A Poem by Margaret

On the Eve of the Anniversary of our father's death, the over cast skies are fitting for our somber moods. Our hearts are heavy but our Spirits are light: for we know the rain falls like  "Pennies From Heaven." 

AND

We simply miss him.

To pay homage to this occasion, I thought I would post a poem my sister Margaret wrote. It is about beautiful memories that will always be close to her heart. 

Our Parents Home

In my parent's home where we have grown,

A place that's special, we've all known.

One of many homes our brothers and Father built almost daily,

A place our Mother and He grew, their amazing family.

In their home we learned how to love,

In this home, our Father left with God above.

A home where parental love was very strong,

With their marriage of fifty-eight years, it wasn’t wrong.

I remember it well as a child,

Although I will admit, it ‘s been quite a while.

In the early morn such happiness filled us, we would adorn,

For the five of us, the blessings we felt to be born.

In the late of the eve under a bright moonbeam,

Mother and Father would dance, as if in a dream.

In this home happiness grew for 30 plus years,

Until late evening that day in September, we felt only tears.

We all stood in wonder as the night fell still,

Our Heavenly Father took him, after so long being ill.

Yet today as that anniversary approaches,

We are comforted, by what his spirit possess.

And as we have cried in our own special way,

We are so happy we knew him, especially today.

Now it is our Mother who carries us each through,

As my Dad often stated She is his diamond, his true.

Although He is enormously missed,

Our memories are of the wonders, in a great big list.

How lucky are those who have felt his gentle touch,

A blessing his children, grandchildren and wife miss so much.

Our Father's love remains in our Mother's heart and ours,

How lucky are those who have visited, and felt those loving hours.

By: Margaret F. Hoverath

It Could Happen

Yesterday, my mom called me and told me One of My Many Cuzzins' sent me and my family a package.

I was like:  "MEEE??? "A package?" "WHAT?" "Huuu?" 

 "WHY?"

My mom laughed and said, "I don't know. . . After school come over and see what it is."

"Oh! We will!"  I said.

After completing science, English, and math I thought we should skip the rest and call it a day. After all, I had important things to do like study for the 8th grade Confirmation class I was teaching at six that night.

AND 


Most Importantly, 

I had a very important business matter to handle at my mother's house. . . like opening a package that was waiting. . . for ME! and my family. 

I should tell you I was confused, a little perplexed and very excited. . . But, I won't tell you that at all. You may think I have never gotten a surprise package before in my life. Unless, I sent a package to myself and then it just wouldn't be a surprise. . . of course, unless I forgot. 

That could happen.

To our great delight I find a card, finger nail polish and goodies inside the very large envelope. 

Okay, there were also Starbursts.  I gave those to out to my confirmation students last night as rewards for: class participation, reading volunteers, good behavior and just plain being there with a good attitude. I figured after being in school all day we all may need a little surprise. The bribe thought out plan worked perfectly. 

The card inside the package said my cuzzin wanted to let me know she felt my pain for the run of bad luck we had in August and I thought. . . Run of Bad Luck???  

Oh! the cars, the fall, the cut, the illnesses, the kids. . . Oh! Yeah! THAT!. 

"WOW!"

"How very nice of her." "How very thoughtful." "How kind." "Gee, It is one thing to think of sending nice things like cards, nail polish and candy but THEN to actuality send them. . .  That is really something special." ~ my mom agreed. 

And then, we both decided two things: 

1.) Complaining and whining pays off.

2.) We both want to be thoughtful, kind and follow through like Regina when we grow up. 

It could happen. 

Well! It could! 

The Big One

It's you know who's birthday today.

No, not mine. 

Mark, Mary Elizabeth, Matthew, Kathryn and Stephen



The one on the left holding Liz. I'm not going to tell you how old he is. . . 

But, I will tell you he is MUCH older then I am. 

MUCH older! 

It's like. . . WOW!!!!

Even though he is getting up there ~ I still really like him.

"May Ree" It's Black and White Wednesday

She is reading! 

NO! Really!

She IS reading!

It all started one night before her fourth birthday: She said, "What's that word mommy?" and I said "Mary" and she said "Oh!" "Just like my name!" 

She recited all the letters. . . M... A... R... Y  and said Mary.  But, Liz says Mary "May Ree" more like a Southern Bell.

