Prayers for a Friend

Martha Lynn is a very dear friend.  One of the strongest people I know.  25 years ago when I began working with the Troy City Schools she was a teacher of the Learning Disabled.  She worked at Collegeview and I was based at Oakland Heights.  I would see Martha Lynn when I traveled to Collegeview to see the 4th and 5th grade speech students that I served.  When we consolidated schools into Troy Elementary School we worked at the same school.  Martha Lynn was an awesome teacher that worked really hard with her students and went above and beyond to do whatever it took to reach her students.  She would do the "extra" things to help these students stay off the streets and out of trouble if she needed to. A few years before she could retire she quit teaching and bought a flower shop in town.  Martha Lynn was not only a good teacher but a very talented and creative person.  Teaching in special education can "wear you out" with paperwork and the dedication of your heart to these students.  Martha Lynn was tired and needed a change.  It was a loss to our school system.  When she bought this business she asked me one night at a ballgame if I would come help her out at Valentines making baskets and arrangements.  She knew I had worked at a florist in college.  How excited I was to be asked to go help her and get to "play with pretty things" after school!  Valentine baskets led to helping with prom flowers and then to other things.  I have been able to help with Mother's day, some weddings and funerals. I have learned so much from working with Martha Lynn. A year and a half ago during the Valentine's week we had a big snow storm!  It really put a damper on the orders and business that Valentine's Day.  Snow and ice were so bad that day that people did not come in and order and many deliveries had to be canceled.  That day, Martha Lynn's husband fell on the slippery ice.  Jim hurt his back that day and weeks and weeks later he could not get over it.  He was going to have some back surgery and when tests were being run it was discovered that he had multiple myloma.  This is cancer in the bone marrow.  Jim has had one bone marrow transplant in Birmingham and did really well.  The past few weeks he has been having really bad headaches and had lost some hearing in his hear.  He went to the ENT and they could not find any reason why he should have lost his hearing.  An MRI was done and it showed that a tumor on his skull was pushing on his brain.  Jim is now in Little Rock, Arkansas for treatments.  He is undergoing chemotherapy and is about to have back to back bone marrow transplants.  They are collecting his stem cells and will soon do the transplant. Jim knows he has to get "worse" before he can get better.  Another part of this story is that both of Jim and Martha Lynn's sons are about to get married.  Rob, the older son is getting married in October.  Prayers are for Jim's bone marrow transplant to go as planned and for him to be strong enough to come home for the wedding before he has to go back for his 2nd trnsplant.  Martha Lynn is strong like a rock.  I often worry about my dear friend because she is so strong.  It is a really helpless feeling when you can't help or feel that is really anything you can do.

Martha Lynn and Jim

This weekend there was a coffee for her daughter in law to be on Saturday morning and an Engagement Party for Rob and Morgan that night.  Jim and Martha Lynn were not there to help celebrate so the wonderful parties were not complete.  It made me sad for my friend.  God knows the prayers in my heart for HIS will to be done for Jim.  Their faith is so strong and my prayers and thoughts are constantly with them.   God Bless my friends and let this story have a happy ending.

Rob and Morgan

Positively Marley

Since the time Marley was a small child she was always trying to find the positive out of any situation.  As a child, some of her "positiveness" was rather comical.  LIKE..........

• The time I made some cornbread and I think the meal was old because the cornbread just didn't taste just right.  Marley said, "that's OK, at least we aren't eating poison ivy."
• When Bill was playing basketball at the age of 10 and we got the oldest ref in the league (Scotty).  Mickey and I said, "oh, no! We got Scotty today.  Marley replied, "at least we have a referee."
• When I called my mom to tell her the names of the children in Marley's kindergarten class I was naming kids like: Quanisha, Donta, Tyquan, etc.  you get the picture... When Mickey got home from work she was so excited to tell him she had kids in her class with names like "hammerhead!"

 This little girl always kept a smile on our face and as she grew into a young adult her positive attitude was such a pleasure to be around.  If I was having a bad day she would always try to find something positive.  And she was right....every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day!

