This time, it has come in the form of a bulletin here on Myspace.

There is a China Camp ministry called Bring Me Hope, and they ask for volunteers to fly to China for a week {or two if you choose} and work with orphan children. It is run by a family of Christians who want very much to give these kids the love they have never known before.

I always throw myself into these dreams quickly and whole heartedly! This one is no different. From the moment I read the “About Us” page, I have been planning and thinking and sorting things out in my mind to be there for camp this year. If you were to read my away message on my IM’s right now, {the message has been there all day in fact. And I only read about this group a few moments ago.} you would see that part of it says “And in some cases, I just want to GO.” This is how I have been feeling lately. I want to go, go and do something! Yes, I have ideas of places that would be fun {for the sake of fun I mean, not for the sake of ministry} to go and already had dream plans for at least two trips in the works right now. They melted out of my mind when I saw this one and saw that I already have the cost of camp! {I would still need to save just over 1,000 for my passport, visa, plane ticket, and spending money}

I showed Mum the page, with the ‘lead in’ of “SO, should I go to China?” and her reaction was much like I expected!! “Sure! Just get the money! You are going to have a hard time coming home after that. You will just have to start saving for the next year as soon as you are back, since you know you will want to take those kids home with you.”

The ‘interesting’ part? It was not until I sat down here to write this that I had any thoughts of my health. Even Mum did not mention those set backs and road blocks! I was not worried that my back could not handle the work, the trip,anything, nor did I have any fear in regards to my allergies or thoughts of how I was going to continue treatment for all of my conditions while away. The only thoughts I had was: “Prayer letters will need to go out. I will need to start the work on the visa and passport. Maybe I can get some of my Chinese friends to teach me a few more words by August” and so on.

I do not look at that as ‘a sign’ that I am to go,but it is encouraging to me in some ways that my first thought was not that I would be unable to do it due to my health. Today is even shot day, I have both arms wrapped due to the painful injection sites, I have already had to take a Benadryl since I was not longer able to fight off the effects of the shots on my own,and I have been wearing a brace on my left hand all day due to the pain from whatever afflicts it! {Carpal tunnel or Tendinitis} Just yesterday Mum, Dad, and I were discussing my allergies, the severity of them, the fact that this is a life long thing, something I will not just grow out of but instead need to learn to deal with, live with, and manage.

As with every other dream and endeavor I have had, this is going to take a HUGE amount of prayer, both for me and by me, as well as my family! They have a ‘sponsor a child’ program on there as well, so I will be praying about perhaps doing that, especially if it turns out I am not to hop an aircraft for Beijing!! All things are possible with Christ, and I know that if I am to go, I will have the money, have my passport, have a visa, and have the stamina/health/medication/ability to do this!!

At the beginning of this year, I told my friend SarahHope that I wanted 2008 to hold BIG and WONDERFUL things for us. China had not been on that list for me, but now it is. I have been praying for direction, praying for a place to go, praying for so much……this does not change those prayers, just gives a new, more specific direction and line of prayer!! heh.

So now, the question is: компютри втора употребаDo I go?мебели

by SAjMaKii

Sam and I went on a long walk on September 11. We went about four miles, to Hawk Woods. Once there, we took tons of photos…with Sam and I taking turns ‘manning’ the camera. Those photos can be viewed here:

by SAjMaKii

These are our tribute for Sept 11:

Saturday was another MIRF visit. This time, we did not go till after one pm, since we were taking someone who was not available till after noon. After a quick stop off at Tim Hortons for a cinnamon roll for Squire Paul, and some peanut butter and strawberry jam for our snack of home made biscuits, we arrived at the fest around two I think. They had opened the second gate entrance,but were not yet using the large second back field. THANK GOODNESS!! I don’t like to walk through the woods with all the mud and such before getting to the gates.