This was one of the reasons McGyver wanted to call her Elizabeth and not May Ree like a true Southerner would say. 

The very next night Liz told me she wanted, "to read all the words that say May Ree in her May Ree book." so I read the Mary book to her and let her read all the May Ree words.

The very next night she asked "What's hEs name?" I said, "HEs name is Jeff." "Oh! J...E...F...F ~ Jeff." she said.

And, so it began: She started reading and spelling. Yes, and spelling. I now think my four year old daughter just might be a better speller then I am.

She knows how to read and spell:  Mary, Jeff, Mike, ball, home, I, a, bunny, Grace, Nana, Liz, blue, green, red and get this one VELVET. . . I know!

She can even read the word Elizabeth.

I am amazed. Simply amazed.  

Every night now we read different books and she reads all the words she knows. Then she and I will go over her list of words. I'll ask her how to spell Grace and the other words she knows. She will recite G... R... A... C... E ~ Grace.

When we are done with this exercise ~ I will ask her to pick a new word she likes. By this I mean a word she  wants to learn to read and spell.  We read and spell the word she picked a couple of times and she then grabs her favorite teddy bear and goes to sleep.

In the morning, most of the time, she remembers the new word.

If she doesn't remember how to spell or read the word I write it on a sticky note and put the word up side-down on her tummy. I then ask her several times during the day "Now how do you spell 'kitty' again?" She will look down at her tummy and tell me. 

 By the end of the day she knows her new word.

And always I am JUST amazed. I am simply amazed.

I have never had a child read this early. I have heard they can but.  . . Well. . . never one of mine.

Life's Little Thrills

I took this picture of Kathryn the other day. I can't believe how much she has grown.

It thrills me to see what a beauty she is becoming. 

Septmeber 7, 2010

I do love this picture. But you know, it does not show the dimple on the other side of her face. I am telling you, that thing goes right through her face.  It is so cute! Sometimes I think I should bring that to her attention and get her to pose on that side only. . . But, then I think NO!!! I would just be creating a dimple monster.  We have enough issues at 13.  


When I was editing this picture, I noticed another picture of  her when she was in 4-k. It sits on my desk.

                                                                                                                                                                     

Kathryn 4 years old ~ Grace Covenant Christmas 2001

Yes, there was a time my kids went to school.

I can't believe how much she has grown and I think, "What a thrill it is to be a mother.

An August Up Date for "One of my many Cuzzins"

Are you kidding me? It's September all ready!

The whole month of August seems to be a great big jumble in my mind.

So now what? How do I sort it all out? Where do I start? What do I do?

WHAT DO I DO???

Should I pick up in September? 

OR

 Do I go back to where I left off?

MMMMMMMMM

I think I'll go back. . . Gee, that really was not as hard as you were making it.

Let's see where should I start?

The beginning of August. . . Brought us to another birthday. . .  for Anthony.

11 years old

This kid just maybe the easiest kid in the world to please. If he is asked how his birthday went . . He will eagerly reply with a huge grin and even more delight 

"It was the BEST BIRTHDAY ever! "

and we ask

"???EVER???" Better then the last Best Birthday ever?

There is an ever bigger grin accompanied with an even more enthusiastic

"YES!!!!"

and so it was

The Best Birthday Ever!

Of course the usual crowed would never think of missing the "Best Birthday Ever".

I think these boys can smell cake from miles and miles away!

When "The Amazing Trips and Henry" heard we were hosting the ''Best Birthday Ever" they just couldn't resist and had to stop by. 

There was Gracie who told me she was the oldest of the children; She said, she was the oldest by at least a year. Strangely enough, she is the baby of the Amazing Trio.

There was Elizabeth who has never seen a camera in her life and just didn't know what to do.

There was William, who became Mary Elizabeth very good friend.

AND

 Last but not Least, there was Henry....Who does not share his Oh Henry Bars . . .

There was a soccer game and the men were ready to rumble.

The competition was fierce.

In every nook and cranny in the great yard of Graceland there was something going on. 

Ideas and friendships were being formed. 

The celebration was grand.

There was an obstacle course to test the highest skills. 

Testing balance 

Speed

And Endurance

The skills were amazing! 

Until! 

It was Kathryn's turn.

AND

She got stuck!

Soooo,

Like the good sports they are

the Winners decided to sit on her.

Until...


It was time for cake and Gracie decided it would be best to just roll her away. 

