Anniversaries

I don't think that I really understood what Ms. Alberta was telling me about the feelings that she had about anniversaries. I may be getting a little more understanding.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my father's death; he was buried on the 17th of January. January 17th is also the anniversary of the diagnosis and prognosis we received about the type of cancer Ms. Alberta had.

I can remember when we were first told that Ms. Alberta had cancer thinking to myself that people recovered from cancer every day. I had sat at my computer for hours after the diagnosis searching for everything that I could find about cancer. When Ms. Alberta found out what I was doing she made me promise that no matter, bad or good, that I would tell her what I had found.

On the 17th, after we returned home, I had once more searched for the type of cancer Ms. Alberta had - oat cell carcinoma. It was one of the fastest growing types; it would spread rapidly throughout the body; even going into the cells in the brain. And by the time it was diagnosed it was probably too late for any thing to be done. I did NOT want to tell Ms. Alberta what I had found. I didn't print my research but I did save it.

Ms. Alberta didn't spare me or herself; within hours she asked me what I had found and reminded me of my promise to her. I couldn't tell her; I went to my computer, printed the research and took it to her so she could read it for herself. Ms. Alberta made me read it to her.

Looking back I think Ms. Alberta did that so that I would face what was happening to her. I have never felt that I was as strong as Ms. Alberta; that day she made me become stronger.

I love you Ms. Alberta - mentor, friend, and mother.

Second Year Anniversary

May 4, 2013

Today is the second anniversary of Ms. Alberta's death. I had thought time would help the feeling of loss to abate. This has not been the case. I miss her stories, I miss being able to pick up a phone to ask her advise. Most of all I miss her sense of humor. She had the ability to find laughter in the worst.

My only consolation is the sure knowledge that she is in a better place, free of pain. Praise God for sending His Son for our salvation!

Norman Rockwell Paintings

January 6, 2013, in American Profile (a newspaper insert), on page 10.

There is an article about the Norman Rockwell paintings that Ms Alberta used to give tours on. At the time Ms Alberta was doing the tour guide these paintings were located at the Boy Scout Museum in Murray, Kentucky.

The forty seven paintings are now located at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas. The paintings were created for magazine covers and calendars. Mr Rockwell used many of his neighbors for his models.

Words to Think About: DON'T QUIT

Don’t Quit

Author Unknown

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns,

And many a failure turns about,

When he might have won had he stuck it out;

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow.

You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than

it seems to a faint and faltering man;

Often the struggler has given up

when he might have captured the victor’s cup,

And he learned too late when the night slipped down

How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out;

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt.

And you never can tell how close you are,

It may be near when it seems so far;

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit,

It’s when things seem worse that you must not quit.

From Ann – Looking Forward

I have published all of Ms Alberta’s handwritten notes and recorded tapes. I have added some of her favorite recipes and poems; told about some of her ancestors and family. I have added letters and memories from family and friends. I have told about incidences from childhood. I have talked about Ms Alberta’s faith and the love that was given as I was raised.

I am one of those people who believe that what we come in contact with in life is what shapes us and makes us say and do the things we do. I believe my brother, sister, and I were some of those lucky individuals that had a loving, caring mother and father. Both parents believed in learning from the past but to never live in the past.

I believe they would both be proud of this blog and the memories of family and friends that are talked about in it.

I also believe that they would both tell me that it is time to start looking forward and not back to the past; that I needed to mourn their loss, live through the grief and simply look forward to the time we would all be a family again. I am looking forward to the second coming of The Lord Jesus; when My Family Circle will once more be complete.

Sharon Gail 

Clara Jean - Alberta Ann – Harold Danny 

Ms Alberta - Harold Lee

August 1, 2012

Happy Birthday - Ms Alberta

July 31, 2012

Tomorrow is August 1, 2012; had she lived Ms Alberta would have been 86 years old.

I don’t think we ever get over the loss of a father, mother or child; the grief of their passing just gets a little easier to bear.

Ramblings from Ann

Ms Alberta had visitors from near and far while she was fighting cancer. I didn’t always remember to take pictures while they were visiting. This is something that I regret very much. Ms Alberta believed in documenting everything that happened with pictures; a habit I need to acquire.