Time went by so stinkin fast that day!! Our day did not seem so full, even though we saw a few shows we had as of yet, not been able to make it to. All in all, it was a fun day. I had wanted to stay more in character, speaking in my Zairah accent all afternoon and such….but I failed terribly. Still did the Zairah walk and pose, since they are far too fun to pass up, and I love being able to stomp around in my big clonkin boots!! I got both D and Kade to bounce around with me during the drum jam later in the evening at closing gates. I tell ya, if it were not for the fact that I thought Kade would not join in….and if I knew for sure I would not get disapproving looks once I got home…I would so join in on more of the jumping and bouncing of the drum jam more often!! We all got so dizzy!! It was fun!! On the way to the car, D and Kade both ran in circles to make their big skirts twirl! {they were kinda matching, even though we did not try for that!} We saw a scary goth guy dresses as some kind of a freaky girl. I took a pic of him as he stood watching the duel, cause I was not sure anyone would believe me when I tried to describe him. He then asked D to take a photo with him! {he didn’t know I had taken the pic.} *shivers*

OO I forgot to say, last weekend, Kade got asked to dance! It was so cute!! Because she did not know what the dance was, she had to say no…not knowing that it in fact was more of a ring-around dance and not a guy girl thing. I felt bad that she had to turn it down once we saw that it was one she would have been ok with doing I am sure. It was cute though, when the guy came over and pointed at her. She shook her head, and he said “Come join in the dance!!” she again shook her head and said no thank you, and he went in search of another pretty girl since he had not been able to get his first choice!

The cinnamon roll went over well! I did not give it to the Squire right away! In fact, I did not give it to him at all!! Instead, I hid it in a part of the garden that is right in his range of vision during part of the act. Thankfully, I was able to hide it and run back to my seat before even Dave the Knave came out, so no one but us knew it was there! I got worried at first that he was not going to see it, but my fear was in vain! For as the time came where he often begins to beg the audience to give him food, as Dave is about to ‘behead him’, he saw the roll on the bag in the dirt. Dave turned to Sir James, as always, pointing the sword instead at him, Paul reached into the garden and began to devour the roll. Without looking, Dave asked Sir James “Is he eating again?” When the answer {from both Knight and Squire} was yes, the Knave turned and scoffed at the squire. He asked something like “Where did that come from?” and Paul said “I don’t know, it was here in the garden.” The rest was as follows.

Dave: It was just in the garden? You are eating garbage! That is probably someones left overs!

Paul: No! Someone left it here for me! It is for me, its not garbage.

Dave {turning back to Jamie}: Is he finished yet?

Jamie: No.

Paul takes another bite, reads the bag to himself {I wrote “To Squire Paul from Carm and Tiff” on the bag that I placed the roll on.} takes another bite, then places the roll back on the bag. Then gets back into the position he is suppose to assume for the show, licking his fingers every now and then to get the glaze off.

Later in the show, when Paul has to ‘spit’ on his hand to get Sir James’ eyebrow unstuck, Sir James replied “Ew! Smells like cinnamon roll!”

I love being apart of the show…..even when the actors do not know who did it!

by SAjMaKii

Pictures of our day are there.

About half way through the day today, Mayo asked me “Hey, when you came through drivethrough Saturday, did you said ‘Thanks C-manager”? {manager’s name} I said that yes I had. She said “Ok. See, it was just the two of us here, and when you said that, I didn’t hear that you had said his name! So I asked him if he knew who it was, and he said he didn’t. Then when you got through the window I asked again who it had been, and he said it was you. I told him I was surprised that you would say that, but he didn’t seem all that shocked. An hour later I said, ‘I just cant believe that Carmella would say that!’ he said ‘Why, what do you think she said?’ I thought she said “Thanks Baby!’” He let her know that I had in fact only said his name, NOT called him such a personal and affectionate term! She was laughing about it, as was everyone else as she told it. THEN, later in the day, said manger came in to check on something. He walked over to me and said “Hey, did Mayo tell you about Saturday?” I very enthusiastically told him I had really said his NAME not Baby, and that I was never again going to say his name at drive through. He assured me he knew all along that I had said his name, and that the only confusion for him was not knowing who I was at first. It was not till later that day that he knew Mayo thought other wise. So what did he do next? Go around making sure everyone had heard the story! It was kinda funny,and I am so glad that 1) he had heard me say his name and not what Mayo heard 2) that his wife to be was not there either day!! and 3) that he thought it was funny! I value my job far too much to go calling my boss Baby,,,,specially the ones who are engaged! {and who’s fiancé works with us!} Like that is me anyway!! )

