GETTING DOWN TO BASICS!

AFTER BECKY WAS BORN, WE HAD 5 CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 8. I THOUGHT I COULD DO ANYTHING! DURING THE LAST POSTING OF BECKY'S ARRIVAL, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT WE HAD NO MORE MONEY THAN USUAL, AND HAD TO SQUEEZE THE BUDGET JUST A LITTLE BIT TIGHTER WITH A NEW ADDITION. NOW, I MUST ADMIT, THAT I NEVER ONCE WORRIED ABOUT HOW WE WOULD AFFORD THIS MANY CHILDREN. I JUST ASSUMED THAT IF I DID MY BEST, HEAVENLY FATHER WOULD DO THE REST. IT WAS TRUE, THAT THE CHILDREN NEVER WENT HUNGRY, HAD ALL THE CLOTHES THEY NEEDED, GOT CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAYS, AND HAD LOTS OF PETS. (LOTS OF THEM). BUT, LOOKING BACK, I SEE NOW WHAT A STRETCH IT WAS AND AS USUAL, I JUST BARGED AHEAD WITH MORE COURAGE THAN SENSE. AND, TRUE TO FORM, IT ALL JUST WORKED OUT. I SAY THIS LEADING UP TO TODAY'S POSTING.
WHEN WE BROUGHT BECKY HOME, LITTLE OTTO WAS STILL IN HIS CRIB, AARON WAS IN THE BOTTOM BUNK, BOBBIE JO BUNKED IN WITH HIM, AND SISSY WAS ON THE TOP BUNK. THE ROOM WAS PRETTY FULL, SO WE JUST PUT BECKY IN A DRESSER DRAWER FOR AWHILE. SHE WAS A BIG BABY, SO THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG, AND I GOT A LITTLE BASSINETTE FOR HER. SHE SLEPT IN OUR ROOM, AND THOUGH THE ROOM WAS NOT THAT BIG, IT SEEMED HUGE WHEN I HAD TO WAKE UP TO FEED HER AND CROSS ALL THE WAY OVER TO THE BASSINETTE TO GET HER. MARTIN WAS A WONDERFUL HELP. YEAH, WONDERFUL. WHEN THE BABY WOULD CRY AT NIGHT TO BE FED, HE POKED ME AND SAID, "IT'S CRYING." WHEN THE BABY NEEDED CHANGING, HE WOULD HOLLER, "IT'S WET". NOW, HE KNEW THAT IT WAS A BABY GIRL, BUT I GUESS HIS BRAIN WAS FRIED WITH SCHOOL, 5 KIDS, A FULL TIME JOB AND THE FARM ANIMALS. OH, AND HE WAS QUITE THE DISCIPLINARIAN TOO! IF THE CHILDREN GOT IN TROUBLE, HE WOULD SAY, "NOW WHAT DID I TELL YOU WOULD HAPPEN THE NEXT TIME YOU DID THAT? GO SEE YOUR MOTHER!" I BAKED, COOKED, WASHED AND DRYED- TOLD STORIES, SANG AND DANCED-CUDDLED, CURED AND WIPED NOSES-CHANGED DIAPERS, TAUGHT POTTY TRAINING-SWEPT, VACCUMED AND GARDENED-WENT TO CHURCH, TAUGHT PRIMARY, JUGGLED TWO SMALL BABIES, TWO TODDLERS AND A GRADE SCHOOL CHILD- NOT TO MENTION THE COLLEGE AGED CHILD AS WELL. I KEPT GALLONS OF KOOL AID IN THE FRIDGE, MADE POPSCICLES, AND BABY FOOD (PUREED VEGETABLES AND FRUITS AND FROZEN IN ICE CUBE TRAYS)AND WHEN I WASN'T BUSY, (????) I CANNED AND SEWED, CROCHETED AND DID CRAFTS. AND FINALLY, I INVITED MY HUSBAND INTO MY BED AND TRIED TO STAY AWAKE. BUT I LOVED IT ALL, AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW THAT I WAS OVERWHELMED. ONE DAY, WE SAT UP AND LOOKED AT EACH OTHER- AND GOT A BIG IDEA. WE DECIDED TO TRY TO GET A LOAN TO START THE CONSTRUCTION TO MAKE THE HOUSE BIGGER. WE WERE PLEASED TO FIND THAT IT WAS NOT HARD, AND WE SECURED THE MONEY WE NEEDED. NOW, WE DID NOT ONLY NEED A BIGGER HOUSE, BUT A NEW WELL AND SEPTIC SYSTEM, AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING, NEW WINDOWS AND WE FOUND SOME TERMITES. ADDING UP ALL THE COSTS IF WE DID THE WORK OURSELVES, WE FOUND THAT WE NEEDED 15,000.00. FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS! BUT, WE TOOK THE PLUNGE, AND GOT THE LOAN. NOW, THIS WOULD BE A LONG PROCESS, AND THE CHILDREN WERE STILL IN THE SAME ROOM, AND BECKY HAD OUTGROWN THE BASSINETTE, SO SISSY AND BOBBIE JO SLEPT IN THE TOP BUNK AND THE BOYS SLEPT IN THE BOTTOM. BECKY GOT THE CRIB AND EVERYONE WAS NICE AND COZY. DRESSER SPACE WAS A PROBLEM AND A FRIEND OF OURS GAVE US A DINOSAUR OF A DRESSER, ACUTALLY IT WENT FROM CEILING TO FLOOR AND WAS ABOUT 8 FEET LONG WITH DRAWERS UP AND DOWN AND A PLACE AT THE TOP TO HANG CLOTHES. IT WAS FABULOUS! EVERYONE HAD A FEW DRAWERS TO THEMSELVES AND I REALLY LOVED THAT THING. SO NOW, WHEN YOU WALKED INTO THE ROOM, YOU SKIRTED AROUND THE CRIB AND THROUGH THE WALK SPACE BETWEEN THE BUNK BEDS AND THE CITY OF DRAWERS. IT WAS QUITE A MESS, BUT I DIDN'T CARE, IT WAS HOME.
I GUESS NOW WOULD BE GREAT TIME TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE VISITORS WE CONTINUED TO HAVE. REMEMBER WE WERE SORT OF OUT IN THE COUNTRY, AND THERE WAS A HUGE FIELD BEHIND THE HOUSE, NOT TO MENTION A YARD FULL OF CHICKENS AND PENS FULL OF PIGS. WE ALSO HAD A FEW GEESE AND DUCKS, THE COW AND FINALLY A GOAT. CRITTERS LOVE CORN, AND WE HAD PLENTY TO FEED THE ANIMALS, SO WE HAD PLENTY OF CRITTERS TOO. STARTING AT THE BOTTOM, WE HAD TREE ROACHES COME IN RANDOMLY. I HATE THOSE THINGS, AND WAS ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR THEM. ONE EVENING, MARTIN WAS WALKING THROUGH THE LIVING ROOM AND THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS TREE ROACH SITTING ON HIS BEHIND. I TOLD HIM ABOUT IT AND HE PICKED UP ONE OF HIS BELTS AND SWATTED HIMSELF, INSTANTLY KILLING THE ROACH. "DID I GET IT?" HE ASKED- "UH, NO,IT IS STILL ON YOU-BUT IT WENT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUR BUTT" (I SNICKERED). SWAT!!! AGAIN. "HOW ABOUT NOW?" HE SAID. "UH, NO, IT IS STILL THERE, BUT IS BACK ON THE LEFT NOW"( HEE-HEE) I TOLD HIM. SWAT,SWAT,SWAT!!! "DID I GET THE @!!!** THING?" HE ASKED-AND SISSY RUINED MY FUN BY SAYING "DADDY YOU GOT IT THE FIRST TIME. WHY ARE YOU SWATTING YOURSELF?" I, OF COURSE DECIDED THAT IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO PUT DINNER ON THE TABLE AND LATER HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH SISSY ABOUT RUINING MY GOOD CLEAN FUN! THEN, WE HAD THE FIELD MICE. OH, THEY LOVED US. SKITTERING AROUND, SCARING THE CRAP OUT OF ME- AND THE KIDS LOVING IT EACH TIME I SQUEALED WHEN I SAW THEM. I PUT OUT TRAPS WITH CHEESE, (DIDN'T WORK) WET BREAD, (DIDN'T WORK) AND FINALLY, AT MARTIN'S SUGGESTION, PEANUT BUTTER. (WORKED GREAT!) BUT I COULDN'T STAND TO SEE THE POOR LITTLE THINGS IN A TRAP, SO WE GOT ANOTHER CAT. (THE OTHER ONE DID NOT MOVE WITH US). THE CAT WAS GREAT, AND THE MICE WERE KEPT AT BAY. THEN ONE DAY, IN THE LAUNDRY ROOM, I SAW A HUGE RAT. OKAY, I AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS. NOW, THIS WAS A NERVY RAT, HE DIDN'T EVEN RUN WHEN I YELLED AT HIM. HE JUST SAT THERE AND LOOKED AT ME. I AM AFRAID OF A NERVY RAT- AND WENT AND GOT MARTIN. IT TURNED OUT THAT IT WAS NOT A NERVY RAT, JUST A TIRED OLD RAT ON HIS LAST LEGS. MARTIN TOOK CARE OF HIM, AND THEN WENT TO THE HARDWARE STORE. HE CAME HOME WITH A HUGE RAT TRAP, THE SPRING KIND THAT SNAPS WHEN THE RAT TAKES THE BAIT. IT TOLD HIM HE BETTER NOT PUT IT OUT WHERE THE KIDS COULD GET TO IT, IT WOULD BREAK THEIR FINGERS IF THEY GOT THEIR HAND CAUGHT IN IT. HE SET IT TO SHOW ME HOW TO DO IT, AND LET ME TELL YOU THAT THING WAS DANGEROUS! I AGAIN TOLD HIM TO BE CAREFUL WITH IT, AND HE TURNED AROUND AND TOLD ME HE WAS TIRED OF MY ALWAYS GIVING HIM RAT TRAP ADVICE- HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND ANYWAY....SNAP!!!!!! SCREAMING!!!!! HE HAD SET IT DOWN TO FUSS AT ME AND LITTLE BECKY TODDLED UP TO IT AND PICKED IT UP, CATCHING HER FINGERS IN THE CLAMP. I JUMPED UP, GRABBED A BROOM, AND SMACKED MARTIN AS HARD AS I COULD. "SEE!!! WHAT DID I TELL YOU!!! I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN!!!!"I YELLED AT HIM. POOR LITTLE BECKY IS STILL SCREAMING WAVING THE RAT TRAP AT THE END OF HER LITTLE HAND. MARTIN IS DODGING THE BROOM AND TRYING TO GET HER HAND OUT OF THE TRAP. FINALLY, I GRAB HER, HOLD HER HAND, AND MARTIN PRYED THE TRAP OFF. THE WHOLE TIME I AM STEADY YELLING AND CARRYING ON ABOUT HOW HE SHOULD HAVE KNOWN BETTER THAN TO......THEN I REALIZE THAT I HAVE MADE YELLING AT MARTIN MORE IMPORTANT THAN SEEING TO THE BABY. HER LITTLE HAND WAS SWOLLEN, BUT THANKFULLY NOT BROKEN. LATER, AFTER SEEING TO HER AND CALMING HER DOWN, I HAD TO GO AND FIND MARTIN TO APOLOGIZE. I COULDN'T BELIEVE HOW I HAD ACTED. HE WAS OUT IN THE CHICKEN YARD, AND WHEN HE SAW ME COMING HE SAID, "WHERE'S THE BROOM?" TODAY, WE LAUGH ABOUT IT, AND LOOKING BACK, I GUESS I DID OVERREACT A BIT. I PROMISE, THAT IF ONE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN GETS THEIR HAND IN A RAT TRAP, I WILL TAKE IT OUT BEFORE I TAKE CARE OF THE IRRESPONSIBLE PERSON WHO PUT IT THERE! WE HAD OTHER LITTLE CRITTERS, BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR WAS THE OPOSSOM. HE JOINED US MUCH LATER WHEN THE KIDS WERE TEENAGERS, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TELL YOU ABOUT HIM. WE HAD LIZARDS, THE INEVITABLE TREE ROACHES, A COUPLE OF SQUIRRELS AND A BIG SURPRISE! WHEN OTTO WAS JUST OVER TWO, HE CAME TO ME AND SAID, "BLOSSOMS IN THE HOUSE". I THOUGHT HE MEANT THAT THERE WERE FLOWERS IN THE HOUSE, (WHICH THERE WERE) AND TOLD HIM HOW SWEET HE WAS TO TELL ME. "NO MAMA, BLOSSOMS IN THE HOUSE!" HE REPEATED. "OKAY SWEETIE, MAMA KNOWS." I GAVE HIM A HUG. HE PULLED AWAY, STAMPED HIS FOOT AND SAID, "MAMA!!! BLOSSOMS IN THE HOUSE!!!" WELL, GOSH, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I FOLLOWED HIM INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND TO MY IMMENSE SURPRISE, THERE WAS A HUGE PIG SITTING IN THE LIVING ROOM! WHAT THE---- AND THEN I UNDERSTOOD. THAT PIG'S NAME WAS BLOSSOM. SHE HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE PEN AND COME IN THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR. SURE ENOUGH "BLOSSOM WAS IN THE HOUSE"! NOW THAT THE MESSAGE HAD BEEN GIVEN, OTTO WENT ON AS THOUGH NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. BY THE WAY, DID YOU KNOW THAT A PIG WON'T LEAVE IF IT IS CONTENT? NO, THEY WON'T. AND NEITHER WOULD BLOSSOM. NOT WHEN I TRIED TO PUSH HER OUT THE DOOR, NOT WHEN I THREW FOOD OUT THE DOOR. NOT WHEN I YELLED OR POKED. FINALLY I JUST DECIDED TO WAIT FOR MARTIN TO GET HOME AND LET HIM HANDLE IT. OF COURSE, JUST BEFORE HE GOT THERE, BLOSSOM DECIDED SHE HAD HAD ENOUGH OF THE HOUSE AND JUST WENT ON OUT AND BACK TO HER PEN. OF COURSE HE THOUGHT I WAS KIDDING AND I HAD TO GET LITTLE OTTO TO TELL HIM THAT THE PIG DID INDEED, COME INTO THE HOUSE! I HAVE MORE TO TELL YOU, BUT THAT WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. UNTIL THEN, LOVE, NANASEE PS-THIS MORNING, I GOT UP TO FIND THAT A RACOON WE LIVE CLOSE TO AN ANIMAL PRESERVE)HAD BEEN IN THE NEW KITCHEN, HAD THE NERVE TO GET IN THE DONUTS, AND LEAVE LITTLE RACOON FOOT PRINTS ON MY COUNTER! NOTHING CHANGES, DOES IT?

