Last Sunday we celebrated my Aunt Lila’s 80th Birthday with a whole bunch of wonderful cakes and ice cream at the Nursing Home. There were so many people there..like I have said before I have lots of cousins..and they all like cake and Aunt Lila! Even though Aunt Lila has crippling Rheumatoid Arthritis..she is still sharp as a tack and loved by many!
When we left we heard a tractor. Far Guys relatives were in the parking lot. We had heard that there would be a reunion of sorts..but we were not sure what time it would unfold.
Alaska Guy and his Dad (Uncle Willard) with the newly restored John Deere tractor.
They had worked on this tractor project together several years ago. The tractor had a few problems that they could not resolve.
Uncle Willard is now in the “Memory Unit” I am not quite sure why they call it that..he has few memories. He was having a pretty good day Sunday and remembered his son, the tractor and his wife.
The day before Uncle Willard was going to town with his parents…and working in the fields. He will be 95 in April. Before his memories left him he would call me up and talk about the olden days, I took old photographs into town so he could tell me about the people in them. We had some wonderful visits. He had quite a sense of humor..that seems to have left him also.
Alaska Guy saw to it that the tractor was completely restored and running, his Dad got to see it go round and round in the parking lot. He is a little too old to drive it..but you could tell that he wanted to.
Some things can be restored..it works fine for tractors..not so much for people. My Aunt Lila struggles with arthritis..but she has all her marbles. Far Guys’ Uncle Willard can’t remember much, but his body is in pretty good shape. Then there is my Cousin Rosemarie whose funeral is today because her body failed her at age 41.
Two weeks ago my best friend from High School buried her husband. He had barely turned 60 when Cancer claimed him. I did not know him, but I know her well. Ever thirty years she is widowed..she has been down the widow road before. I cannot even begin to imagine her heartache.
There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the how and why of things. I cannot make sense of it all. I must remember that God is in charge.
The Plan of the Master Weaver
My life is but a weaving between the Lord and me,
I may not choose the colors,
He knows what they should be
for He can view the pattern upon the upper side,
while I can see it only on this, the under side…
Sometimes He weaveth sorrow, which seemeth strange to me,
but I will trust His judgement, and work on faithfully,
‘tis He who fills the shuttle, and He knows what is best,
so I shall weave in earnest, leaving to Him the rest…
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly
shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why –
the dark threads are as needed in the Weaver’s skillful hand
as the threads of gold and silver in the pattern He has planned.
Author Unknown
When I am feeling a bit down and doing much wondering about “the stuff of life” I find that the poem above helps me get through the rough spots:)
It's one of my favorites too. So sorry about your cousin.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments and the poem. I love reading your blog! Read it every day. I learn so much.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that you still celebrate with those in the "home". Sadly, I see people that are placed and forgetten, with many family members near, no one comes to visit.
I am hoping for a sudden departure for me.
That poem is simply wonderful. It says it all. And I think it's also wonderful that Aunt Lila had such a great birthday with so many friends, and even a tractor come to visit! :-)
ReplyDeleteMy grandmother always recited that poem, she lived so much longer than my own mother did and had many heartaches, losing her only husband when she had two little near babies, coming to america, having to place my only aunt with people while she worked, my own mother was more a less raised in Spain by my Great Grandmother and it caused a big divide between my momma and my aunt, it was resolved when my mother got cancer and died young leaving a huge family all alone with no momma!My Grandmother stepped up, my aunt married never to have children and preferred it that way after living with people who were cruel to her as a tiny one, I was the favorite of my Grandmother I suspect because I looked just like her and listened even when she was ranting and going on and on she was quite elderly when I lived with her but she was as quick and smart as any young person, I learned so much, she hung in there until one week until I graduated college and my birthday and it was near Mother's day I lost her oh, my goodness...One never knows what will happen in one's life but I will tell you by the time I was 21 I was alone except my aunt who went into a big depression and was unreachable...I always wonder why some people are not close to their families, I had them for such a short time, my Mom, my beloved Grandmother and my own father...I have asked the good Lord why why why, then I met my future husband in my gried and everything changed...We only have one daughter but cherish her like an angel sent from the Lord, we are close even though she lives many many miles from her home, but we talk each day and are happy...God only gives a person what they can take, heartache of losing one's cousin will be replaced by many other joys soon...sounds corny to say, but I'm a believer in when the Lord calls you home many will weep, but He will be there to greet you as you enter the Kingdom...and many many will enter the Kingdom, only today matters and how you love your kin and neighbor as the good Lord loves them...that to me is the truth, just my opinion, I am sorry for your beloved cousin's loss and your high school friend's loss of her husband....I read you blog, what a sweet blog of your life, your husband, family and your sweet doggie Chance...it always makes me smile and happy you are able to convey your life in a manner which to me is just beautiful..God's Blessings to you always!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI meant to say Grief, not Gried, it is only 5:30 am in the pacific northwest, chilly and softly raining..something we get almost 300 plus days of the year...brrrr...it looks cold and snowy where you reside but you have 4 seasons there and we pretty much have rain, snow and dreary days oh for some sunshine..When I read your blog it makes it sunny to me...