Kade and I have an eviction clean up job to do on Wednesday. The extra money is going to be great!! They told us though, that the co-op has put a cap on how much they can pay us! heh. We get 12.50 an hour each for cleaning one of the units after someone has been kicked out. {We have heard that $25 an hour for two people is a good price, as many agencies charge near that per person.} This time, they are only allowed to pay us up to $100. We hope to get the whole thing done in those four hours….though I am hoping that it does take four and not less! lol. It is only a two bedroom, so I am not thinking it is going to be TOO much work. The things that will take the longest are going to be the windows for sure, and blinds if they have them {though I don’t know if Kade said they mentioned blinds or not} I have had some pretty nasty refrigerators to clean out in the past, and Kade has had so not nice stoves…so those add time too depending on how well they have been cared for. Timing is a big deal. I have to be upstairs when Kade does the stove, as she has to use a heavy duty cleaner that my lungs can not handle. It would be easiest to do the fridge at the same time the stove is being done, but that is a no go. At the same time though, I feel safer having two people take the windows out and in, so unless we can get them all out before she does the stove, and I clean them during that time, I will have to busy myself with floors, closets, vacuuming, and what I can do in the bathroom. Neither of us has been in the house ever before, so we have no clue what condition it is in.

In other neighborhood news, seems we have new neighbors moving in next door, to the right of us. The older lady that use to live there, whom K-D cleaned for, died unexpectedly one night last year. The house has been empty ever since the day they found her back in March of 2006. We have seen one of her daughters with what looked like people taking a look at the house, so we are guessing they are going to buy the place. It is going to be odd having someone live there again! And oh what they must think of us already! For one thing, when Helen moved in her daughter {who lives across the backyard and street.} found it rather odd that we had ‘so many people in such a small house.’ Though she has been nice to us, I think she finds us weird and is not sure what to do with this crazy couple who has been married for 26 years and have 6 kids together! However, on top of that….they were here looking at the house Saturday! Before we left for the festival. At one point, I went quickly out of the house to run across the street to D’s house. Two of the possible new neighbors were standing out front. One said “Good day!” and did a little head bow/nod, while the other one said “Ah, Renaissance festival!” You guessed it. I was all Zairah’ed up! Complete with TWO mugs hanging from my belt, and my big boots.

Two weeks ago or so, we noticed furniture and other items being moved out of the house next to us. Turns out…they too are moving! This means that our family and the family that lives two doors down are the only two who have lived here 16 plus years. The neighbors that have just moved out were here just a few weeks/months before we moved in. Every other house has had at least two families each since we moved in. It would be really great if families would move in to the two homes!! While the woman on the right liked us, the family to the left has never liked us at all. I have not seen anyone doing any walk throughs to the left, and I do not know if they are fully moved out yet. Seems they are still here every day since they moved! There are so many places for sale around here. I think it is nearly a year that a four bedroom around the corner has been for sale. Soon the house Kade and I will clean Wednesday will be for sale too, as well as two one bedrooms and another two bedroom!

So many people leaving! Not sure if I ever mentioned it one way or another, but we do not have to leave. Thought we may, since the mortgage on these places is up and we had to vote on what to do next. There were three choices. Stay as we are…just not have a mortgage, go market rate co-op {this would mean that people can get a home loan using the house as collateral, and sell the unit for whatever the market allows for a townhouse/condo/house.} or go condo. While we knew these places were not condo ready, and would not sell well as condo, there was always the chance that people would not think and would go with condo. If they did that, my family would have to move as we would no longer be able to afford living here. Long story short, the place was voted to become a market rate co-op which means little change to us, as we do not go into debt and so will not get a loan.

Oh yesss. We had spent some time in the ER with Dad, and found we were all feeling a bit down because we had gotten strep. Praise the Lord, Dad was starting to feel better within the first day of taking the meds. He got it the worst of all of us, and was really sick while we were in Glacier, so he was not able to enjoy it to the full extent that he would have liked to.

We then went to Yellowstone. The heat in the actual park is just unbelievable in places. We spent three nights in a camp ground something around 50-60 miles outside of the park. It was close enough that we could drive to the part during the day and back to camp at night, but also far enough away to not be RIGHT in the park or park area. It also meant we were farther away from the fires that were raging through some of the woods in the park. That didn’t mean we were not affected by it. Our things were covered in a fine layer of ash every morning when we woke up.

