was creeping down the steps to the dungeon below to rescue his love. Next morning “altheveas” announced that anyone with a less sound mind that her would have lost it right there.)

O, the memories, great and small, that one has in a lifetime.

I come to Oregon with the Whitman’s as they settled in Washington and fought with Custer on the battlefield, to the last. (I remember one time on one of our trips standing where the battle was fought, the sun was setting and as we looked out over the rolling hills we could see groups of 2 white crosses together where the men had fallen, there were groups of 3 and sometimes 5 scattered over the hills, and there across the hill was one lonely white cross (the crosses were placed where the men had fallen. It was quiet and still that night and one could feel the loneliness and the quietness that must have spread over the land after the battle was done.)

I went with “Christy” to see “Cutter Gap” and traveled thru “The Lighthouse” with Eugenia Price and visited the old church on St Simons Island. Coffee table books from Washington DC to Alaska. I don’t dare forget my ancestor found in many, many books.

I could go on forever but I have to sort more books J and Pop has a doctors appointment we need to leave for soon. (I guess I started this yesterday, when there was no doctors appointment.)

I encourage you Go Thru the Day with Christ, we live in a time where God is our only hope

O’re the snake river and through the desert. – To another surgery we go. – The car knows the way, and Pop does too.  – As down I-84 we go.

Over the river and through the desert, – My how the sun does shine: – It’s hot today, as we go our way, – And the temp says ninety-nine.

Over the river and through the desert, – Now the hospital I do spy; – It isn’t much fun, Is the doctor done: – Hours later, we breathe a sigh.

Down at the hospital, in room 326 – Pop spent the night alone – We’re happy today, as we go on our way. – ‘Cause today we bring him home.

As you might guess Pop had his 4th surgery yesterday and he has 3 or 4 more to go He has been hospitalized 4 times, and in day surgery 2 times.

Yesterday he had a large kidney stone removed  ( almost an inch in size) also the doctor removed the stint they had put in and couldn’t find the last time he had a procedure done.  This time caused him more pain than he had the last times. We brought him home today around 2pm.  My son and his wife are staying with us this time.  For which I am very thankful.  If I felt good I think I could do it alone, the way it is I’m kinda scared I can’t take care of him right with 2 tubes placed in his back (kidneys)  He sometimes get dizzy when he gets up and I’m sure I couldn’t hold him up if he would fall.  The road ahead is getting shorter and I’m in awe how my God has been with us.

Blessed is a nation whose God is the Lord.  Psalm 33:12 – America, America! God shed His grace on thee…..     and now we pray for mercy.  PRAY for our nation!