REBECCA KATHLEEN

AFTER MARTIN LEARNED ABOUT THE NEW BABY, I THOUGHT I COULD SETTLE IN AND JUST WAIT FOR HATCHING DAY. AS USUAL, I THOUGHT WRONG. REMEMBER, MARTIN WAS STILL IN COLLEGE AND WORKING FULL TIME, AND I WAS CARRYING THE FULL LOAD AT HOME AND AT CHURCH AND SCHOOL. IN MY 5TH MONTH, (NOVEMBER) I STARTED FEELING TIRED AGAIN, AND HAD A HARD TIME GETTING AROUND. MY DOCTOR FOUND THAT MY BLOOD PRESSURE WAS VERY HIGH, AND TOLD ME I HAD TO CUT BACK OR THE BABY WOULD BE IN DANGER. CUT BACK? HA! WHATEVER! BUT WHEN MARTIN FOUND OUT, HE CLAMPED DOWN ON ME BUT GOOD. I TOLD HIM THAT HE COULD NOT DO EVERYTHING, AND HE SAID, "WATCH ME". SO, WITH THE HOLIDAYS IMMINENT, HE TOOK OVER THE RUNNING OF THE HOUSEHOLD. AT 5 AM HE WOULD GET UP, MAKE BREAKFAST, SET IT ON THE TABLE, EAT HIS AND GO TO WORK. SISSY WAS SUCH A BIG HELP, AND REALLY DID EVERYTHING TO GET HERSELF AND BOBBIE JO OUT THE DOOR. THE SISTERS IN THE WARD TOOK THE BOYS TO PLAY, AND MARTIN GOT HOME AT 2:30PM. HE WOULD RUN AROUND COOKING DINNER, DOING THE LAUNDRY, SETTING THE CLEAN LAUNDRY ON THE BED FOR ME TO FOLD, MAKE SURE THE KIDS HAD EVERYTHING OUT TO TAKE THEIR BATHS AND GET READY FOR BED. THEN, ONCE AGAIN, SISSY TOOK OVER HAD HERDED THE LITTLE ONES FOR THE EVENING. MARTIN HAD PUT OUT CLEAN CLOTHING FOR THE NEXT DAY, AND INSTEAD OF PAJAMAS, THE GIRLS WOULD PUT ON THEIR SCHOOL CLOTHING AND SLEEP IN IT. AROUND 10 PM, MARTIN GOT HOME AND DID WHATEVER HE COULD TO MAKE THE NEXT DAY EASIER. ON THE WEEKENDS, MARTIN WOULD COOK STUFF AHEAD AND FREEZE IT. IT WASN'T LONG, WITH THE REST I GOT THAT MY BLOOD PRESSURE WENT DOWN, AND AS LONG AS I DIDN'T OVERDO THINGS IT PRETTY WELL STAYED NORMAL. BY NOW, IT WAS DECEMBER. CHRISTMAS WAS JUST OVER THE HILL AND OUR LIFE WAS HECTIC. WE NEVER MISSED CHURCH, THE CHILDREN LOOKED SO FORWARD TO PRIMARY AND I LOVED AND NEEDED TO BE WITH THE RELIEF SOCIETY SISTERS. IT WAS DURING THIS TIME, THAT SISSY WOKE ME ONE MORNING VERY EXCITED ABOUT A DREAM SHE HAD HAD. I TOLD HER TO TELL ME, AND SHE SAT ON MY BED AND BEGAN. (SHE WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME.) SHE SAID, " MAMA, I DREAMED THAT I WAS PLAYING IN THE FRONT YARD NEAR THE SWING SET, AND JESUS CAME TO SEE ME AND BROUGHT A BEAUTIFUL LADY. SHE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL, AND SHE LOVED ME SO MUCH. JESUS WENT IN THE HOUSE TO TALK TO YOU, BUT THE LADY STAYED OUTSIDE WITH ME. SHE SAID HER NAME WAS KATHLEEN AND SHE WAS HERE TO MEET ME. SHE WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT DADDY AND IF HE WAS A GOOD DADDY. I TOLD HER HE WAS THE BEST DADDY IN ALL THE WORLD. SHE SMILED AND SAID THAT WAS GOOD, AND THEN ASKED IF HE WAS HONEST AND FOLLOWED THE COMMANDMENTS. I TOLD HER YES, AND HE TAUGHT ME TO FOLLOW THEM TOO. SHE ASKED ABOUT YOU MAMA, BUT SHE SEEMED TO ALREADY KNOW ABOUT YOU. I TOLD HER YOU WERE A GOOD MAMA AND SHE SAID SHE KNEW THAT AND LOVED YOU VERY MUCH. SHE ASKED ME IF I WAS A GOOD BIG SISTER. I TOLD HER I THINK SO, MAMA SAYS I AM. I TOLD HER HOW I HELP YOU ALL THE TIME AND HOW MUCH I LOVE MY BROTHERS AND SISTER. SHE KNELT DOWN, PUT HER ARMS AROUND ME AND TOLD ME SHE LOVED ME VERY MUCH, AND WAS VERY HAPPY THAT I WAS A GOOD BIG SISTER, AS THAT WAS IMPORTANT TO HER. SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF I WAS HAPPY ABOUT THE NEW BABY COMING. I TOLD HER THAT THERE WAS NOTHING I WANTED MORE THAN A BABY SISTER TO TAKE CARE OF, AND I WOULD BE THE BEST SISTER EVER TO HER. THEN WE TALKED SOME MORE, AND SHE SAID SHE HAD TO GO HOME. SHE SAID SHE WOULD SEE ME AGAIN, AND SHE WAS SO HAPPY TO KNOW ME. I ASKED HER TO STAY HERE, BUT SHE SAID THAT IT WOULD NOT BE LONG BEFORE SHE CAME AGAIN. THEN, JESUS CAME AND HE AND SHE JUST WENT UP INTO THE AIR. MAMA, WHO IS KATHLEEN?" I WAS STUNNED WITH THE CLARITY OF THE INFORMATION THAT JESSICA HAD GIVEN ME- INDEED, I KNEW VERY WELL WHO KATHLEEN WAS. SHE WAS THAT LITTLE BABY GIRL WHOM THE LORD HAD SHOWN ME ON THE NIGHT OF OTTO'S BIRTH. I WAS SURPRISED THAT SHE WOULD MANIFEST TO SISSY AS A GROWN WOMAN, BUT IT DIDN'T MATTER, MY HEART WAS FULL OF JOY AT THE KNOWLEGE THAT SHE HAD COME TO SISSY. "SWEETIE, KATHLEEN IS VERY SPECIAL. IF YOU CAN UNDERSTAND IT, KATHLEEN IS GOING TO BE YOUR NEW BABY SISTER, AND CAME FROM HEAVEN TO MEET YOU BEFORE SHE WAS GOING TO BE BORN. SHE WILL COME TO US AS A BABY, AND WILL BE A GREAT BLESSING TO YOU AND ALL OF US. SHE HAS WAITED TO COME TO OUR FAMILY LAST BECAUSE SHE WANTS YOU TO TEACH HER TO BE A GOOD GIRL. SHE TRUSTS YOU AND LOVES YOU. YOU WERE VERY CLOSE TO HER IN HEAVEN AND PROMISED TO DO YOUR BEST TO HELP HER ON THIS EARTH. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU, AND SO IS SHE." "OH MAMA, WHEN IS SHE COMING?" I TOLD HER THAT KATHLEEN WOULD COME IN THE BEGINNING OF MARCH, NOT TOO FAR AWAY. JESSICA HAS NEVER FORGOTTEN THAT DREAM, AND SHE TELLS ME THAT THE WOMAN SHE MET AS KATHLEEN LOOKED EXACTLY AS BECKY DOES TODAY. AFTER THAT, I HAD NO QUALMS ABOUT THE BIRTH AT ALL. I KNEW EVERYTHING WOULD BE OKAY.
THE ONLY THING I DID HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WAS THAT EVERYONE ELSE THOUGHT I WAS IRRESPONSIBLE TO HAVE ANOTHER BABY SO SOON AFTER ALL THE TROUBLE WITH OTTO'S BIRTH. LOTS OF FOLKS WANTED TO KNOW "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING OF? YOU JUST HAD ONE, AND THAT WAS A CLOSE CALL!" OR, "WHAT?!!! AGAIN?!!! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" THE FACT THAT OTTO WAS A LATE WALKER AND I HAD TO CARRY HIM EVERYWHERE WHILE HAVING A BIG TUMMY , AND THE LINE OF LITTLE SEE'S FOLLOWING ME REALLY GOT SOME LOOKS. AND, BEING IN PUBLIC WITH MY LITTLE BROOD, GOT PLENTY OF ATTENTION AS WELL. A WOMAN ACTUALLY GRABBED MY ARM ONE TIME AT THE MALL AND SAID, "DON'T YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES THAT? DON'T YOU HAVE ANY CONTROL? PEOPLE ARE STARVING AND YOU ARE A RABBIT!" I SNATCHED MY ARM AWAY AND SAID, "LOOK SISTER, WHY DON'T YOU COME OVER HERE AND HOLD THIS BABY AND I CAN STAND THERE AND LECTURE YOU ABOUT SOMETHING! I AM PROUD OF MY FAMILY AND THANKFUL THAT I HAVE THESE CHILDREN- MAYBE YOU HAVE TOO MUCH TIME ON YOUR HANDS IF YOU HAVE DECIDED THAT IT IS ANY OF YOUR BUSINESS!" SHE SNIFFED AT ME AND WALKED OFF. THE CHILDREN WANTED TO KNOW WHY SHE WAS MAD AT ME, AND I TOLD THEM THAT SHE DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT IT WAS TO HAVE A LOVING FAMILY. AFTER THAT, I MADE A DRESS AND EMBROIDERED "YES AGAIN!" ON THE FRONT OF IT. AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE SHUT THEIR MOUTHS.