Blessed are those whose attitudes are shaped by their hopes and not their hurts.

Old time manners....

1. yes mam, no mam, yes sir, no sir; that is how i was raised and what i believe in
2. saying please and thank you and really meaning it
3. hand write a thank-you note
4. a guy opening the car/truck door for the lady....chivalry seems to be dead, although i have seen the opening of doors lately and it really made my heart smile
5. a guy holding the door for people entering
6. the simple courtesy of speaking with someone enters a room
7. a guy should take his cap/hat off when coming inside and most certainty when at the table eating
8. no smacking of the food
9. keep your elbows off the table...remember Mable, Mable strong and able???
10. when you finish a meal say "i enjoyed it" and "may i be excused, please?"
11. answer the phone with a smile on your face...it can be heard in your voice
12. wash your hands before you eat
13. wait before everyone is seated before you begin to eat
14. tell the truth...it is always the best 

Talking about manners....the Zigster knows hers!

In this house....
We do second chances 
We do grace
We do real
We do mistakes
We do I'm sorry
We do loud really well
We do hugs
We do family
We do love!
 

When the limo breaks down.....

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

Sometimes

we expect 

more from others

because we

would be willing

do to that much.

                                                                                      

If our two girls are your friend, they are a true friend to you.  They believe in honesty, integrity and loyalty.  They are a devoted friend.  There are times when they have been hurt by friends.  They do not understand "fakeness" in friendships.   Their maturity and devotion to friendships has often caused heartache on their part.  They have been "used" til they are no longer needed.  They have had friends that only need them when things are not going good for themselves.  But wait...are these really friends??? It is one of those life lessons you never want your child's heart to feel....but you know they will grow into a more beautiful adult by experiencing this pain and heartache.  

Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down.
Oprah Winfrey

From my book to my blog.....

God hath not promised skies always blue,
flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But, God hath promised strength for the day.
Rest for the labor, light for the way.
Grace for the trials, help from above,
unfailing sympathy..undying love.

I believe in pink.
I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner.
I believe in kissing. Kissing a lot.
I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong.
I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls.
I believe that tomorrow is another day and
I believe in miracles. ~~Audrey Hepburn

This is the beginning of a new day.
You have been given this day to use as you will.
You can waste it or use it for good.
What you do today is important
because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;
In its place is something that you have left behind...
Let it be something good.

Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground.  Let their spirit ignite a
fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it....~~Peterson

Never part without loving words to think about during your absence.  It may be that you will not meet again in this life.~~Jean Paul Richter

He's not perfect.  You aren't either, and the two of you will never be perfect.  But if he can make you laugh at least once, causes you to think twice and if he admits to being human and making mistakes, hold on to him and give him the most you can.  He isn't going to quote poetry, he's not thinking about you every moment, but he will give you a part of him that he knows you could break.  Don't hurt him, don't change him, and don't expect more than he can give.  Don't analyze. Smile when he makes you happy, yell when he makes you mad and miss him when he is not there.  Love hard when there is love to be had.  Because perfect guys don't exist, but there's always one guy that is perfect for you. ~~Bob Marley~~

If I leave here tomorrow, will you still remember me? ~~Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant...Free Bird, 1973 performed by Lynyrd Skynyard

The excitement of a new school year!

This last week I started my 25th year as a speech therapist with the Troy City Schools.  It is always exciting beginning each new year...anticipating your new students, hoping to reach each one and make a difference in their life and also to be a good friend to your work family.

This week has made me think back on our own kids "first" days in school.  I was really nervous and scared when Bill began kindergarten.  He just seemed so small and I just really wasn't ready for him to grow up.  He went to what was called Cherry Street School in Troy.  He would ride to school with me at Oakland Heights and then "catch" a ride with another parent to his school.  His teacher was Mrs. Jennings, who is still teaching with me now.  He had a behavior board with a mouse on it.  If his mouse "came down" he had not had a good day!  Well....his mouse came down a lot.  Not for BIG things, but little things like he talked at rest time, didn't stay in line in the hall, "played" in the lunchroom etc.  Each day Mickey would ask him if his "RAT" stayed up!  When Bill would come to my room I would immediately look at his folder in his backpack.  One day he told somebody that he couldn't even get in my room before I started "digging in his backpack". 