There was cake, fireworks, presents and stuFF and that was the end

 of the "Best Birthday Ever" for  2010.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

And then it happened

There was a comment  left  by One of many cuzzins!

"And where have you been? What's going on down there? Let's go girlie, post an update!

~R :)" 

MMMMMMMMMMMM

  ~ Where have I been? ~ 

That's a good question. . .

Alrighty, here goes. . . You READY?

August was one of those months. . . Those busy months filled with this, that and the other thing! Just one of those "Topsy Turvy" months. You know exactly what I'm talking about. We have all had them. 

To start off with, August is usually the time I get our class room together for school. 

I take all the books we don't want and put them in a pile. Then I take all the books we do want and put them in a pile AND then. . .  I walk away and I let the pile sit there for days because I think, "Why am I doing this again?"  I also think, Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over FRESH!

 But, then I think 

No, rebuilding would take to long and the smoke would give me headache.   

I then do the same thing with all our papers from last year: I take EVERYTHING we did,  put them in folders and boxes, I make sure all our important papers are properly recorded  and then  I think. . . WOW! We did a lot of work last year.  I put all this in piles on my desk and then. . . get over whelmed and walk away. 

AND then I think. . . Why am I doing this again? Maybe I should just set fire to this room and start over.

No, that would just be to messy and the smoke would give me a headache.

I still have lots of work to do here. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Both cars died! 

But, have no fear!  MacGyver ((A.K.A Mark)) laid the healing touch on them. We are back in business! That man can fix anything. I don't even worry about these things any more. I usually just say, "Oh, you'll fix it." and then go about my life. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's when August really happened. People and animals were going down all around me. I spent my days taking care of the injured, wounded and sick.

Kathryn fell down the stairs spraining her ankle badly and "tweaking" the growth plate.  

At the orthopedics office we are waiting forever ~ For a laugh, I whip out my phone and take her picture.

 Kathryn was not amused! 

This fall left her on crutches for more then a week. Today she is walking in a boot and seems to be healing quite nicely. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But! Wait! I'm not finished.

The very next day I am out running. I am on my fifth mile at a very slow pace. 

I am wondering "Why am I doing this again?" 

I have a little over a mile to go  . . . 

Matthew calls.

I dropped Matthew and Stephen off at 6 A.M. to work up at the vineyards down the street. They were cutting vines preparing for the grape harvest. The phone had one of those panic rings. . . I stopped and answered:  "Hello"  Matthew says "Hi, Mom. What are you doing? I say, "Running." " What happened?"

He replies with a cool. . . "How do you know there is something wrong?" I say, "I just do." "Is Stephen okay?"

 

"Well, Stephen cut his finger and it's pretty bad." I tell him, I will be there as soon as I can. 

I was off!  

I ran home,  ran through the door grabbed the car keys, called Matthew told him I was on my way. Pick up my sons. . . take them to my mothers and miss my father terribly. He was the one who always knew what to do in these situations.  

I make some phone calls . . . Our doctor is not in the office today. (( of course! )) I find out the best place to take Stephen is the new medical center down the street. I am told they could handle all kinds of things. I get there, pay my $75 fee ~ they say they will bill for the rest later. 

We see the doctor: She says, "Oh! I can't touch this." and sends us to the emergency room.  

I think. . .  Should I ask for my money back or should I just leave right now for the emergency room? 

I left for the emergency room but I think of my $75.00 often.

At the hospital we are waiting forever. . . I whip out my phone for a laugh and take Stephen's picture. He tried to smile and didn't mind very much. He even thought it was a little funny. Five stitches later and lots of care, he is fine and his finger has healed nicely. 

The next week, Matthew started his college classes at the local college and I think I am so glad he is still home. I get him settled in his school life with books and supplies.

Both dogs were sicks and the fun still did not end. 

This guy hit us hard! 

Alex

Don't let that Opie Cunningham face fool you; He packs a mean virus that should be feared far and wide. Rummer has it. . . He even gave his own mother strep throat. His own mother! 


I really shouldn't say anything. . . because you know, It almost seems like gossip and he is a child and all. . . AND I really don't like to point fingers  ~ I'm just say'n

THE KID GOT US ALL SICK! 

So, my Dear Cuzzin. . . Here's your update. . . Thanks for noticing. . . Thanks for asking.

Love!