We all woke up freezing too!! One morning, the first we were to spend at Yellowstone actually, the three kids and David were still asleep, but the rest of us had gotten up and gotten dressed. It was so cold with the wind, that Dad, Mum, Tiff, and I spent an hour or so, before the others got up, in the van talking!! We didn’t want to be out in the ‘elements’. I, thinking it was going to be like that the rest of the day {Canada had tended to be on the cooler side, and my mind had not flipped back over into warm weather mode.} so I put on a long sleeve zip up jacket shirt. Not wanting to go overboard, I didn’t put a teeshirt under in….hoping that if it did get cooler, the lack of a second layer would work in my favor. Nope. I forgot we were going into a place that had boiling lava on every side!! lol. It was not horrid, I even managed to get a sunburn so some of me was not all covered up!! heee!! It was on the hot, hot side {yes, David….shopping shopping, or whatever the words are….} but it was not horrid, as I said.

Some of the others were not impressed by parts of the park, due to the lack of green and living things. What had not been demolished by fires or just the heat of the geysers, had been scorched by the sun or died due to lack of water. I on the other hand, liked it because of that. I’m not sure if it is just cause of the mood I was in or what, but the death all around just seemed to be right. I so much wanted to be able to write a poem that would describe what I was seeing, and how I was feeling about it, but I just couldn’t. The only thing I was able to come up with was this lame little prose of sorts:

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words. So what do you do when you have no camera available, and the beauty has stolen all thousand of those words?”

Yeah…see….I guess my brain dies on vacation! I could think of nothing!

I had told my friend Sarah that, while I was gone for the three weeks,  I would give myself some homework. That would be to write a poem about a farmer story I had come up with. I must have started that thing over 10 times during those 21 days, and had to scrap all of ‘em. I just could not think in rhyme! Even now, I have tried to write about what we saw while there, and just how it was to be there, to see that, to feel the heat and know that hell was fifty times worse at the very least. Many days, I was near tears walking the park. Here I was in a national park, with my family, looking at some of the things I have heard stories of for years…..and I had some of my friends on my mind. Wondering if I had told them enough of the love of Christ. Worrying that I would get home and find one of them to have been killed, and knowing I had not done all that was in my power to lead them to the Lord.

After one such day spent in the park, I went back to the tent and wrote out a letter to one of the friends that had been heavy on my mind and heart that day. I then prayed he would still be around when I got back home, so I could send it to him. He was. And he reacted pretty much like I figured he would. But at least he knows now.

I can not say enough about what we saw while on our vacation. Both the US and Canada have a ton of “prettiness” to offer. Some of my lack of words will be helped when I get my pictures posted. That will be sometime in the future, and then I will be able to have some visual aids to go along with my exclimations…..

I love how unique my family is, and that is always brought out even more by our vacations. I am 22 years old, but really truly enjoy being jammed inside an eight passenger van for hours at a time with the seven other members of my family!

From Yellowstone, we began our trip home.

We stopped for a night in Wall, South Dakota. If you remember, that is where we went on vacation last year. Not only did we stay in the very same camp ground as last year, we stayed in the same camp spot!! It was really neat! Funny though, we got after 7, and set up our site. We then took off across the street to Wall Drug to get something for dinner….at 8. Turns out….Wall Drug closes at 8, and being a town that runs around the drug store….nearly everything else closes at 8 aswell. We did find a gas station that had a Subway in it, and we were able to get dinner there, since it didn’t close till 9!! lol We left early the next morning.

We had hoped to stop off in Iowa and see family there. Tiff and I became very close to much of our extended family in that area, when we spent that six weeks there almost two years ago. Any chance to see them, is one I like to take. Our trek was going to take us about two hours away from Des Moines, but it was looking like it was going to be a better idea just to drive right past and go home, by passing DM all together and goin above.

I was not very good at hiding my disappointment. It was not at all that NOT going to Iowa was going to ruin vacation, and I hope that Dad knows that. I kept thinking that too as I was mulling things over in my head. I knew that there have been times where I have spent all day with the kids and then we don’t get to do one thing in the end, and they are really disappointed. I know that them acting sad about it does not mean that they didn’t like the rest of it, but I also know it can seem like that at the time. Maybe I am making no sense at all…..but at this moment I am kinda thinking out loud and kinda hoping that both Mum and Dad read this! lol. {It will make more sense to them, because they know about the Festival on Saturday and all….but I am probably making even less sense now, and I am even loosing myself. Really, its ok not to get what I am saying right now.}

ANYWHOO….getting back to the subject at hand. While I was disappointed a bit about not going to see everyone in Iowa, I was ok with it. And just as I became really ok with it, and had given my disappointment over to the Lord……Dad, seeing I was sad about it, made an executive decision. We would drive into Des Moines, go to the Sonic that is there {Tiff and I knew right where it was, cause we had driven past it a ton of times when we were there, but had never gotten the chance to EAT there} then call my cousins and my Aunt, letting them know we were in town and all that wanted to come should meet us there for a visit.