A FEW SUNDAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR, I TOOK THE CHILDREN TO CHURCH, AND MARTIN STAYED HOME. HE USUALLY DID NOT GO WITH US, BUT I FELT THAT THE TIME WOULD COME WHEN HE WOULD WANT TO GO AND JUST LEFT IT AT THAT. WHEN WE GOT HOME THAT SUNDAY, THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE SMELL OF SUNDAY DINNER, CHRISTMAS MUSIC WAS PLAYING AND MARTIN TOLD US TO CLOSE OUR EYES. WE DID, AND HE LED US INTO THE LIVING ROOM AND SAID, "SURPRISE!" THERE BEFORE OUR EYES WAS A VERY SHORT ARTIFICIAL CHRISTMAS TREE LOADED DOWN WITH ALL THE ORNAMENTS WE HAD AND COVERED WITH LIGHTS AND TINSEL. THERE WAS SO MANY DECORATIONS, WE COULD NOT SEE THE TREE. IT WAS ONLY ABOUT 3 FEET TALL, AND I ASKED HIM WHERE HE GOT IT. HE SAID HE HAD FOUND IT IN THE ATTIC, IT WAS THE SAME ONE WE USED LAST YEAR. I ASKED HIM WHERE THE REST OF IT WAS- AND HE SAID, "REST OF IT? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? THIS IS ALL I COULD FIND". TURNS OUT THAT THE REST OF IT WAS IN ANOTHER BOX, AND THIS WAS ONLY THE TOP PART. WE ALL THOUGHT THAT WAS FUNNY, SO WE LEFT IT JUST LIKE IT WAS. WE PUT IT ON AN END TABLE AND JUST LOVED IT. THAT YEAR, WE WENT TO MARTIN'S MOMS FOR CHRISTMAS EVER AS USUAL, SAW "SANTA" FLYING OVER IN THE SKY AS USUAL, OPENED GIFTS THE NEXT MORNING AS USUAL AND WENT TO MARTIN'S DAD'S AND LOLA'S HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER AS USUAL. ON NEW YEARS DAY, WE HAD DINNER THERE TOO AS USUAL, AND PAWPAW JOINED US AS USUAL. I LIKE USUAL. NO SURPRISES! JANUARY PASSED, THEN FEBRUARY AND THEN, THE FIRST OF MARCH. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME I WOULD NOT BE LATE WITH THE BABY AND HE WOULD INDUCE LABOR JUST TO BE SURE. SO, ON MARCH THE 4TH, 1981 I CHECKED INTO THE HOSPITAL AND GOT STARTED. WELL, GUESS WHAT? NO BABY. THE PITOCIN DRIP DID NOTHING FOR ME. I WAS ALREADY DILATED TO 3 CENTIMETERS, AND I SHOULD HAVE JUST POPPED THAT BABY RIGHT ON OUT. BUT NO, NOT ME! SO, I WENT HOME. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT AFTER OTTO ONLY TOOK AN HOUR TO ARRIVE, WE SHOULD TAKE NO CHANCES. LET HIM KNOW IF ANYTHING AT ALL HAPPENED. A WEEK WENT BY, NO BABY. TWO WEEKS, NO BABY. MARTIN HAD HIS BIRTHDAY. NO BABY. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO DO A C-SECTION IF I DID NOT START LABOR SOON. ON MARCH 23RD, I CHECKED INTO THE HOSPITAL FOR ANOTHER TRY. THE DOCTOR HOOKED UP THE PITOCIN DRIP AND SAID I HAD TWO HOURS, AND IF NOTHING HAPPENED, WE WOULD DO A C-SECTION. TWO HOURS WENT BY AND NOTHING. THE NURSE CAME IN AND SAID, "WELL LOOK HERE, HE FORGOT TO TURN ON THE MACHINE!" SO, SHE TURNED IT ON, AND I SETTLED DOWN TO WAIT. NOTHING HAPPENED. TWO HOURS LATER,NOTHING HAPPENED, AND IN COMES DOC, SAYING, "THAT'S IT! C-SECTION FOR YOU!" BUT GUESS WHAT? THE HOSE HAD COME LOOSE AND THE PITOCIN HAD RUN ONTO THE FLOOR! SOOOOO- HE HOOKS ME UP, TURNS ON THE MACHINE, CHECKS THE HOSE AND SAYS, "YOU HAVE TWO HOURS! IF YOU ARE NOT IN LABOR AT EXACTLY 2:00 PM, C- SECTION FOR YOU!!" AT 1:53 I FELT A TWINGE. REALLY, A TWINGE! SO, I OPEN MY MOUTH AND YELL, "OHHHH- I AM HAVING A HUGE CONTRACTION! A WHOPPER! AOWWWW!" MARTIN TOLD ME TO CUT IT OUT, I HAD MADE MY POINT. LESS THAN FOUR HOURS LATER, WITH AN EPIDURAL TO HELP ME AND SEVERAL WINNING HANDS OF GIN RUMMY BEHIND ME, I WAS WHEELED INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM. BEFORE I KNEW IT, I HEARD MY BABY CRYING. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME, "YOU HAVE A FINE FAT HEALTHY BABY BOY!" I SAID, "YOU ARE A FINE FAT HEALTHY LIAR! THAT'S A GIRL, I KNOW IT!" WITH A SURPRISED LOOK ON HIS FACE, (I HAD NOT YET SEEN THE BABY) HE SAID, "NOW HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT? IT IS A GIRL, I WAS JUST KIDDING!" I JUST SAID THAT I HAD A HUNCH, AND LEFT IT AT THAT. I WANTED SO MUCH TO NAME HER KATHLEEN, BUT MARTIN LOVED THE NAME REBECCA. SO I SUGGESTED REBECCA KATHLEEN. HE SAID THAT HE ALSO WANTED TO NAME HER AFTER LOLA, SO, AS USUAL, I GAVE IN AND WE HAD WELCOMED REBECCA LOLA SEE INTO OUR FAMILY. WE WERE COMPLETE. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

SUPER MOM (I THINK!)

WE NOW HAD 4 WONDERFUL CHILDREN ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 6! OUR HOUSE WAS BECOMING A BIT CROWDED, AND WE BEGAN TO MAKE PLANS TO ACTUALLY START THE UPSTAIRS FOR MORE ROOM. ONE PROBLEM, THAT IS EXPENSIVE. SO, WE ACTUALLY STARTED MAKING PLANS TO START SAVING FOR THE ADD-ON UPSTAIRS. LITTLE OTTO HAD LOTS OF TROUBLE WITH HIS LITTLE EARS, ALWAYS AN EAR INFECTION, AND CONSTANTLY ON ANTIBIOTICS. THE DOCTOR TOLD US THAT WHEN HE REACHED 15LBS IN WEIGHT THEY WOULD HAVE TO DO EAR TUBES FOR HIM. HE WAS JUST 4 MONTHS OLD WHEN HE REACHED 15LBS, BUT HIS EARS WERE SO BAD THAT THEY DECIDED TO GO ON AND DO THE SURGERY. LONG STORY SHORT, HE DID VERY WELL, AND WE TOOK HIM HOME. YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE BEST BABY I EVERY HAD, NEVER CRYING AND SLEEPING ALL THE TIME. I BEGAN TO WORRY THAT MAYBE HE HAD SUSTAINED SOME DAMAGE WITH THE TRAUMATIC BIRTH, BUT TIME WOULD TELL. ANYWAY, AFTER WE TOOK HIM HOME AFTER THE EAR SURGERY, I CARRIED HIM OUT TO THE BACK TO SEE THE CHICKENS. THEY WERE SWEET CHICKENS, NEVER PECKING US, BUT JUST MILLING AROUND HOPING FOR SOME GRAIN. I SAT DOWN ON MY CHICKEN VISITING BUCKET, HOLDING OTTO AND TELLING HIM QUIETLY, "LOOK AT THE CHICKENS OTTO. AREN'T THEY CUTE?" SUDDENLY, OUR VERY LARGE ROOSTER BUCKED UP AND CROWED AS LOUD AS HE COULD. LITTLE OTTO ABOUT JUMPED OUT OF MY ARMS AND STARTED SCREAMING. I COULD NOT CALM HIM DOWN, AND AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I STARTED WORRYING THAT HE COULD BE IN SOME KIND OF PAIN. I RAN TO THE HOUSE, CALLED THE DOCTOR AND TEARFULLY TOLD HIM WHAT HAD HAPPENED. "DID YOU SAY HE JUMPED AND STARTED CRYING WHEN THE ROOSTER CROWED?"ASKED THE DOCTOR. I TOLD HIM YES AND I COULD NOT GET HIM TO STOP CRYING OR JUMPING AT SUDDEN NOISES. "WELL MRS. SEE, IT SEEMS THAT THE EAR SURGERY MAY HAVE RESTORED OTTO'S HEARING. WE WERE CONCERNED AT HEARING LOSS, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU TOLD US THAT HE DID NOT CRY MUCH AND SLEPT ALL THE TIME. HE IS FRIGHTENED BECAUSE HE IS NOT USED TO HEARING VERY WELL, AND LOUD NOISES ARE UNUSUAL TO HIM. HE WILL BE OKAY" ASSURED THE DOCTOR. AND, HE WAS! OF COURSE NOW, HE DIDN'T SLEEP AS MUCH, AND HIS HEAD IS CONSTANTLY TURNING AND SWIVELING AT EVERY NOISE. HIS LITTLE FACE WOULD LIGHT UP AND GLOW WHEN HE HEARD MUSIC, AND HE WOULD LAUGH OUT LOUD WHEN HE HEARD THE OTHER CHILDREN. THE MOST SPECIAL THING THOUGH, WHEN I WOULD QUIETLY TALK TO HIM OR SING TO HIM, HE WOULD FIX HIS LITTLE BLUE EYES TO MY FACE AND JUST LOOK AT ME. SO PEACEFUL AND SERENE, HE LOVED TO HEAR MY VOICE. (AFTER HE GOT OLDER, HE MORE OFTEN IGNORED MY VOICE, CALLING HIM IN TO DO HOMEWORK, CHORES OR DINNER TIME!). SOON IT WAS CHRISTMAS. THE HOUSE WAS FULL, FULL OF JOY, LAUGHTER AND HAPPINESS. WE ONLY HAD A BIG SPACE HEATER, BUT WE CAMPED IN FRONT OF IT AND SNUGGLED ALL TOGETHER TO KEEP WARM. WHEN SANTA CAME THAT YEAR, THE TREE WAS BURSTING WITH GIFTS, (I HAD DISCOVERED THE DOLLAR STORE) AND COVERED WITH HANDMADE DECORATIONS. WE HAD STRUNG POPCORN AND MADE PLAYDOUGH COOKIE CUT-OUTS STRUNG ON RIBBON. WE TOOK MASON JAR LIDS AND PASTED FAMILY PICTURES OR CHRISTMAS SCENES ON THEM. THE CHILDREN WERE LITTLE AND DIDN'T CARE THAT THE GIFTS WERE NOT EXPENSIVE, JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SO MANY. WE CELEBRATED NEW YEARS EVE THAT YEAR, WITH KOOL-AID AND SNACKS. THE NEXT DAY WE WENT TO MARTIN SR. AND LOLA'S HOUSE FOR THE TRADITIONAL NEW YEARS DINNER. SCHOOL STARTED AGAIN AND I HAD 3 LITTLE ONES AT HOME AND ONE IN SCHOOL. I COOKED, SEWED, FED ANIMALS, WASHED CLOTHES, CLEANED, TOLD STORIES, AND OTHER NORMAL YOUNG MOTHER THINGS. FORTUNATELY, THE CHILDREN GOT ON WELL TOGETHER. LITTLE OTTO CONTINUED TO BE A GOOD BABY, AARON A GOOD TODDLER AND BOBBIE JO A GOOD HELPER. IN JANUARY OF THAT YEAR, MARTIN DECIDED TO GO TO COLLEGE. HE WOULD WORK ALL DAY, COME HOME TO KISS THE CHILDREN, EAT A MEAL AND OFF HE WOULD GO TO RETURN AT 9 OR 10 AT NIGHT. THEN, UP AT 5:30 AM TO EAT AND GO TO WORK. THE FIRST SEMESTER WAS UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT FOR ME. I WAS LONELY AND OVERWORKED, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO SAY ANYTHING TO DISCOURAGE HIM, SO I TRIED TO KEEP A BRIGHT FACE. ONE SATURDAY NIGHT IN JUNE, AFTER SCHOOL WAS OUT FOR JESSICA AND MARTIN DIDN'T HAVE HOMEWORK, FARMWORK, OR ANYWORK, HE ASKED ME OUT ON A DATE. "WHOO-HOO! JUST THE TWO OF US? " I ASKED? HE SAID YES, HE HAD A SURPRISE FOR ME. THE SURPRISE WAS THAT HE HAD RE-CREATED ONE OF OUR FIRST DATES, COMPLETE WITH THE SAME RESTAURANT AND THEN A TRIP TO THE LOCAL DRIVE-IN MOVIE. (WE STILL HAD THEM THEN). IT WAS SO ROMANTIC! ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE, (I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT THE MOVIE WAS) MARTIN STARTED GETTING ALL SMOOCHIE-POO. HOW CUTE. THEN, VERY SMOOCHIE-POO AND THE INEVITABLE SUGGESTION, "HEY BABY, WE ARE ALL ALONE-" (AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS). LET'S SEE- WE ARE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF A BIG OLD PICK-UP TRUCK IN THE FAR LANE OF THE DRIVE-IN, AWAY FROM EVERYONE ON A VERY DARK SATURDAY NIGHT WITH NO ONE AROUND US. I TOLD HIM, "NO SWEETIE, I AM NOT PREPARED, AND WE COULD FIND OURSELVES WITH ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER ON THE WAY". "OH, COME ON HONEY, ONCE WONT HURT!" REMEMBER THOSE FAMOUS LAST WORDS FROM LAST TIME HE SAID THAT? IT WASN'T LONG AFTER THAT, ONE DAY WHEN I WAS WEEDING THE GARDEN, I BECAME VERY ILL AND LEFT MY LUNCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROW OF SQUASH. "OH-OH" I THOUGHT. I WENT IN THE HOUSE, GOT ON MY KNEES, AND BEGAN TO POUR OUT MY HEART TO HEAVENLY FATHER IN WORRY. I RECEIVED THE MOST CALMING FEELING, "REMEMBER THE LITTLE GIRL BABY I SHOWED YOU. DO NOT FEAR". SUDDENLY, I WAS FILLED WITH SO MUCH JOY- ALL MY FEAR LEFT ME, AND I BEGAN TO THINK ABOUT HAVING ANOTHER LITTLE ONE. THE FEELINGS CAME SWIFTLY AND CLEARLY TO ME-"YOU HAVE FULLFILLED YOUR PROMISES TO ME CONCERNING YOUR FAMILY. YOU WILL BE SO BLESSED WITH THIS CHILD. YOU WILL KNOW IN TIME THE GREAT GIFT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL RECEIVE BECAUSE YOU DID NOT FEAR TO TRUST ME." I COULD NOT IMAGINE A GREATER GIFT THAN THE CHILDREN I ALREADY HAD AND MARTIN, BUT I REJOICED IN THE KNOWLEGE THAT HAVING THIS BABY WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. ONE LITTLE PROBLEM THOUGH, WHEN DO I TELL MARTIN? HE WAS ALREADY SO BUSY WITH SCHOOL, WORK, THE FAMILY AND THE ANIMALS. I DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL THE TIME WAS RIGHT, ANYWAY, HE WOULD FIGURE IT OUT SOONER OR LATER! SO, THE SUMMER PASSED, IT WAS TIME FOR SCHOOL AGAIN. ON THE SUNDAY BEFORE LABOR DAY, WE PACKED UP AND WENT TO SHINER FOR THE PICNIC. BOBBIE JO STARTED KINDERGARTEN, AND I REALIZED MY FAMILY WAS GROWING UP. WE HAD THE USUAL FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL CELEBRATION, AND THEN IT WAS FALL. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I DID NOT HAVE MORNING SICKNESS, BUT NOW FOUR MONTHS HAD PASSED AND I HAD NOT GONE TO A DOCTOR. I MADE THE APPOINTMENT, AND GOT A BABYSITTER. THIS WOULD BE THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING TO HAVE A BABY WITHOUT MARTIN'S SUPPORT OR KNOWLEGE. I JUST HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO TELL HIM YET. I SAT IN THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH TEARS IN MY EYES- I FELT SO BAD. THEN, THE DOOR OPENED, AND IN WALKED MARTIN! HE CARRIED ONE OF MY FAVORITE SUB SANDWICHES AND A COLD DRINK AND SAT DOWN NEXT TO ME, GRINNING. "HOW DID YOU KNOW?" I SNIFFLED. "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME?" HE TENDERLY ASKED, WITH SO MUCH LOVE IN HIS EYES. I TOLD HIM THAT I DIDN'T WANT TO BURDEN HIM WHAT WITH SCHOOL,WORK AND THE FAMILY. HE PUT HIS ARMS AROUND ME AND SAID, "SWEETIE, YOU ARE NOT ALONE WITH THIS FAMILY. I AM NOT ONE OF THE KIDS, I AM YOUR PARTNER. YES, WE HAVE A LOT TO DEAL WITH, BUT WE ARE ONE AND WE WILL DEAL WITH IT TOGETHER. NEVER KEEP ANYTHING FROM ME AGAIN. I LOVE YOU AND THAT'S THE END OF IT." I ASKED AGAIN HOW HE KNEW I WAS PREGNANT, AND HE TOLD ME THAT 8 YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND FOUR KIDS PRETTY MUCH LET HIM KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT ME. WE SAT AND ATE OUR SANDWICH, AND THE DOCTOR CALLED ME IN. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

BIRTHDAY SURPRISE!

IT IS NOW THE FALL OF 1978 AND WE ARE THRIVING. THE MONEY ISN'T GREAT, BUT WE WERE GETTING BY. THE HOUSE WAS ONLY TWO BEDROOMS, BUT FUTURE PLANS CALLED FOR PUTTING IN AN UPSTAIRS, AS THE ATTIC WAS REALLY TALL AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF ROOM. FOR NOW, WE HAD ENOUGH ROOM, WE HAD PURCHASED A SET OF METAL ARMY BUNKS FOR THE GIRLS AND AARON HAD A CRIB IN THE SAME ROOM. HALLOWEEN WAS FUN THAT YEAR, WE ALWAYS HAD SO MUCH FUN FOR HALLOWEEN AT CHURCH- AND THEN WE COULD TRICK OR TREAT A BIT TOO. I ALWAYS STARTED DECORATING FOR HALLOWEEN IN SEPTEMBER. THAT YEAR WAS NO EXCEPTION, AND THE CHILDREN WERE TICKLED TO HAVE SUCH FUN REMINDERS THAT THE BIG DAY WOULD COME PRETTY SOON. WE WENT TO THE FARMER'S MARKET AND BOUGHT PUMPKINS THE WEEK BEFORE HALLOWEEN, AND JESSICA BEING THE OLDEST TOOK OVER THE PLANS TO CARVE AND WHAT KINDS OF FACES WE WOULD DO. WHEN WE DID CARVE THE PUMPKINS THE DAY BEFORE HALLOWEEN, I WOULD SCOOP OUT THE SEEDS AND TRY YET AGAIN TO ROAST THEM LIKE THE RECIPE DIRECTED- ONLY TO FIND THAT YET AGAIN THEY WERE GROSS! I NEVER DID STOP TRYING, EACH YEAR I WOULD TRY AGAIN, AND I DON'T THINK WE EVER ATE THOSE PUMPKIN SEEDS. THAT YEAR FOR HALLOWEEN, I FELT KIND OF YUCKY, AND HAD BEEN FOR A SHORT TIME. I THOUGHT I WAS DOING TOO MUCH, AND DECIDED THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO FOR IT AS I HAD A BIG LOAD AND THAT WAS IT. MARTIN AND I HAD STARTED A PAPER ROUTE TO HELP WITH FINANCES. WE HAD TO GO AND PICK UP THE PAPERS, FOLD AND BAG THEM AND LOAD THE CAR, ALL BY 5AM IN THE MORNING. THE KIDS WOULD SLEEP IN THE BACK OF THE STATION WAGON, I WOULD SIT IN THE MIDDLE SEAT AND HAND MARTIN THE PAPERS AND HE WOULD THROW THEM AS HE DROVE. THIS WOULD HAVE WORKED PERFECTLY, BUT EVERY MORNING, JUST LIKE CLOCKWORK WHEN WE REACHED A STREET NAMED CHERRYBROOK, I WOULD BECOME VIOLENTLY ILL, AND MARTIN WOULD HAVE TO STOP THE CAR SO THAT I COULD THROW UP. WAS THERE SOMETHING ABOUT THAT STREET THAT MADE ME SO SICK? EVERYONE ELSE WAS FINE, BUT NO KIDDING, CHERRYBROOK STREET MADE ME ILL. IT GOT SO BAD THAT I COULD NOT GO ON WITH THE PAPER ROUTE. MARTIN TOOK IT ON BY HIMSELF, BUT WE FOUND THAT I CONTINUED TO BE ILL AT THE SAME TIME EACH MORNING. THEN I FIGURED IT OUT. WE HAD BEEN VERY CAREFUL THAT I WOULD NOT GET PREGNANT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE AARON WAS NOT QUITE A YEAR OLD, BOBBIE JO WAS NOT QUITE 3 YEARS OLD AND JESSICA WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD. THE HOUSE WAS THE PERFECT SIZE FOR OUR FAMILY, AND WE HAD WORKED OUT A BUDGET THAT WE COULD LIVE WITH. SO WE WERE QUITE DILIGENT IN OUR EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE POSTPONED THE NEXT ARRIVAL FOR AWHILE. THE BEST LAID PLANS ALWAYS GO ARY! IT SEEMS THAT ONE MORNING, SOMETIME IN OCTOBER, AFTER JESSICA HAD GONE TO SCHOOL AND THE LITTLE ONES WERE STILL ASLEEP, THE SAME MORNING THAT MARTIN HAD A DAY OFF, HE DECIDED TO CHASE ME THROUGH THE HOUSE FOR SOME "PRIVATE TIME". USUALLY, OUR "PRIVATE TIME MOSTLY CONSISTED OF CLOSING THE LAUNDRY ROOM DOOR OR SOME OTHER SNEAKY PLACE AS WE ALWAYS HAD A CHILD HANGING ON US FOR SOME REASON. I TOLD HIM TO THAT PRIVATE TIME UNSCHEDULED COULD RESULT IN ANOTHER ADDITION TO THE FAMILY AND HE SCOFFED IN HIS "HURRY HURRY" ATTITUDE AND SAID, "ONCE WON'T HURT!" WELL, IT SEEMS THAT ONCE DOES HURT, AS I FOUND OUT IN NOVEMBER THAT NUMBER FOUR WAS ON THE WAY! BEFORE THIS, I WAS NEVER MORNING SICK, BUT THIS TIME, EACH MORNING AT THE VERY SAME TIME, I WAS IN THE BATHROOM DOUBLED OVER. I THOUGHT IT WOULD PASS SOON, BUT IT CONTINUED. I DIDN'T THINK IT PRUDENT TO TELL THE FAMILY YET, AS MARTIN'S FAMILY ALREADY THOUGHT WE HAD ENOUGH CHILDREN AND I DIDN'T WANT THEM TO HARASS HIM ABOUT IT. SECRETLY THOUGH, I WAS SO HAPPY, I LOVED HAVING MY CHILDREN AND CONSIDERED IT THE GREATEST GIFT IN THE WORLD. THANKSGIVING CAME AND THEN CHRISTMAS AND THEN NEW YEARS. PAWPAW LOOKED AT ME AT NEW YEARS DINNER AND THEN SUDDENLY ANNOUNCED, "WELL, SHE DONE IT AGAIN! STILL FAT AS A CALF, STILL CUTER EVERY DAY AND NOW SHES BROODING AGAIN!" I SNATCHED MARTIN IN THE OTHER ROOM AND ASKED HIM WHY HE HAD TOLD PAWPAW THAT I WAS EXPECTING! HE TOLD ME HE DEFINETLY HAD NOT TOLD PAWPAW OR ANYONE ELSE-BUT PAWPAW HAD A MIND ABOUT THESE THINGS AND PROBABLY JUST GUESSED. WELL, THE CAT WAS OUT OF THE BAG, AND THE FAMILY POUNCED. "THAT BOY CAN ONLY DO SO MUCH YOU KNOW, HE CAN'T GO SUPPORTING A BROOD OF KIDS BY HIMSELF!" SAID MARTIN'S DAD. "LOOKS LIKE HE'S DONE ENOUGH!" SAID LOLA. PAWPAW SAID, "THATS THE WAY BOY, KEEP HER PREGNANT AND SHE WON'T GIVE YOU ANY TROUBLE!" AND SO, NUMBER FOUR WAS ON THE WAY. THAT YEAR, I WAS THE ROOM MOTHER FOR JESSICA'S KINDERGARTEN CLASS. I SO ENJOYED BEING ROOM MOTHER, AND FOUND MANY WAYS TO STRETCH THE PARTY BUDGET. I ALWAYS MADE SURE THAT EACH HOLIDAY WAS SPECIAL, AND IT MEANT SO MUCH TO ME BECAUSE MANY OF THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASS WERE VERY POOR AND COULD NOT AFFORD TO DONATE. HEAVENLY FATHER SEEMED TO STEP IN AND FILL IN THE GAPS WITH DISCOUNTS IN EVERY DIRECTION. NEAR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR, AS I WAS GEARING UP FOR SUMMER FUN WITH THE FAMILY AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE BABY WHO WAS DUE IN JULY, I BEGAN TO REALLY FEEL WEAK AND MUCH MORE TIRED. JESSICA TOO, CAME DOWN WITH SOMETHING THAT GAVE HER FEVER AND VOMITING FOR A FEW DAYS, AND I TOOK HER TO THE DOCTOR, TO BE TOLD IT WAS THE FLU AND NOT TO WORRY. SHE GOT BETTER AFTER ABOUT 5 DAYS, BUT I DID NOT. EVEN GATHERING THE EGGS WAS A CHORE FOR ME AND I BEGAN TO HAVE TO REST MUCH MORE OFTEN. I MENTIONED IT MY DOCTOR, WHOM I HAD USED FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THIS PREGNANCY, AND HE TOLD ME THAT OF COURSE BECAUSE I HAD DELIVERED ALMOST 4 CHILDREN IN SIX YEARS I COULD EXPECT TO BE EXHAUSTED. SCHOOL LET OUT AND THE SUMMER BEGAN. SWIMMING, MOVIES, PLAYING AND THE LITTLE FARM TOOK UP ALL MY TIME AND ENERGY. FINALLY, ON FATHER'S DAY, WE WENT TO A BUFFET AND I FOUND THAT I COULD NOT EAT ANYTHING. I WAS STILL HAVING MORNING SICKNESS, BUT THIS WAS SEVERE AND MY APPETITE WAS NON-EXISTANT. MARTIN TOLD ME THAT HE WAS OFFICIALLY WORRIED, BECAUSE HE HAD NEVER SEEN A TIME WHEN I DIDN'T ATTACK A BUFFET WITH GUSTO. THAT AFTERNOON, AS WE WENT TO THE CHICKENS TO FEED THEM, I JUST SAT DOWN IN A WHEELBARROW, AND COULD NOT GET UP. "I CAN'T MAKE IT BABY", I TOLD MARTIN. MY CHECKUP WAS THE NEXT MORNING, SO HE TOLD ME TO TELL THE DOCTOR HOW SICK I HAD BECOME. THE NEXT DAY, WHEN I WENT TO THE DOCTOR, I GAVE THE URINE SAMPLE AS USUAL AND WENT IN WHEN CALLED BY THE NURSE. I TOLD THE DOCTOR EVERYTHING, AND AS I WAS TALKING, THE NURSE CAME IN AND TOOK THE DOCTOR OUT. HE CAME RIGHT BACK IN, TOOK ME BY THE ARM AND LED ME TO A PRIVATE ROOM. WITH GRAVE CONCERN HE TOLD ME THAT HE WAS POSITIVE THAT I HAD A CASE OF HEPATITIS. I HAD TO BE IN SECLUSION, AND HE WAS ADMITTING ME RIGHT AWAY. