A day to remember

 We have a cloudy day and temps that are wonderful.  I played tennis this morning but as of 10:00 it has been a day with not much happening.  So what do I do?  I have been sitting back and remembering what was!  Well I also have taken care of Terry but it seems that it is a good day to remember, write and enjoy the rewards of maybe what I may describe as "old age".  I would start out by saying that my heart is heavy for the friends, siblings, parents and others who have passed on to another life.  BUT I assume that God has a plan and he still has me here so I am trying to make the most of it!!!  BUT it brings tears of joy to me as I remember what was and what God has given  me.  So some thoughts of memories that are very dear to me:

• I often break out in laughter when I think of the many many times Joan, Dave, Helen and I spent on the farm and all that we did.  From pitching hay to making hay stacks, to mowing the large yard to playing along the creek to journeys up to the lake to picking rocks and it goes on and on and on.  For those memories I am most thankful.
• I could share several Christmas times when we received almost nothing and then there were times when we received gifts even though there was almost NO money.  The games, the card games, the puzzles, the ping pong guns, the pogo stick and more are memories that bring a smile to my face.
• Milking the cows at night in the winter brings memories that are wonderful.  The eyes of the cats coming through the lantern light and then squirting milk into their mouth was fun.  Putting the kickers on Betsy so that she would not kick the milk pail was an adventure.  The tiny kittens born in the hay barn were so much fun.
• Playing ball against the corn crib or on the south side of the barn was one of my favorites.
• Picking rocks and making a game of it was actually fun.  I am sure I won the disc throw and the shot put as we cleared the rocks off the farm land.
• Pulling weeds in the newly planted trees was not that much fun BUT to think back on it brings memories that I cherish.  I must admit during one of my fits of rage I went to the newly planted trees on the east side of the house and pulled up TWO tiny trees.  AND yes I did not tell Mom and Dad.
• Playing along the creek that went through the pasture was so much fun.  It included finding fish in the spring to digging for things in the mud to finding snakes on snake rock in the middle of the pasture.
• I would be remiss if I did not mention Dave and I making wooden guns and then playing cops and robbers or was it cowboys and Indians?
• Playing ping pong on the kitchen table and then taking time to fry sliced potatoes on the cook stove was wonderful.  I doubt I have had better potatoes than those!
• Putting puzzles together on New Years Eve was the best!
• Looking at Dad's "dream book' when he was not home was something that we did and we never did figure out what he saw in that crazy dream book.
• Of course my one hole golf course was the center of my summer for two or three years.  I admit as I played golf I kept an eye out for a red and white Chevy car that sometimes drove past and up to the lake!
• Luther League was a monthly church event that at times was interesting.
• The fall festival at church was fun as we often got nickels from Mom and Dad and with that we could buy ice cream and cake.
• I would be remiss if I did not mention the times that Ronald, Ronald and Glorine, Janet or Janet and John came to visit.  Those times in my high school years made living at home "not so bad" as they were family that I loved and just waited for their visits.
• The two or three trips to the Minnesota State Fair with Dad stand out as great times.  I admit I was not so great on visiting machinery hill but still the food, the races were so much fun.  I promise we NEVER played any games.

So here I am in Naples and thinking that a long life is wonderful but yet it also brings tears and events that are so so sad.  However I am very thankful for my life, the people in it and the blessing that God has given me.  I have much more than I deserve so thank you Lord.