YAY.

So, the plan became to call them when we were about an hour outside of Des Moines, we would call.

Then, about two hours outside of the city…..while we were still in Minnesota, Mum felt that there was a problem with the van. Pulling over to the side, she could not tell what it was but knew it was not getting better. At Dad’s suggestion, she turned the van off to see if it would go away, but when she tried to turn it back on, it would not start at all. We were once again stuck on the side of a road, with family about two hours away, unable to do anything….and it was after 5 again. lol.

We had a word a prayer, and then Dad took off down the road, on foot, to look at the mile marker so we could tell a tow truck where to pick us up. When he was about half way to the marker, he turned around and came back. We all gave him a confused look and asked if there was a problem, and he said “No, look!”. Behind us, two MN State Troopers had pulled off to see what the problem was.

See, 99.99% of the roads we traveled were under construction. This one was no exception.

They kindly offered to call a truck for us, because even though we had cell phone service this time, we were no closer to knowing who to call than before. They called a place, but they had sent everyone home for the night, and had to call a man in to come get us. It helps to have a cop be the one calling, eh?

While we were sitting there waiting to find what the outcome of the call had been, I joked, “Hey, they have two cars, they can always wait with us till the truck gets here and then take us where the van is going so we don’t have to call another cab!” I think it was David that said, “No. They don’t have time for that. Its nice enough that they are calling for us, lets just be happy about that. They wont drive us too.”

Do you know, not ten minutes later they told us they were going to wait with us, and then transport six of us with them, to wherever the van needed to go! PRAISE THE LORD!! No expensive cab ride this time!!

One of the men said he thought it would be best to get two of the kids in the backseat of his car, and have one of us adults with them, to get them off the road and to safety. We found out, they both had kids. Both men were VERY concerned about the three young ones and making sure they knew they were safe and had nothing to be scared about. I took Sam and Caeley with me to the car, and got them settled in the back seat. Tiff and David had Katren in the car ahead of us, while Mum and Dad went in the tow truck with the van.

Traffic being heavy, and the shoulder being small, both cops got out and directed traffic while the driver of the wrecker put our van up. Then off we went.

Conversation in our car was so funny! The kids were not at all scared, and the policemen just kept a constant banter going with all three of us. Every few minutes he would look behind him {yes…turn! He didn’t just look in the mirror. In fact, as we were pulling out into traffic, he had both hands off the wheel, so he could type up a report about what they were doing!!! lol} and ask “You two ok back there? You feel ok? You’re not scared right? Everything is going to be ok!” He said he was impressed by the fact that we all seemed to be taking it in stride, and that the kids saw everything was going to be ok! The two nuts were so comfortable with being in the back of a cop car, that they even began to make up stories. From my seat in the passenger side, I heard “So….what are you in for?” from Caeley, then from Sam, “Oh….I murdered my brother. You?” “Oh they got me for robbing a bank.” Both kids had placed their hands behind their backs!!! rofl!!! They had entire stories made up!! I made sure to remind them that there were recorders in the car, and they might not want to talk like that. So instead they went about trying to find the microphones!!! And they did. heh.

After hearing they were home schooled {Caeley was worried that he might think I was their mother, so she brought it up, and my being their sister soon turned to the fact that them being home schooled was the reason we could all be out of the state in September.} the State Trooper stated that he was sure they were learning plenty just being on this vacation. They kids agreed with both that, and the fact that one of the things they were learning was that they only wanted to be in the back of a cop car when being helped with a broken van!!

The garage we were taken to, turned out to be a gas station aswell, in the middle of a corner of shops! We had a Walmart, Super 8 Hotel, and Dairy Queen all within walking distance, though they cops offered to drive us to the Super 8 after seeing to our van! We were saying goodbye to them, when they both went back to their cars to get gifts for the kids!!! lol. I cant even remember everything they were given. I know all they got MN state trooper cards, with a photo of the car on the front and stats on the back, and they were each given a key chain. They handed me a couple too. There was one other thing, but I cant remember right now if it was a sticker or a badge.