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE "FLU" THAT JESSICA HAD WAS ALSO HEPITITIS, BUT IN CHILDREN IT MANIFESTS DIFFERENTLY AND THEY USUALLY GET RIGHT OVER IT.. THEN, WE REALIZED THAT SEVERAL OF THE OTHER CHILDREN HAD BEEN SICK, AND SINCE THIS FORM OF HEPATITIS IS SO CONTAGIOUS, I MUST HAVE CAUGHT IT FROM ONE OF THEM. IT WAS THE VIRAL TYPE AND WOULD HAVE TO GO AWAY ON IT 'S OWN, THERE WAS NO MEDICINE FOR IT. I WAS RELIEVED, BUT THE DOCTOR THEN TOLD ME GENTLY THAT THE BABY PROBABLY COULD NOT SURVIVE SUCH AN INFECTION. IT WAS VERY CHANCY THAT I WOULD CARRY TO TERM- 7 MORE WEEKS, AND IF I DID, I WOULD PROBABLY MOST LIKELY HAVE A STILL BORN CHILD. WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE MY HORROR AND DESPAIR AT THIS NEWS. MARTIN ARRIVED AND I TOLD HIM, WE HELD EACH OTHER AND CRIED TOGETHER, AND HE SAID THAT WE WOULD JUST HAVE TO PUT IT IN HEAVENLY FATHER'S HANDS. THEN, WE FOUND OUT THAT SINCE I HAD BAKED BROWNIES FOR THE ZOO TRIP THAT THE PRIMARY HAD TAKEN, EVERYONE WHO HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH ME AND THOSE BROWNIES HAD TO VACCINATED AGAINST HEPATITIS. IT CAME TO 96 PEOPLE, AND ALL OF THEM HAD TO HAVE THE SHOT. IT WAS VERY EXPENSIVE AND MOST OF THEM COULD NOT AFFORD TO BE VACCINATED, BUT A WONDERFUL DOCTOR THAT WAS A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH DONATED THE VACCINE AND THE NURSE TO INNOCULATE EVERYONE. I FELT HORRIBLE ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. THEN, TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, I COULD NOT COME HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL UNTIL THE BABY WAS BORN. HOW COULD I STAY AWAY SO LONG? BUT THE LADIES JUMPED IN AND BEGAN TO CARE FOR MY LITTLE FAMILY. THE 4TH OF JULY CAME AND WENT AND STILL I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. THEN, JUST AFTER MY BIRTHDAY ON THE 14TH OF JULY I WAS TOLD I COULD GO HOME WITH HOME HEALTH CARE. SO, HOME I WENT, BUT ON STRICT BED REST. THE HEALTH CARE LADY WAS WONDERFUL. SHE WAS SO GOOD TO ALL OF US, A TRUE ANGEL, AND EVEN TAUGHT ME HOW TO MAKE THE BEST MEATLOAF! FINALLY, JULY 29 CAME, AND IT WAS MY DUE DATE. I KNOW NOT TO PLACE ANY STOCK IN A DUE DATE FOR ME, SO I JUST LET IT PASS AS I KNEW IT WOULD AND BIDED MY TIME. ON AUGUST 8TH, I HAD HAD ENOUGH. I GOT OUT OF BED AND MADE MARTIN TAKE ME SHOPPING FOR GROCERIES. I WAS SO BORED AND WHAT COULD IT HURT? WHILE STANDING IN LINE, I FELT A TWINGE IN MY BACK, BUT IGNORED IT. LATER THAT NIGHT, I FELT RESTLESS, AND COULD NOT GET COMFORTABLE. THEN, AT 11: OCLOCK, A HORRIBLE RENDING PAIN DOUBLED ME OVER. IT FELT LIKE MY INSIDES WERE BEING TORN OUT. IT LASTED FOR ABOUT A MINUTE AND WENT AWAY. I HAD TEARS IN MY EYES AND TOLD MARTIN WHAT HAD HAPPENED. "COULD YOU BE IN LABOR?" HE ASKED. I SAID OF COURSE NOT, I WAS ONLY 10 DAYS LATE AND HAD AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK TO GO IF HISTORY PROVED ACCURATE. THEN, THE SAME PAIN, DOUBLED IN INTENSITY AND FELT LIKE CLAWS WERE TEARING AT ME. THIS TIME I CRIED OUT, GRASPING AT MY STOMACH, AND TOLD HIM SOMETHING WAS WRONG. THEN, PRESSURE, UNBELIEVABLE PRESSURE! WE CALLED OUR BABYSITTER AND GOT IN THE CAR. WE STOPPED FOR A BLESSING, AS THE PRESSURE HAD LESSENED-AND THEN OFF TO THE HOSPITAL. AGAIN, A SLAMMING PAIN, PRESSURE AND PANIC. I BEGAN TO FEEL THAT THE BABY WAS COMING. I WASN'T HAVING REGULAR LABOR PAINS, I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, BUT THE PRESSURE WAS SO TERRIBLE. I TOLD MARTIN TO PULL OVER ON THE FREEWAY, THE BABY WAS COMING AND I COULD NOT HOLD IT. HE ANSWERED THAT SUGGESTION BY SLAMMING THE PEDAL DOWN AND SPEEDING UP THE CAR, SWERVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC ON A MAJOR FREEWAY. WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, HE LEFT THE CAR RUNNING AND TOOK ME INSIDE. "HURRY, HURRY, THE BABY IS COMING!" I CRIED. I WAS RUSHED UPSTAIRS, CHECKED AND TOLD THAT THE BABY WAS NOT COMING AND I WAS NOT IN LABOR. "YES, YES I AM, THE BABY IS COMING, HELP ME!"I YELLED AT THE NURSE. SHE SAID THE DOCTOR HAD ORDERED AN EPIDURAL, AND SINCE TO HER KNOWLEGE THE BABY WAS STILL A WAYS OFF, SHE TOLD THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE IT TO ME. WHEN HE SAT ME UP, THE PAIN MADE ME SENSLESS, AND I BEGAN TO SCREAM THAT THE BABY WAS COMING AND I COULD FEEL IT'S HEAD. THEN, I FELT IT BABY GO BACK UP IN AND THE CLAWING PAIN INTESIFIED AND THEN STOPPED ALTOGETHER. THEN, SUDDENLY, AS I WAS TRYING TO LAY BACK DOWN, SOMETHING JUST EXPLODED FROM ME, AND I BEGAN TO GUSH BRIGHT RED BLOOD. THE NURSE PANICKED AND RAN FROM THE ROOM. MARTIN HAD HEARD MY SCREAMS AND RAN IN TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. THE BLOOD WAS RUNNING OFF THE TABLE, AND BY NOW THE DOCTOR HAD ARRIVED. BEFORE I KNEW IT, HE WAS TELLING ME TO RELAX AND LET THE BABY COME ON OUT. I WAS HYSTERICAL, BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN THE BABY'S NECK WHEN IT TRIED TO COME OUT THE FIRST TIME. THEN, IN A GUSH OF BLOOD, THE BABY WAS BORN, BUT SILENT. YOU HAVE A SON! BUT NO CRIES OF A NEWBORN. THEY TOOK HIM AWAY AND BEGAN TO WORK ON HIM. I WAS NUMB WITH PAIN AND DESPAIR. I WAS STILL BLEEDING BADLY, AND FELT MY LIFE EBBING AWAY. I PRAYED TO BE ALLOWED TO LIVE TO TAKE CARE OF MY LITTLE FAMILY, AND THEN, ABOVE ME, I SAW WHAT APPEARED TO BE A CURTAIN ROLL BACK AND THERE, GLOWING AND LOVELY WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL. SHE WAS CHUBBY, HAD CURLY SANDY COLORED HAIR AND BLUE EYES. SHE SMILED AT ME AND I KNEW THAT SHE WAS SOMEONE SPECIAL TO ME. I ASKED IF I WERE HAVING TWINS. I WAS TOLD, NO, AND YOU CANNOT HAVE ANYMORE CHILDREN! IT WILL KILL YOU, EXPECIALLY AFTER THIS! BUT I DIDN'T HEAR THAT PART, ALL I HEARD WAS THE WEAK WAIL OF A BABY IN THE ROOM! SOMEHOW, HE WAS ALIVE. THE HEPATITIS HAD WEAKENED ME SO MUCH THAT MY PLACENTA HAD RUPTURED CAUSING THE HEMMORAGING. THE DOCTOR SAID THAT HE HAD BEEN BORN AT 12:04 AM- JUST ONE HOUR AFTER THE FIRST PAIN HAD HIT ME! THEN I REMEMBERD THE BABY GIRL I HAD SEEN, AND KNEW THAT NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE SAID, THERE WAS ONE MORE BABY FOR ME. I WOULD TRUST IN THE LORD AND BRING HER IN HIS OWN GOOD TIME. WELL, OUR LITTLE BOY LIVED, AND WE NAMED HIM JARED OTTO FORREST SEE. A MIRACLE HAD OCCURRED, NOT ONLY DID HE LIVE, BUT TIME WOULD PROVE THAT EVEN THOUGH HE HAD BEEN WITHOUT OXYGEN FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME, HE WAS NOT HANDICAPPED IN ANY WAY. THE RECOVERY WAS LONG AND ARDUOUS BUT I HAD MY LITTLE OTTO. WE COULD NOT GO TO SHINER THAT YEAR, AND THE FOLLOWING HOLIDAY SEASON WAS NOT AS ACTIVE, BUT WE HAD OUR LITTLE MIRACLE. LITTLE OTTO. WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AN UNTHINKABLE TRAGEDY, WAS ONE OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE CHAPTERS OF MY LIFE. SO, AS I SAID AT THE END OF YESTERDAY'S POSTING, LIFE DID GET BETTER- BUT ONLY AFTER A GREAT TRIAL. LOVE, NANASEE

SUNNY STREET CONTINUES

WITH ALL THE ACTIVITY ON SUNNY STREET, WE STILL HAD TIME FOR NEW ADVENTURES. ONE IN PARTICULAR, WAS JESSICA'S FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL. SHE WAS SO CUTE, STANDING IN THE DRIVEWAY, HOLDING HER LITTLE LUNCH BOX AND WAITING FOR DADDY TO TAKE HER TO SCHOOL. WE DECIDED THAT I WOULD STAY HOME WITH THE LITTLE ONES, AND LET DADDY MAKE A SPECIAL MOMENT WITH HER. KINDERGARTEN WAS HALF A DAY BACK THEN, AND THE LITTLE ONES AND I SPENT THE MORNING MAKING A SPECIAL WELCOME HOME FOR JESSICA. IT WAS A SPECIAL TIME FOR ME AS MY FIRST BABY WAS GOING TO SCHOOL. IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR JESSICA'S INDEPENDENT NATURE TO SURFACE, AND WE FOUND THAT SHE DID NOT "CONFORM" LIKE THE OTHER CHILDREN. SHE ASKED "WHY" A LOT, WOULDN'T SIT NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO AGGRAVATED HER AND WAS BOSSY. PROBABLY BECAUSE THE POOR LITTLE THING WAS ALWAYS THE ALPHA DOG AT OUR HOUSE DUE TO HAVING THE LITTLE ONES TO HELP WITH.
WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE LITTLE, WE HAD A SPECIAL DAY ON THE FIRST SUNDAY OF SEPTEMBER WHICH WAS LABOR DAY. THE NEXT DAY, SCHOOL WOULD BE STARTING, BUT ON LABOR DAY, WE WOULD GO TO SHINER TEXAS, WHERE MARTIN'S FAMILY WAS FROM. EACH YEAR, THE WHOLE TOWN WOULD HAVE A PICNIC, CALLED THE SHINER PICNIC, COMPLETE WITH FOOD, GAMES, MUSIC, DANCE AND WONDERFUL HOME BAKED GOODIES AND A RAFFLE. OH, HOW WE WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO THE SHINER PICNIC! AFTER JUSTIFYING GOING TO SHINER ON A SUNDAY, AND PUSHING BACK THE GUILT TRIP, WE WOULD GET UP EARLY, AND PACK THE CAR WITH THE THINGS WE WOULD NEED FOR THE ALL DAY EXCURSION. IT WAS A 90 MILE TRIP ONE WAY,, AND WE HAD TO PICK UP PAWPAW TO GO WITH US. ALONG THE WAY, PAWPAW TOLD STORIES OF WHEN HE WAS A BOY GROWING UP IN SHINER, AND WHEN HE BECAME A FARMER LIKE HIS DAD. HE HAD 11 BROTHERS AND 6 SISTERS FOR A TOTAL OF 18 CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY. PAWPAW WAS A TWIN, AND HIS SISTER DIED EARLY IN LIFE. WE ALWAYS DROVE THE BACK ROADS TO SHINER, IT WAS MORE SCENIC AND PAWPAW POINTED OUT SITES THAT HAD NOT CHANGED SINCE HE LIVED THERE. JUST BEFORE THE TOWN, WE WOULD BEGIN TO LOOK FOR A VERY TALL STEEPLE, THAT WAS ON TOP OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SPONSORING THE PICNIC. THE FIRST ONE TO SEE IT GOT THE FIRST SODA OF THE DAY. NECKS CRANING IN ALL DIRECTIONS, UNTIL FINALLY TO EVERYONE ELSE'S DISSAPOINTMENT, SOMEONE SAID, "I SEE IT! RIGHT THERE! LOOK!" AND SURE ENOUGH THERE IT WAS. (OF COURSE PAWPAW KNEW WAY AHEAD OF TIME WHERE THE STEEPLE COULD FIRST BE SPOTTED, BUT HE NEVER LET ON). HE WOULD THEN EXPLAIN THAT HE PAINTED THAT STEEPLE WHEN HE WAS YOUNG AND THEY WERE DOING RENOVATIONS TO THE CHURCH. THE CHILDREN WERE SO IMPRESSED THAT HE HAD THE COURAGE TO GET UP ON THAT STEEP ROOF, AND EVEN THEN, CLIMB HIGHER TO PAINT THAT STEEPLE. THEN, WE WOULD ARRIVE IN THE LITTLE TOWN OF SHINER AND THERE WOULD BE THE MEAT MARKET, THE BAKERY, AND LOTS OF OTHER LITTLE SHOPS. MOST ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT WAS THE LITTLE GROCERY STORE THAT HAD PROBABLY BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE TOWN. BEFORE WE GOT TO THE PICNIC, WE WOULD STOP THERE AND EVERYONE WOULD GO POTTY, AND ON THE WAY OUT, WOULD LOOK AROUND TO SEE WHAT THEY WANTED WHEN WE STOPPED ONCE AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME. THEN, WE ARRIVED AT THE PICNIC! OH, THERE WAS OOM PA PA MUSIC BLARING, GAMES SET UP, THE OLD MEN DRINKING BEER AND TALKING, THE HUGE CHICKEN DINNER SERVED IN THE TOWN SQUARE, BINGO, RIDES AND LOTS OF KOLACHES, (FRUIT FILLED PASTRIES), SAUSAGES, SODAS, AND ON AND ON. THERE WAS A MACHINE THAT WOULD CRUSH THE BEER AND SODA CANS AND THEN GIVE OUT A PENNY FOR EACH CAN. THE CHILDREN WOULD POLITELY ASK THE OLD MEN IF THEY COULD HAVE THEIR CANS, AND COLLECT THEM BY THE DOZENS. THEN, THEY WOULD REDEEM THEM AND GET THEIR PENNIES. (GOOD IDEA MAYOR, NOW YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAUL OFF ALL THOSE CANS, AND THEY ARE ALREADY CRUSHED.) WE WOULD GO IN AND HAVE OUR FRIED CHICKEN DINNER, WITH FRIED CHICKEN, POTATOES, GREEN BEANS, HOMEMADE ROLLS, FRIED APPLES, COLE SLAW, (THE INEVITABLE PIES OF ALL KINDS)AND TRY TO FIND A SEAT. AFTER WE WERE FINALLY DONE EATING, EVERY YEAR WITHOUT FAIL, PAWPAW WOULD SAY, " I'M SO FULL, I CAN'T EVEN SWALLER! STAND BACK, IF I'M GOING TO BELCH, IT WON'T BE PRETTY!" THE KIDS WOULD LAUGH, KNOWING IT WOULD BE A MEMORY FOR YEARS TO COME. THEN, THE VISITING BEGAN. PAWPAW'S FRIENDS AND DISTANT FAMILY WOULD GATHER AND START REMEMBERING THE SAME THINGS AS THE YEAR BEFORE- AND THEN, THE LIST OF WHO HAD DIED, (GOSH WE ARE GETTING FEWER AND FEWER) THE LOCAL GOSSIP, (IS THAT OLD LADY STILL AT IT?) AND OTHER NOTEWORTHY INFORMATION TO TIDE PAWPAW OVER UNTIL HE RETURNED NEXT YEAR. BACK SLAPPING, MEDICAL REPORTS, NEWS OF FAR AWAY, AND THEN SHOW OFF THE FAMILY. EVERYONE KNEW US, BUT LISTENED PATIENTLY WHILE PAWPAW INTRODUCED US YET AGAIN- ALWAYS SAYING ABOUT ME-"THIS HERE'S BUBBA'S WIFE!(BUBBA IS MARTIN). SHE'S AS FAT AS A CALF, AND GETS CUTER EVERY YEAR. A REAL BROODER TOO-SHE'S PROBABLY IN THE FAMILY WAY AGAIN!" (I AM PRETTY SURE HE HAS JUST COMPLIMENTED ME, LET'S DON'T DWELL ON IT, OKAY?) NOW, THE HARD PART. DO I PLAY BINGO ON SUNDAY? (SHOOT I NEVER PLAY BINGO FOR MONEY ANYWAY, BUT SOMEHOW, WELL, OKAY, I GAVE IN AND PLAYED A CHARITABLE GAME OR TWO.) THE ADULTS WOULD GET THEIR BINGO CARDS AND WITH ANTICIPATION, HOPE THAT THEY HAD THE WINNING NUMBERS. THE PRIZES WERE REALLY SOMETHING, A BAG OF FLOUR, SOME COOKIES, A CAKE OR PIE, A BOX OF SOAP, NOTHING HUGE, JUST LOTS OF FUN TO WIN. THE LADIES WOULD HAVE LOTS OF BOOTHS OF CRAFTS FOR SALE, AND STILL MORE KOLACHES. OH WHY DIDN'T I HAVE A BIGGER STOMACH SO THAT I COULD TRULY ENJOY THIS SLICE OF GERMAN HEAVEN?!!! THE KIDS WOULD RUN UNTIL THEY COULD NOT GO ANYMORE, DRAGGING WITH THEM, THE MYRIAD OF PRIZES WON AT THE VARIOUS GAMES. ONE YEAR, THEY ALL WON GOLDFISH, LOTS AND LOTS OF GOLDFISH. FOR SOME REASON THOSE DARN GOLDFISH WERE REALLY EASY TO WIN-AND I HAD TO TAKE OF THEM FOR MONTHS AFTER! MARTIN AND PAWPAW WOULD TALK ABOUT THE SAUSAGE AND FRESH MILK AND OTHER THINGS THEY COULD ONLY BUY AT THE LOCAL STORE, AND HOW MUCH THEY WERE GOING TO BUY TO TAKE BACK. THE POLKA MUSIC WAS CALLING, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE GUTS TO MAKE A FOOL OUT OF MYSELF. WE WOULD TELL PAWPAW HOW MUCH IT MEANT THAT HE TOOK US TO SHINER EVERY YEAR, AND HE WOULD TELL US THAT TOMORROW, WHEN HE WOKE UP, HE WOULD START SAVING FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S TRIP. THEN, WE HAD TO START BACK. AWWW, DO WE HAVE TO? YES! SCHOOL TOMORROW! SO, BACK IN THE CAR, A TRIP TO THE STORE, AND THEN THE CHOOSING OF THE GOODIES THAT YOU COULD ONLY GET THERE LOCALLY. LOTS OF SAUSAGES FOR PAWPAW-AND HOMEMADE GERMAN WIENERS TOO. A HUGE TUBE OF BOLOGNA THAT YOU HAD TO SLICE YOURSELF, LARGE CHUNKS OF RAT CHEESE, FRIED PORK SKINS, CANDY MADE LOCALLY WITH LOTS OF PECANS, FRESH MILK FROM SHINER COWS, (REMEMBER WE TOO HAD A COW, BUT I GUESS IT WASN'T THE SAME) GERMAN POTATO CHIPS, AND KOLACHES OF ALL KINDS. OH, I FORGOT, HOGS HEAD CHEESE, WHICH IS A NIGHTMARE, BUT REALLY GOOD IF YOU DON'T LOOK AT IT WHILE EATING IT. LAST OF ALL, AND NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN, A LOCAL BRAND OF SODA POP IN SEVERAL FLAVORS, BLUE CREME SODA, ROOTBEER, GINGER BEER, GRAPE, CHERRY, STRAWBERRY AND SASSAFRASS. THE CAR WAS LOADED! WE MADE PROMISES NOT TO HOG THIS STUFF WHEN WE GOT HOME, BUT NONE OF IT EVER MADE IT PAST THE END OF SEPTEMBER. THE SUMMER WAS OVER, WE HAD BEEN TO SHINER AND SCHOOL WAS IN. COULD LIFE BE ANY BETTER? IT WOULD PROVE TO BE, AS I WILL TELL YOU TOMORROW! LOVE, NANASEE

THE FIRST YEAR ON SUNNY DRIVE

