Ahhhhh!

Oh my the last month has flown by. We’ve had so much fun having family here with us this past month. We got to spend some time catching up and to travel (some new places, some repeat visits to our favorite spots).

I wish we had been able to host more company and had we been staying longer might could have shared our German home with our granddaughters (and their parents of course).

WE are now in the gearing up for the move mode. What will we have them pack up for us, what will we need when we first get back to Oklahoma, what are we going to hand carry back with us, where are we going to live when we get back....

It is so exciting but stressful at the same time. Taking a deep breath and just taking it one day at a time...

Ha, if you know me very well you know that is a stretch! I will be planning and re-planning and organizing this for the next 8 weeks!

Ode to Lamp Posts

I didn’t realize when I left for Germany how much I liked the look of lamp posts~

Research shows, the earliest lamps used by Greek and Roman civilizations, where to protect one from tripping over something on the path and to light up the night in an attempt to keep robbers at bay. These original lamps used oil for the flame source.

As time progressed gas was used and there were lamp-lighters who made the rounds at dusk lighting the gas lamps (think I might start looking for a lamplighter tour!). Then a system was devised were the flame would automatically be lit; such progress

Eventually we progressed to electric street lights but the look and shape

of these modern lights became more utilitarian in designand less pieces of artwork.

Today similar to when they were invented, the major advantages of street lighting includes: prevention of accidents and the allusion of increased safety; some things never change.

But do we overuse street lights... have we started using so much light that we are pushing away the night? Could we do with a few less lights and maybe some old fashion lamps? Sure the glow might not be as bright but do we really need the light pollution of 5000 WATTS of light glaring every 15 feet down our city streets?

I think not!

I think back to my childhood when we had a gas lamp in the front yard. Every evening the soft glow of these lamps would light up the neighborhood as my childhood friends and I played one last round of hide and seek with the front lamp post be safe. Perhaps these childhood games around the lamp post are what embedded a love of them I have developed as an adult.

I am sure something new will come along soon but I think it would be nice to revert back at least to the look of the old time street lamp. These are some of my favorites from places like:

Venice

London

Dublin

Rome

Paris

Stuttgart

Neuschwanstein

Garmisch

Ludwigsburg

Worms

I am sure there will be more as there are many European Cities yet to see on my bucket list.

And with a renewed interest I will be looking for the lamp posts of Oklahoma upon my return!!

Happy Anniversary!

In this day back in 1980 we were wed.

I joined my life with yours. In sickness and in health, in joy and in sorrow, for richer or poorer, in good times and bad. On this day we pledged to be each others constant friend, a faithful partner in life. To love each other without reservation. To be there to comfort each other in times of distress, to encourage each other, to laugh and cry and grow with each other. To be open and honest and to cherish each other as long as we both shall live.

Looking back over these past 31 years I must say a wedding is but one day. Our marriage was blessed and is a forever thing.

I love growing old with you, my sweetheart and friend!

Happy Anniversary!

A souvenir

A souvenir (from French, for a rememberance or memory), memento, keepsake or token of rememberance is an object a person acquires for the memories the owner associates with it ...

I have picked up a few small souvenirs from our stay in Europe. I have even sent packages home for family and friends from our travels. As I look at the items I have picked up along the way I remember trips taken, times exploring, new places visited and as time passes I will cherish these memories. These souvenirs and photos taken along the way will trigger memories of places traveled for years to come.

Same thing goes for the small trinkets I have collected over the years to remind me of family. I have some wood pieces my father made, art work my mother painted that made the trip to Germany with us. These too are treasures. And now we are collecting new family treasures. A recording of our granddaughter telling us she loves us, small handprints captured, a blanket from our children, even family photo taken while we have been away but shared with us through technology. These treasures have helped keep us close while being miles away.

We have been blessed with the opportunity to travel and explore. I am thankful for this and so many things the Lords has enabled us to accomplish.

Age is catching up with us and becoming a reality

My Mother is aging but in my mind I still see her as she was in my earlier years. I never thought of her as aging. But the reality of this thought is flawed. She has been visiting me for several days now and I see just how frail she has become over the last 2 years. I look at her and think when did this happen, when did I need to start looking out for her?

I guess this is just a part of life, we take care of our young and then as we age they take care of us. I just did not realize that that time had come in our relationship. This is another reason for going back to Oklahoma sooner than later.

Happy 9th of May Day!

May 9 is just an ordinary day, nothing special kind if day... it is however the 129th day in the year.

But lots of special things have happened on this day. Looking back in history we find:

In 1502 Columbus left Spain on his 4th and final trip to the New World

In 1914 President Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day holiday ; And now every few years it is Mother’s Day in the United States and we get to celebrate and honor our precious Mothers

In 1932 Piccadilly Circus, London was first lit by electricity

In 1941 English Army breaks German spy codes

In 1949 Prince Rainer became the leader of Monaco

May 9th marks a day of peace and liberation through out many countries in Europe, it is known as Liberation Day in Germany, Victory and Peace Day in Armenia and Independence Day in Romania just to name a few.

In 1962 the Beatles signed their 1st contract with EMI Pstlophone and in 1965 they attend their first Bob Dylan concert, in 1971 Baltimore Oriole had the largest walk in crowd (31,626) in history. IN 1973 for the 2nd time, Johnny Bench hits 3 home runs in a one game. and in 1984 the White Sox and Brewers played an 8:06 game, the longest timed baseball game, 25 innings.

I admire the achievements of many born on May 9th with some of my favorites being:

1949 - Billy Joel - singer, song writer

1918 - Mike Wallace, American journalist

1931 - Vance Brand, American astronaut

1946 - Candice Bergen, American actress

I am sure this day is special in some many more ways and can be marked in history for many other significant achievements. But to me this is just the day I was born. The day I was first held by my parents, the day I took my first breath. The day the first born in my family became a big brother. A day to celebrate for years to come in our household. This year I will be in Germany and will be celebrating with my Mother, Husband, Aunt and Cousin.

So here is a big shout out...it is a great day to be alive and to be celebrating. Thank you Lord for picking this day to be my special day!

Before I was a Mother....I never knew~

Before I was a Mom, I never tripped over toys or forgot words to a lullaby. I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous. I never thought about immunizations. Before I was a Mom, I had never been puked on. Pooped on. Chewed on. Peed on. I had complete control of my mind and my thoughts. I slept all night. Before I was a Mom, I never held down a screaming child so doctors could do tests. Or give shots. I never looked into teary eyes and cried. I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin. I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep. Before I was a Mom, I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put her down. I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt. I never knew that something so small could affect my life so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. Before I was a Mom, I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.. I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby. I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child. I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important and happy. Before I was a Mom, I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay. I had never known the warmth, the joy, the love, the heartache, the wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom. I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much, before I was a Mom I love my boys! They make Mother’s Day no matter what continent I am on~