We spent the night in the Super 8. Learning from our first motel night, Dad asked for 2 smoke free rooms. They found that they did not have any. HOWEVER, they did have a non-smoking suit with two rooms, three beds, two tv’s, a microwave, a fridge,  a fireplace and a safe for valuables, open and for less than getting two rooms!!! We gladly took it, and were given the key cards. The room was just around the corner from the front desk, and when we got there, we found that the cards would not work. Try after try turned up the same thing. Even having the cards re-programmed twice, and the front desk clerk try it didn’t make things any better. She was going to go look for two rooms to get us, when she remembered that the suit had a sliding glass door that had access to a little patio outside. So we stayed in it, and they gave us $10 off the price of the room for the batteries in the door handle being dead. That room was one of the NICEST we stayed in all vacation, and it was the cheapest aswell!!

When we saw we were going to have to stay in MN for a night, we called our family to let them in on the funny story. They were all gathered at my Aunts house at the time, since another Uncle and Aunt from MI had been driving through and stopped in for a visit.

One of my cousins who is a mechanic, offered to come pick us up and fix the van himself, but agreed that they were quoting us a fair price and it would be ok to stay there and have them fix it for us. It was so wonderful though, to know he was willing to drive all that way to help us out! He also told Dad, that just because we had broken down, and our plans had been changed….that didn’t mean we could get out of going to Des Moines! Dad assured him we would be there the next day as soon as the van was road worthy.

The next morning was spent shopping at the WalMart, after a beautiful continental breakfast at the hotel.

Later that afternoon, they had the van fixed and we were on our way…..we were not even a mile down the road when we heard a horrid sound…..and saw something fall off the van. Hearts in our throats, Dad pulled off to the side of the road again, and he and David went looking for what had fallen.

A wrench!!! lol. They had left a tool under the van, and the driving had bumped it out!! We drove back to give it to them, and I understand they thought it was funny also!

Few hours later… saw us pulling into the Sonic, and another great visit with family. There was a nice turn out for such short notice. On the down side, Dad and my cousin {the one that offered to pick us up} did have to spend about an hour and a half, two hours at the WalMart there getting the tires of the trailer changed.

We were a loud group!!! lol.

Sonic has AMAZING FOOD!!! lol. The chicken sandwich we all had was, we all agreed, one of the best if not the best, we had ever had from a fast food joint!! Good thing too, since it was not till we got there that Dad found out we had never eaten there before!! He knew Tiff and I wanted to go there, but he thought we had been when we lived there for that time. We were both sure he knew we had never made it, but we were wrong. One of the reasons we went to Sonic, was so that I was not the first person in the family that got to eat there when I went to Texas…..and I have already talked it over with Tara….I WILL eat at Sonic again once in Texas!! lol. {See, they play the commercials for all the great Sonic food and drinks, here in MI…..but there are NO Sonics near by! It is a more Southern company. There is one in Ohio, but it is too far to drive just for lunch!}

Mum drove for a few hours after that, and got us to Chicago. Then Dad took over again and drove us all the way back home that same night….well the next morning, but he drove all night I mean. We got home around seven on Saturday.

And there you have it. My account of our vacation. A wonderful time I would do over again anytime!!! 

 