ReplyDeleteThat is a great poem you have shared Connie. Nice that your family can share with these who are still with you and brighten their days. My sympathy to your friend in her loss and to you in your cousin's loss.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your cousin and your friends and relatives in the home. It sounds like they have lots of people who love them though and that is certainly a comfort to all. I have RA also, like your Aunt but I was lucky to get it when they had better meds for it. They're expensive...VERY expensive but they prevent the damage to your joints and that's the key. I have no pain anymore. I sure did at first but I've been on the meds for years now and they are a miracle drug otherwise I would be in the home next to your Aunt. RA doesn't care what your age is. Bless her and all those who didn't have the benefit of the new medications that are out there.
ReplyDeleteI love that poem and have never heard it before but I am writing it down and maybe even framing it to hang on the wall. Bless you and this blog as it reminds me of home. Have a nice weekend.
Thank you for sharing that wonderful poem. My sympathy to your friend on the loss of her husband.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry for the loss of your cousin, especially at such a young age. My heart and prayers will be with ya today.
ReplyDeleteI bet the 'birthday girl' is quite the character. It shows in her beautiful face. Here's sendin' Aunt Lila a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY wish.
Somebody did a great job revivin' that old tractor!
God bless you weekend Miss Connie!!!
To be blunt...you win some and you lose some, life is not fair, and none of it makes much sense to me.
ReplyDeleteI guess 'Memory Unit' is the nice way of saying Dementia Unit, which is what it is called where my mum is. She also has rheumatoid arthritis, but it is under control.
Sorry on the loss of your cousin, that is much too young, and not fair at all:(
Life is tough and not always easy to understand.
ReplyDeleteSending you hugs.
80 years of birthday happiness on one hand and sadness from the too soon loss of your cousin - you certainly are experiencing life at its best and worst. Hard to understand how one person has such a long life and why another has it cut so short. God in his infinite, great wisdom does have a plan! That is a wonderful poem. I hope your day is a better one today.
ReplyDeleteThat was nice of the family to come in for such a birthday. I really like the tractor being brought in for dad to see. My father in law loved his horses and also his tractor.
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspiring post. The poem is perfect - God does have a a plan.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to take the tractor so Uncle Willard could see it. One never knows when something will fire off some of those neutrons in the brain. I did have to smile at your off-hand comment about why they call it a 'memory unit'! Thanks for that bit of humor coming through!
You know...the only way I get through emotional trials in my life is by giving it to God and asking him each day for help. Some days I can't seem to come up with anything to say except a simple prayer..... "God help me to stay out of your way today." I am finally able to get your post!! Yay!!
ReplyDeleteYou and Far Guy are "Good People" - did you know that? Not many family members go out of their way to visit and help aging relatives. I think you are awesome.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful poem ! Happy Birthday to your Aunt Lila ! I am sorry to hear of the loss of your friends husband ! Life isnt fair is it I lost my mum 3 years ago and my dad 16 years ago and I still have a hard time with them being gone ! I hope to always have my memories some way or another !
DeleteSympathy to you for the recent losses you have experienced. You also touch on some of the losses the living experience.
ReplyDeleteThe tractor caught my eye . the first new tractor my Dad bought was the same model as in the picture. We thought it was huge but today it looks like a toy.
What a beautiful poem. I haven't heard that one before. Very true. I can see why it helps. We never know what life holds. Appreciate every day and live it like it will be you last. One day it will be. And you'll be ready. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful poem and so true. It would make a good recipe.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I need that poem today. Ann
ReplyDeleteI was one of 8 kids, and my parents came even larger families. I remember back in the early 1990s our extended family lost 13 people in a 2 year period (including my mom and my sister.) The more people that we cherish... the more often we are lead to grief.
ReplyDeleteAnd yet, would we have loved any less knowing how much we would grieve? Sighs and much sympathy.
Thanks for sharing the beautiful poem with us. ♥
ReplyDeleteThat is pretty cool about the tractor and family reunion - - - - but so sad about the other two being done with life on earth at such early ages.
ReplyDeleteGood poem, good words to remember.
ReplyDelete