I knew that Mallory was so excited to begin school so this really did not bother me as much. The December she turned 5 she was so upset that she could not go to kindergarten that very day!  She was READY!  She began in the new Troy Elementary School.  Her teacher was Mrs. Dunn. All I had asked Mr. Jones was to please put her with some of her friends.  I knew that all of the teachers were good...I just wanted her to be with some of her friends.  She was in a room with an AWESOME teacher and not one of her friends!  But sociable Mallory made friends quickly and had a great year.  I never got over it though! She wore a side ponytail almost everyday and had a pretty bow to match her outfit.  I would sometimes see her walking down the hall with her thumb in her mouth!  She did love that thumb!

The summer before Marley was to start Kindergarten made me really sad.  I knew it was the last one beginning kindergarten and it really got next to me.  We had her a navy blue dress with orange bows smocked around the neck for her to wear.  Cute little MaryJane shoes.  We had been ready for weeks!  On the first day of school I have to get to school really early to avoid traffic issues and help with the new students.  That morning Marley informed me that she was NOT going to wear that dress.  I calmly said that she was and for us to go ahead and get dressed.  She said she WAS NOT going to wear that dress because people would think she was for Auburn!  Oh my lanta!  I thought I was going to have to beat her cute little butt on her first day of kindergarten!  I explained to her it was a Troy Elementary School dress and she would never have to wear it again, but she WAS going to wear it that day.  I have never been one to fight the clothes battles, but by George I was going to fight this one and I was going to WIN!  She wore the dress and by the end of her first day when I saw her she was barefoot and smiling in front of the welcome to our school sign! 

Just for the record:  Mallory; Never had a pair of jeans until she was in the fourth grade.  Was so excited to get her first pair.  Always let me dress her like a precious little doll!  Bill;  I picked out his clothes until he moved out.  I would iron his shirt, jeans/khakis and he would put it on with a smile!  Always looked sharp!  Marley;  At 2 years old if I gave her a choice of shorts or a dress she would want to wear a skirt.  If I put our a skirt and shorts for her to choose from she would want to wear a dress.  So, I would tell her to just get dressed in something because I had to get to work!  I didn't care!  It would really bother Mallory some of the things that she would pick out!  HAHA...But then she might be at the ball field in a smocked bubblesuit playing in the red dirt!  Lawdy Lawdy Miss Marley! What stories, what stories, what sweet, fun memories and stories!

Happy Birthday...Shelly, Jack, Allie and Jon Harris

Wow...A lot of birthdays to celebrate today!  Shelly is 28 today and we enjoyed a birthday dinner at the Half Shell with the birthday girl, Bill, Mack and Wanda.  Mickey and I enjoyed getting to see them tonight.  Mallory was supposed to come, but she fell asleep after work and didn't wake up in time.  Those "little ones" wear her out! Marley is still in California and was actually on the beach as we were eating!

Bill and Shelly are pictured here with their dog Tip.  I can't believe they are about the celebrate their 5th anniversary.  They are such a precious couple that seem so much "in love".  We are so proud to have Shelly as part of our family.  Happy Birthday, Shelly!

Jack, Allie, and Jon Harris turned 6 today.  They are our friends/family from Michigan.  They are growing up oh so fast!  It seems like they were just born yesterday.  They are just awesome and we can't wait for them to get down here in a few weeks. It has been way too long since we have seen them.  They are about to begin 1st grade.  Time really does fly by.  Happy  Birthday to the most adorable triplets you will ever meet!  Love you guys to the moon and back!

Jack: Eyes that will melt your heart, funny, smart,can play a mean guitar

 

Allie: Brown eyed girl, "the boss", prissy, dancer, fashionable

Jon Harris: Rule follower, sweet, smart, orderly, handsome, going to please you

Some of my favorite people ever celebrate their "day of birth" on August 4.  Love you all and are so glad you are in my life and part of my very happy story!