I love seeing my Granddad, but it seems every time I do it is a bit harder. Twice during that day, I had to turn my head so that others would not see the tears that were welling up in my eyes. As I have said before, Grampa has a hard time remembering who I am. However, up until Saturday, he had always known at least, that I was one of his. Saturday, he did not even know I was related to him at all, let alone that I was Carm his granddaughter. The first clue? He told me just how much pain he was in, and how many times he fallen and hurt himself. I have always known that he is in constant pain, and that he falls. But he never tells me just how MUCH pain he is in. He will say “Oh, I’m ok. Hurt, but I’ll live.” There was a terrible amount of pain in his voice on Saturday when he looked at me and said, “I always hurt, and I hurt so much.” Then he looked at Caeley, and said, ‘You are bigger than I remember you.” And then told me, ‘I don’t recognize her. Who is she?” I told him who she was, and he exclaimed, ‘Its my girl!’ Yet, he still didn’t know who I was. He asked me if I was someone he had met at my Aunts house. I said, “Grampa, I’m Carmella…..David’s daughter.” It took him a few more seconds, but he knew who David was….so he slowly remembered who I was. He then did not make any more mention of the pain he was in. That is, until lunch. Gramma asked if he would pray before the meal. I love, and have always loved listening to my Granddad pray. He does not put on a show, or seem as though he is reading from a script. He is just talking to his oldest and dearest friend. And this time, he asked his friend to help him with the pain he was in. That, is the second time I wanted to cry. In all my years, I don’t think I have ever heard him pray for himself. Not that I think it was wrong of him to. It is just that my Grampa is such a giving and thoughtful man, he never seemed to think to pray for himself. THAT is just how much pain he is in. The thought that he is in that much pain, hurts my heart so much. At one time, he told Dad {who he has often discussed his pain issues with} that his hands feel as though they are on fire. As he said that, he touched two fingers together, and jumped. He is tired all the time……a fact that is not surprising given that he is 89 years old. He says he is ready to see His Father, but also does not want to leave yet…..looking at my Gramma he said, “I would rather walk up there with you at my side and say to my Lord, ‘Thank you Lord, for this woman.’”

We went back yesterday {Monday} to do more work on the room. I love the fact that I got to go once again. It was nice to see my Grandparents twice in three days!!!! It is hard to describe a conversation with Gramma. She is such a hoot!! The lady is, herself, in her eighties……but I bet you would not know it from meeting her. She prays for each of her grandkids at night, as well as many missionaries and family friends. Anytime we see her, she remembers to ask how our friend {sister} Chris is, and how our University Students are.

 One of my favorite Gramma phrases is “Well then I would just tell them…….” {‘tell them’ always seems to be emphasized in this cute way that lets you know just how strongly she feels about this subject you are talking about.} She does not even know it, sometimes, but she can say just the right thing. Encouraging you in what you need without you having to ask for it. Such as, if I am having a problem at work, and she finds out about it, she says “Well, then I would just tell them…..I’d tell them, now listen here…..I don’t have to take this…..” Always reminding me to be Christlike but still able to say when enough is enough. I can see that is where my Dad gets it from. He often will say, “Well then I would say!” It is so cute when Gramma says it though, cause you don’t expect this small 80+ lady to be ‘giving them a piece of her mind.’ She has a way of telling you just what you need to hear, and always showing the Love of Christ in her praise, reprimand, and daily conversation!! Yes….my grandparents rock!!

Now….given how many pictures I have taken in just these two days, I have no clue how I am going to make it through three weeks of vacation this summer!!! I am going to need allot of one-time-use cams!! Oy is my developing bill going to be costly after our return from my Canadian Grandparents house!!!

Ok….nough of the gabbing….bring on the pics!

Gramma working in the garden.

Day one of the bathroom re-do.

The shower….or what use to be the shower.

Dad-”We gotta lift that thing outta there…..ugh.” Me-’Can I help?’ Dad-’I wont let you!”

 

My Uncle-”I forgot how much water that little bit of pipe can hold…..even after the water is turned off!!”

This USE to be IN the bathroom!

This was once the shower.

Trying to keep the dirt down a BIT. HA!!

POWER TOOLS!!!!!!

I thought this was a pretty good pic ‘description’ of my Uncle. He was so tired that day….that this was kinda how he looked to ALL of us!!

Takin a break.

New window will be on soon. When this room was put in, my Grampa used the window from a camper!!!

Later that night…..the new full sized window looks great!

An outhouse, ya think?

The junk pile!

Work continues:

As it does outside as well!

*SHOCK* Tiff wore shoes!!!! Only when she took them off could you see JUST how dirty she got out there in the garden!

Grampa-”are you done with my paper?”

Grampa-”She took my paper!”

Later that night, Grampa and the kids played some cane hockey!!

The supervisors!!

DAY TWO:

Like I said, we went back on Monday, but not for the entire day. This time, only after the guys finished their full days of work at home!!! Talk about tiring! I didn’t get as many pics of this day, cause I got to be involved more and help! {The first day, while I did help with the gardening, I also had to take a break or two….or three, for my back.}

Siblings

Break time to talk about favourtie TV shows!

At least on Day two, they had more than rickety old chairs to stand on!!

 

There is still much work to be done. And more shall…..this coming Saturday. I have to work 10-6…..so we shall see if I am able to get over there at all.