SUNNY DRIVE. THAT WAS THE NAME OF OUR STREET. I FELT IT WAS APPROPRIATE, AS THINGS WERE LOOKING UP- WE THOUGHT. FIRST OF ALL, THE HOUSE HAD A WATER WELL, NOT CITY WATER. THE WELL WAS ONLY 60 FEET IN THE GROUND AND THE WATER HAD A SUSPICIOUS SMELL TO IT. THERE WERE LITTLE THINGS FLOATING AROUND WHEN YOU LOOKED CLOSELY- I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT THEY COULD HAVE BEEN. WE ALSO HAD A SEPTIC TANK INSTEAD OF CITY SEWAGE. THAT WAS A NIGHTMARE AT TIMES. WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE HOUSE TO BUY IT, THE WATER WAS FROZEN IN THE TOILET- BUT HEY, IT WAS WINTER, IT'S SUPPOSED TO FREEZE, RIGHT? THERE WAS NO CENTRAL AIR, BUT A HUGE DINOSAUR WINDOW UNIT THAT ACTUALLY COOLED THE WHOLE HOUSE. IN THE ATTIC, THERE WAS AN ATTIC FAN TO DRAW COOL AIR THROUGH THE HOUSE, BUT WHEN TURNED ON SOUNDED LIKE THE CENTRAL PACIFIC RAILROAD WAS COMING ANY MINUTE. NONE OF THIS MATTERED TO US, WE WERE OUT IN THE COUNTRY AND HAD LOTS OF ROOM FOR THE CHILDREN AND SUZY TO RUN, A GARDEN AND EVEN SOME ANIMALS. WE GOT SOME CHICKENS RIGHT AWAY. CLOSE BY, THERE WAS AN EGG FARM, AND THEY WOULD SELL THE POOR OLD CHICKENS THAT WERE IN MOLT, (NOT LAYING FOR A WHILE) FOR 10.00 A DOZEN. WHAT A BARGAIN! 12 CHICKENS FOR 10.00 DOLLARS! THE POOR THINGS HAD NEVER EVER TOUCHED THE GROUND, BUT HAD BEEN RAISED FOR EGG PRODUCTION AND IN A CAGE THEIR WHOLE LIVES. WE DIDN'T KNOW THAT AND TOOK THEM HOME TO THEIR NEW "CHICKEN VILLA" THAT WE HAD LOVINGLY CREATED FOR THEM. LOVELY ROOSTS TO SLEEP IN, SHINING NEW FEEDERS, CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERERS, EVERYTHING THAT A CHICKEN COULD EVER WANT. A CHICKEN THAT HAD NOT BEEN RAISED FOR EGG PRODUCTION THAT IS. AS SOON AS WE PUT THEM ON THE GROUND, THEY JUST COLLAPSED WHERE THEY WERE. THEY DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO MOVE AROUND, THEY HAD BEEN IN A TINY CAGE ALL OF THEIR LIVES. WHY IS IT THAT YOUR BEST IDEAS ONLY SEEM GOOD TO YOU- NOT TO THE IDEA OF THE INTENDED? WHO EVER HEARD OF A CHICKEN THAT COULD NOT WALK? MARTIN TOLD ME WE COULD ALWAYS STEW THEM- AND THE GIRLS BEGAN SCREAMING THAT HE WASN'T GOING TO COOK THEIR CHICKENS! I FELT SO SORRY FOR THEM THAT I JUST PUT THE FEED AND WATER IN FRONT OF THEM AND WALKED OFF. THE NEXT MORNING, THEY WERE WALKING AROUND! AND AFTER THAT, THEY LEARNED TO ROOST AND EVERYTHING. WE WERE SO TICKLED FOR THEM- FINALLY AFTER ABOUT 6 WEEKS, THEY BEGAN TO LAY EGGS. WE FELT LIKE CHICKEN BENEFACTORS. THEN, ONE DAY, COMING HOME, ON THE EAST SIDE OF HOUSTON, WE NOTICED A SEMI-TRUCK WITH THE BACK DOOR OPEN, AND THERE WERE CHICKENS RUNNING ALL OVER THE STREET. SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A CHICKEN PROCESSING PLANT AND SOMEHOW THE CHICKENS HAD ESCAPED BEFORE THEY COULD GET THEM INSIDE. MARTIN PULLED OVER, AND WITHOUT A WORD, BEGAN TO CHASE AND CAPTURE CHICKENS AS FAST AS HE COULD. I GOT IN ON THE ACT, AND WE BEGAN THROWING CHICKENS INTO THE CAR ONE AFTER THE OTHER. SOON, THE CAR WAS FILLED WITH FLAPPING CHICKENS, AND WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE CHICKENS DO WHEN THEY ARE NERVOUS? YOU GUESSED IT, JUST POOPED ALL OVER THE PLACE. BUT WE HAD FREE CHICKENS! ABOUT 23 FREE CHICKENS. WE JUSTIFIED OUR CHICKEN THEFT BY SAYING TO OURSELVES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE GOTTEN RUN OVER ANYWAY- OUR PENALTY FOR CHICKEN RESCUE WAS LOTS OF CHICKEN POOP ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. LOTS OF IT. TOOK FOREVER TO CLEAN IT ALL UP. BUT, THE CHICKENS WERE SAVED FROM A FRYING PAN, AND WE INCREASED THE CHICKEN POPULATION IN THE YARD. WE FOUND A TORTILLA PLANT THAT THREW AWAY CORN TORTILLAS IN BIG DUMPSTER. CHICKENS LIKE CORN, RIGHT? WHY NOT CORN TORTILLAS. IT WAS A GREAT PLAN, WITH ONLY ONE LITTLE INCIDENT. THE DUMPSTER WAS SO BIG, THAT MARTIN HAD TO CLIMB INTO IT AND THROW THE TORTILLAS OVER THE TOP- IT WAS ABOUT 8 FEET TALL. I GATHERED THE BAGS AND TOLD HIM WHEN WE HAD ENOUGH. THEN HE WOULD CLIMB OUT AND OFF WE WOULD GO. ONE DAY, HE WAS IN THE DUMPSTER, IT WAS HOT AND MUGGY AND YOU COULD REALLY SMELL THAT CORN. HE DIDN'T MIND, IT WAS FREE CHICKEN FEED-ANYWAY, AS HE CLIMBED INTO THE DUMPSTER, HE BEGAN TO THROW OUT THE TORTILLAS. SUDDENLY, I HEARD A SOUND AND LOOKED TO SEE THAT THE GARBAGE TRUCK WAS COMING. MARTIN WAS STILL INSIDE THE DUMPSTER! I BEGAN BANGING AND YELLING FOR HIM TO GET OUT, AND HE POKED HIS HEAD UP OVER THE TOP TO SEE THE GARBAGE TRUCK BEARING DOWN ON HIM. HE SCRAMBLED TO THE TOP, AND TOOK A FLYING LEAP FROM 8 FEET IN THE AIR, LANDING ON HIS HANDS AND KNEES AND BANGING HIS HEAD ON THE SIDEWALK. IT WAS ONLY THEN THAT I REALIZED THAT THE TRUCK HAD A DIFFERENT WASTE DISPOSAL COMPANY NAME THAN WAS ON THE DUMPSTER! THE GARBAGE TRUCK JUST WENT FLYING ON BY, AND I DECIDED THAT IT WOULD BE SAFER FOR ME ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STREET. I TOOK THE KIDS OVER ACROSS THE STREET, AS MARTIN WAS STEADILY SWEARING WITH EVERY BREATH HE TOOK. "WHAT'S WRONG WITH DADDY? WHY IS SAYING THOSE FUNNY WORDS?" ASKED BOBBIE JO "THEM AIN'T FUNNY WORDS, THEY'R BAD WORDS!" SAID JESSICA. "HE ONLY SAYS THEM MAMA MAKES HIM MAD!" "SO, HOWS ABOUT A SNOWCONE?" I CHORTLE. BY THEN, MARTIN HAD GOTTEN UP AND WAS DUSTING HIMSELF OFF. AFTER THAT, I WAS CAREFUL TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE GARBAGE TRUCKS GOING BY! WE DECIDED TO GET SOME PIGS. MARTIN'S FAMILY IS GERMAN, AND SO THEY WERE HAPPY TO HAVE A WAY TO MAKE BACON, SAUSAGE AND HAM. MARTIN LOVED CARING FOR THOSE PIGS. WE GOT TWO SOWS, AND SOON THEY WERE PRODUCING BABIES. DID YOU KNOW THAT PIGS CAN HAVE A LITTER EVERY 4-5 MONTHS? AND NOT JUST ONE OR TWO PIGGIES, BUT UP TO 16. LOTS OF PIGGIES, LOTS OF PIGGIE POOP. AND FEED. AND WATER. NOW, I AM NOT GERMAN, AND I DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH PIG MANUFACTURE, BUT MARTIN DID AND I SUPPORTED HIM THE BEST I COULD. EVENTUALLY, ALL THOSE PIGGIES ENDED UP IN THE FREEZER, EITHER AT OUR HOUSE OR A RELATIVE OR NEIGHBOR. MARTIN WAS SO PROUD OF HIS SKILL AT PIGGIE PROCESSING- BUT I FOR ONE, STAYED IN THE HOUSE IF I COULD. I DID LEARN TO MAKE SAUSAGE, GRIND THE MEAT, SEASON THE MEAT AND STUFF THE SAUSAGE CASINGS. SMOKE THE SAUSAGE, WRAP THE SAUSAGE AND FREEZE THE SAUSAGE. THE FIRST YEAR WE MADE OVER 300 POUNDS OF THE STUFF. WHOOPEE. I HAVE MORE PIGGIE STORIES, BUT THEY WILL COME LATER. FINALLY, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO DO WITH THREE CHILDREN, CHICKENS, PIGS AND A GARDEN, MARTIN DECIDED THAT WE HAD TO HAVE A COW. A MILK COW. TO GIVE HIM CREDIT, HE GOT UP EVERY MORNING EARLY AND MILKED THAT COW, AND MILKED HER AGAIN IN THE EVENING. I LEARNED TO MILK, BUT HE COULD SQUIRT THAT MILK LIKE A SHOTGUN, FILLING THE PAIL IN NO TIME. I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS HURTING HER, I KNOW I WAS HURTING MY HANDS! THEY STARTED CRAMPING UP BEFORE THE BUCKET WAS HALF FULL- BUT A REAL WOMAN WOULD FINISH THE JOB. WE DECIDED FOR THE SAKE OF THE COW AND MY HANDS, THAT MARTIN WOULD MILK AND I WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE MILK. I LEARNED TO MAKE BUTTER, CHEESE AND BUTTERMILK. WE HAD WAY MORE MILK THAN WE COULD USE, SO THE NEIGHBORS WOULD BUY THE REST. ONE TIME, I NOTICED THAT THE COW HAD QUIT MAKING SO MUCH CREAM. THE MILK WAS ABSOLUTELY ALMOST DEVOID OF CREAM, AND I THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE COW. I WORRIED ABOUT IT AND CALLED THE VET- HE SAID TO LOOK CLOSE TO HOME TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. SURE ENOUGH, ONE MORNING, I HAD GOTTEN UP EARLY AND HEARD A NOISE IN THE KITCHEN. SNEAKING UP TO THE DOOR, I FOUND MY CREAM PROBLEM, IN THE FORM OF TWO LITTLE GIRLS DRINKING IT OFF THE TOP OF THE MILK! AH-HA! CAUGHT YOU! LITTLE CREAM THEIVES! I HAD TO EXPLAIN THAT WITHOUT THE CREAM, I COULD NOT MAKE BUTTER AND THE MILK WOULD TASTE THIN. THAT WORKED FOR AWHILE, BUT I HAD TO KEEP A SHARP EYE OUT-ONCE A CREAM THIEF, ALWAYS A CREAM THIEF. (I CAUGHT MARTIN A TIME OR TWO SNEAKING THE CREAM AS WELL. OKAY, MAYBE I SNITCHED SOME TOO- FRESH CREAM IS ADDICTIVE!) SO, THERE YOU HAVE IT, THE SUNNY FARM. I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAD 3 CHILDREN, ANIMALS AND GARDEN AND A HOUSEHOLD TO RUN. I DIDN'T MIND IT AT THE TIME AND EVEN ENJOYED IT, BUT MAN, TODAY, IT WOULD KILL ME. THE CHILDREN LEARNED A LOT THOUGH, AND STILL TALK ABOUT THE CHICKENS, PIGS AND CREAM. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

