One Year Ago......

I was lucky and never had anyone in my family die when I was a child.  I was able to grow up and have so many good times with my parents and grandparents. 

Papa passed away about 25 years ago and Nana just 7 months ago.  So many wonderful memories and they both are constantly in my thoughts.  I wish I would have had more time with them when they were alive, but I treasure the times we had and am so thankful that Nana and Papa were in my life.

My Granny was such a wonderful lady and I think of her often.  I feel sad about her passing, but part of me feels like her passing was a blessing because her memory was gone and there was a sadness about her being in the state she was in.  I wish I would have been old enough to have had her teach me some of her quilting skills, but I do have some of her quilts and wonderful memories of her.

When my grandparents passed on I thought my heart would never heal.  There hasn't been a day in the past 10 years that I haven't thought about them.  So many things that I do or see during the day remind me of Grandpa and Grandma.

Then my Daddy died 1 year ago today and my heart was not only broken, but left with a huge hole.  I miss him so much.  I think about him all the time.  Sometimes I see him in my dreams and he is with Grandpa and Grandma and I get so sad if someone wakes me up.  My dreams of him are so real.  I feel like he is still with me and I would give anything to be sitting around Grandpa and Grandma's kitchen table talking with them all.  Daddy was just to young to be gone (71).  It all happened to fast and I wasn't ready.  I love my Daddy so much and I hope he knows how much he was loved by all of his family.

Thanks for all of the wonderful memories Daddy, Grandpa, Grandma, Nana and Papa.  I love you all,  pray for your souls and that you are resting in peace. 

So Much Racism in 2011? Really?

     I've been doing a lot of thinking lately.  I actually do think quite a bit, but I tend not to share my thoughts.   I thought I would say what's on my mind and voice my opinion on racism. 

photo from http://lawbusinessrevolution.com/blog/2010/03/05/what-drives-you/

    

     I think of myself as a sometimes naive, a very trusting and easy going person.  I try to see the world in color and not just black and white.  This is not to say that I don't make instant judgements or assume the worst in people sometimes, but I honestly try not to.  I go by the theory of "treat others the way I want to be treated."  I believe that we all have the right to be individuals and to have our own opinions. 

     I also am not saying that I don't stear towards people that are like me.  I think that is normal, but it doesn't mean that I am not open and willing to make friends with people from the "other" group.  It reminds me of high school.  In our school we had the Socials, the Blacks, the Freaks, the Nerds, the Jocks, etc..... and everyone was suppose to be hang out with people from "their" group.  I liked some people from the other groups, but it is hard to "go to the other side" sometimes.  Peer pressure....that is a whole different subject.

     Back to the subject of Racism though.  I was brought up to believe that all colors of people are equal.  I was brought up that no race is dominant over another and that all people are just that, PEOPLE.  Skin color should not be what determines a persons character.

photo is from http://www.theupbeatdad.com/2011/07/pride-and-prejudice-teaching-your-kids.html

     I am also not saying that I like all people.  I think that there are bad white people, bad black people, bad people of every race, BUT, I also think in those same groups there are so many good people. 

     There are several reasons that I started really thinking about racism, but I'll share the incident that Earl had at work the other day. 
            A couple at Earl's work were talking about how a black family moved into the house next to them.  "The black family is renting and are probably on welfare" (the rent is $1,700.00 a month....welfare.... I don't think so!)  This couple talked about sabotaging the other family to get them evicted and of course how could the landlord do this to them....rent to a black family!  A third person jumps into the conversation and says how he calls black people "Monday's" because everyone hates Monday's.  There was more said, but you get the gist of it.

     I really don't understand their attitude and especially in this day and age.  I really thought that society had come further than this.  A family is being judged soley on the color of their skin.  Earl's co-workers refuse to get to know their new neighbors and they are already filled with hate for them.  Why are they not giving this family a chance?  Maybe they aren't nice people, but chances are, they are nice and will make wonderful neighbors.  Chances are they are just another family that wants to enjoy their new home and live a happy and productive life. 

     Maybe I live in a bubble and just refuse to see all the negativity in the world.  I am just shocked and really REPULSED that racism is so alive in this day and age.  Black, Asian, European, Spanish, Indian, Arabic, etc, etc......we are all people.  People with their own unique cultures and colors, but still, we are all people, and deserve to be treated as such.  I think that we are all trying to achieve the same goal, to make it through life being happy, loved and accepted and to see our children grow up to happy and healthy.

photo is from http://www.theupbeatdad.com/2011/07/pride-and-prejudice-teaching-your-kids.html

   
      I also believe that racism is one of the most damaging and unfair things that parents can teach their children.  The Upbeat Dad explains this well "One of my strongest beliefs is that no child leaves the womb with any level of prejudice towards anyone. Babies are born innocent and come into a world with all kinds of divisions – ethnic, religious, political, economic and the list goes on. But babies are as innocent as they could be."
  
  "As these babies become toddlers and then pass through the different phases of development, they learn about the world that they live in. It’s a scientific fact that 90% of brain development occurs during the first three years of life."

     "Here’s an approach: be proactive in addressing these topics to children from the earliest stages of their lives. Teach them to love and honor themselves because they are truly wonderful and special. At the same time, teach them to love, honor and respect others – whether they look like them or not."

photo from tcsidewalks.blogspot.com and edited by me
    

     Actually living in a bubble is sometimes kinda nice....I get to see the beautiful opalescent colors reflecting in my bubble.  Another thing, I like Monday's.  Monday's are a new beginning, a chance to go out into the world and experience life.  I also am so grateful that my parents taught me to have an opened mind and see the world as a colorful, diverse place where we are all created equal.

     “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” 
                                                                                                             Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

My Trip to Say GoodBye to Daddy

After a 36 hour bus ride with Jace, we finally made it to Kansas.

Daddy's Vigil was so hard for me. 

I was doing okay until then....

and the reality hit and boy did it hit me hard.

It still doesn't seem possible that Daddy is gone

and I don't think a day will go by that I don't think about him

and feel his love.

 This is a picture of me and my mom and siblings.

  My foster brother surprised all of us and came to the services.

  It was so nice to see him again!

 Here are my Daddy's girls.

Robyn, Sherry, Stacey and Cathy.

 and it's amazing what a little wine and beer

will do to cheer up a broken heart!

and this is my sister, Robyn, who put up with me on both of my trips back home.

She spoiled my rotten too!

So besides the trip being a hard one to make, it was so nice to see my mom, siblings and my stepmom and her family.  We got to laugh together, tell stories, and cry together.  Daddy would have been happy to see us all together and supporting each other. 

I want to say a special thank you to my Stepmom, Carol,

for making sure I got to be home and grieve with my family and not here by myself.

My Daddy

James David Wescott

October 27, 1939-April 10, 2011

I love you so much Daddy!

I'm will miss you, but I'm glad your not in pain anymore.

May your soul rest in peace.

My Trip Back Home

An angel enabled me to go back to Kansas and I can never thank her enough for thinking of me and giving me the chance to see my Dad for probably the last time.

God is Good and miracles are around every corner!

This is my Dad and my stepmom, Carol.

This is a picture of me and my Nana. I probably won't see her again either because she's 88 or 89. I'm so glad I got the chance to see her again and to laugh with her!

So besides the goodbye's I had lots of extra benefits on my trip back home. My mom took me and 2 of my sisters to a Stamping Class and then out to lunch. We had fun and I learned a lot about stamping and I discovered watercolor pencils. I think I've found a new love!

Thanks Momma for a fun day!

I got to see all of my siblings except one.

Stacey, Mike and Danny are in the back and Robyn and I are next to Daddy.

I wish Cathy could have been there too, but she went back home the week before I did.

I got a new haircut from my cousin's daughter, Sarah. I haven't seen Sarah since she was a little girl and now she is a really fun young woman!

One of the most special parts of the trip, besides seeing Daddy, was getting to know my sister Robyn better. This is Robby and her oldest daughter, Jessica. I had so much fun with them and really connected with Robyn. We had long talks, shared secrets, had fun, drank a little and just had a really wonderful time being sisters and friends. I can't thank you enough Robyn for all you did for me during my stay and I miss you so much! I think we need to live closer together so we can have more fun.....or could that be a dangerous thing?!?!

and as an added and unexpected benefit....

I got to meet Aunt Pitty Pat and her little Pitty. Look at that cute raincoat that Pitty is wearing. It was nice to finally get to meet a fellow blogger....and to prove what a small world it is Aunt Pitty Pat and my niece Jessica's boyfriend, talk on the phone everyday for work.

Thanks everyone for making my trip back home such a wonderful experience and for creating so many memories with me!

Lovin' Being Home in Kansas!

While I'm in Kansas I'm staying with my sister Robyn and we are having so much fun together! It's nice spending time with her and her kids. My dad is in such good spirits and isn't ready to quit on life yet. He amazes me! Daddy is.....well, he's Daddy......and the best one I could ever ask for. He is so weak and fragile, but he does as much as he can for himself and is in good spirits. My stepmom, Carol, is so good to Daddy and I am thankful that she is here to take care of him and be such a wonderful friend and partner to him while he's going through stage of his life and preparing for death. I am so blessed to have my family!
..........and yes, Earl I do miss you and the kids and I'll be home soon! Love you!!!

I Clicked My Heels and Here I Am Back in Kansas!

I am in Kansas! Yay! I am so happy to be here for a week.....although the reason I came home in the first place isn't a happy one. My Dad's cancer has spread and he isn't doing well. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers. He's been in a lot of pain and is having radiation treatments to try to help with this, but there is nothing more that can be done for the actual cancer. I'm having a really hard time with all of this....my dad is a wonderful man and it's really hard to see him aging at such a fast pace and not feeling well. So anyway, please keep my dad in your thoughts make sure you tell your Dad that you love him!

A Birthday and A Blast from the Past!

Saturday my 9th grandbaby, Jesse, turned one. I can't believe how fast the year went by! I made these two little bags for him and some shapes and matching squares to put in them.



I also made this hat for my nephew, Levi, who collects hats. Levi is having a birthday soon and my sister wanted a hat similiar to the one our Grandma had made for us out of Beer Cans back in the 70's. Remember those? The hat was easy to make and I think it turned out pretty cute.

I've also been working on my swaps and can't wait to share some pictures of the things I've been making for those. I need to go sew some more and finish up the rest of the, way to many, swaps I joined.

Also if you can please include my Dad in your prayers and send any healing thought towards him in Kansas I would really appreciate it.

Have a wonderful and productive day!!!!

The Sweetheart Dance

Last night Earl took Mallory to a Sweetheart Dance

with one of Mallory's friends and her Aunt.

The girls all looked so pretty and Earl cleaned up pretty good too!

Here is a picture of me and Mallory with my Dad when we were in Kansas.

I remember how much I loved going to things with my dad when I was a little girl. It didn't happen very often, but having that special time with my daddy really meant a lot to me.

So to all those dad's out there,

even though you probably don't want to go to these dances

and stuff that the mom's out there planned for you to do......

you are making wonderful memories for your daughters!