MOVING DAY

IT WAS A LONG 3 MONTHS BEFORE WE WERE ABLE TO FINISH THE MORTGAGE PROCESS, AND IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAD TO SELL THE RAT HOLE. CHRISTMAS WAS WONDERFUL THAT YEAR, THE FIRST CHRISTMAS FOR AARON AND THE LITTLE GIRLS REALLY ENJOYED HAVING HIM TO SPOIL. WE HAD A FAMILY TRADITION OF EATING HOLIDAY MEALS AT MARTIN'S PARENTS HOMES, SO, ON CHRISTMAS DAY, WE ATE LOLA'S FABULOUS PIE WITH OUR CHRISTMAS MEAL. THERE WAS ALSO THE TRADITIONAL TURKEY DINNER- BUT EVERYONE LOOKED FORWARD TO THE PIE. ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WE HAD GONE TO MARTIN'S MOM'S HOUSE, (HER NAME WAS DORIS) AND OPENED GIFTS WITH ALL THE COUSINS. EACH YEAR ON THE WAY HOME ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WE WOULD LOOK UP INTO THE SKY, (AND SEEING THE LIGHTS OF A PASSING PLANE) SAY, "OH, WE HAVE TO HURRY! SEE, SANTA IS LOOKING FOR OUR NEIGHBORHOOD." OF COURSE WE HAD TO SET OUT THE COOKIES AND MILK FOR SANTA- AND THERE WERE PLENTY OF COOKIES TO BE HAD- THE GIRLS AND I HAD BEEN BAKING FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS. LOOKING BACK, I DON'T KNOW WHY I FELT THAT I HAD TO BAKE SO MANY CHRISTMAS GOODIES, I ALWAYS MADE HUNDREDS OF COOKIES, FUDGE BY THE POUND, CHOCOLATE DIPPED PRETZELS, AND OTHER TRADITIONAL WONDERS. STILL, IN SPITE OF THE HUGE NUMBERS, EVERYTHING WAS EATEN- AND WE ENDED UP LOOKING FOR MORE. IT WAS SO SPECIAL, AND MARTIN NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE COST OR THE TIME IT TOOK. I THINK THAT BOBBIE JO LEARNED TO BE AN EXCELLENT COOK, BECAUSE SHE LOVED COOKING SO MUCH WHEN SHE WAS LITTLE. AARON AND I ARE THE ONLY ONES IN THE FAMILY THAT LOVE FRUITCAKE, AND MY MOTHER WOULD SEND A FABULOUS FRUITCAKE FROM A SMALL TOWN IN TEXAS NAMED CORSICANA EVERY YEAR. I WOULD CHILL IT AND SLICE IT THIN, AND TRY TO MAKE IT LAST, AND INDEED IT WOULD STRETCH FOR AWHILE WHEN IT WAS ONLY ME EATING IT, BUT THEN WHEN AARON GOT OLDER, IT WAS NO USE. THAT POOR CAKE NEVER EVEN MADE IT OUT OF DECEMBER. THERE WASN'T MUCH CAKE IN IT, MOSTLY FRUIT AND NUTS. PINEAPPLE, CHERRIES, RED AND GREEN, AND OH, THE PECANS. I DON'T BUY THOSE CAKES ANYMORE, THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE. BUT I DO REMEMBER HOW I LOVED THEM. (I USED TO SAVE THE METAL TINS THEY CAME IN AND PUT BUTTONS OR SOMETHING CRAFTY IN THEM.) NEW YEARS CAME AND ONCE AGAIN WE SAT DOWN AT LOLA'S AND MARTIN SR.'S TO HAVE A TRADITIONAL NEW YEARS DINNER. EACH ITEM HAD SIGNIFIGANCE FOR LUCK FOR THE NEW YEAR. FIRST, THERE WAS A HUGE HAM, TO EAT HIGH ON THE HOG ALL YEAR LONG. THEN, CABBAGE SO YOU WOULD HAVE LOTS OF MONEY. THEN, BLACK EYED PEAS, (YUCK) AND THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE GOOD LUCK. WE HAD CORN BREAD AND HOME MADE WHITE ROLLS, JUST BECAUSE, AND OF COURSE, LOLA'S PIES. THE TALK WOULD CENTER AROUND THE PLANS FOR THE NEW YEAR, SUCH THINGS AS "THIS YEAR I AM GOING TO SAVE MORE MONEY, OR I AM GOING TO PAY OFF THE TRUCK, OR I SWEAR, I AM GOING TO DO BETTER AROUND THE HOUSE". YOU KNOW, THE USUAL THINGS. PAWPAW, (MARTIN'S GRANDDADDY) WOULD SAY, "WHEN I WAS A KID, WE DIDN'T HAVE IT GOOD LIKE Y'ALL DO. I HAD TO WORK FOR .50 CENTS A DAY. I WORKED ALL DAY AND THEN HAD TO COME HOME AND TEND THE ANIMALS." AND ON AND ON. WE LOVED HIS STORIES, HE SURE COULD COME UP WITH SOME. PAWPAW LIVED TO BE 92 YEARS OLD AND AS LONG AS MARTIN CAN REMEMBER PAWPAW WOULD GET UP EVERY MORNING, EAT GERMAN SAUSAGE, EGGS AND GRITS AND WORK AROUND THE HOUSE. THEN, AT THE SAME TIME EACH DAY, HE WOULD WALK 8 BLOCKS TO THE BEER JOINT FOR A SIX PACK. HE WOULD DRINK THAT SIX PACK LIKE THIS: THREE AT THE BEER JOINT AND THREE AT HOME IN THE EVENING. EVERY DAY, NO MATTER WHAT. THEN AFTER A MEAL OF BEANS AND CORNBREAD, HE WOULD GO TO BED. WHEN SHE WAS STILL ALIVE, NANNY, (MARTIN'S GRANDMOTHER) WOULD COOK A POT OF BEANS EVERY FOURTH DAY. THEY WERE DELICIOUS-FULL OF BACON, AND THE FIRST DAY EVERYONE WAS ANXIOUS TO HAVE SOME. THE SECOND DAY THEY WERE EVEM BETTER AND THE THIRD DAY, THEY WERE THE BEST OF ALL. THAT IS BECAUSE SHE WOULD THROW OUT WHAT WAS LEFT AND START OVER THE NEXT MORNING. PINTO BEANS, BUTTER BEANS AND WHITE BEANS, WHE WAS A WHIZ WITH BEANS. OF COURSE, THE SIDE EFFECTS WERE NOT AS PLEASANT- THE LITTLE COUSINS WOULD HAVE CONTESTS TO SEE WHO COULD TOOT THE LOUDEST, LONGEST OR SMELLIEST. "Y'ALL GET OUTSIDE IF YOU HAVE TO EXPELL!" CALLED NANNY. WORST OF ALL WAS PAWPAW- SHE COULDN'T THROW HIM OUT AND HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF IT. THE CHILDREN WERE HYSTERICAL WHEN HE WOULD AGGRAVATE HER LIKE THAT. HE WAS ALWAYS CHEERFUL AND HAD A POCKET OF QUARTERS FOR MY CHILDREN EACH TIME THEY CAME TO SEE HIM. HOW WE LOVED PAWPAW AND NANNY. ANYWAY, AFTER WE MADE OUR RESOLUTIONS, AND PAWPAW TOLD HIS STORIES, WE WOULD SAY THAT THE BEST THING ABOUT NEW YEAR'S DINNER WAS THAT ALL THE TURKEY AND DRESSING FROM CHRISTMAS WAS GONE AND WE WERE GLAD WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LOOK AT IT ANY MORE FOR AWHILE. THE MEN WOULD GO INTO THE LIVING ROOM, AND I WOULD MAKE THE OBLIGATORY STATEMENT, "LOLA, I SURE WISH I COULD BAKE PIES LIKE YOU DO". "WELL HONEY, YOU JUST TAKE YOUR HAND, AND THROW IN SEVERAL HANDFULS OF FLOUR, A SCOOP OF LARD AND SOME SALT. TOSS A BIT OF COLD WATER IN AND ROLL IT OUT. DON'T USE ANYTHING BUT LARD, IT MAKES THE CRUST FLAKY!" THEN SHE WOULD TELL US ABOUT THE FILLINGS, CHOCOLATE, LEMON, CUSTARD, PECAN, SWEET POTATO, PUMPKIN, APPLE OR MINCE. "NEXT YEAR, IF YOU PRACTICE, YOU CAN MAKE THE PIES!" SHE WOULD SAY. FIRST OF ALL, MY HANDS ARE PROBABLY TWICE THE SIZE OF HERS, AND I WAS NOT SURE JUST HOW MUCH OF A SCOOP OF LARD TO PUT IN THERE. I KNEW HER FEELINGS WOULD BE HURT IF I TRIED TO MAKE THE HOLIDAY PIES, SO, I NEVER MADE MUCH OF AN EFFORT, AND IF I MADE PIE, IT WAS AT HOME SO SHE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT. WHEN LOLA DIED, BOBBIE INSISTED ON HAVING HER PIE PANS. AND GUESS WHAT? SHE MADE THE BEST PIE! "NOW WATCH ME MAMA!" BOBBIE JO WOULD SAY." JUST TAKE YOUR HANDS AND SCOOP IN THE FLOUR, ADD A SCOOP OF LARD AND SOME ICE WATER. IT'S EASY!" AND OF COURSE THE PIES WOULD BE SUPERB. IT WAS LIKE LOLA REINCARNATED IN THE KITCHEN. I HAVE THOSE PIE PANS NOW- I HOPE THAT MAYBE ONE DAY, I CAN DO THEM JUSTICE AGAIN. FORTUNATELY BECKY IS REALLY GOOD WITH PIES TOO. WELL, DINNER IS OVER, THE MEN HAVE THEIR BEER, (EXCEPT FOR MARTIN), THE WOMEN ARE CLEANING UP AND ALL OF US ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO BETTER TIMES. ME, I AM PLANNING TO MOVE TO OUR NEW HOUSE, AND THERE WAS MUCH TO DO. MARTIN BEGAN THE REPAIRS ON THE RAT HOLE. DAY AND NIGHT, HE WORKED AT THE POST OFFICE, AND THEN AT THE HOUSE TO GET IT READY TO SELL. HE WAS A WALKING ZOMBIE. ONE NIGHT, ABOUT 3 O:CLOCK IN THE MORNING, I GOT UP TO MAKE HIS BREAKFAST AND SEE HIM OUT THE DOOR. HE HAD TO BE AT WORK BY 4:O CLOCK AM, SO OFF HE WENT AND I WENT BACK TO BED. NOT LONG AFTER, I HEARD A NOISE IN THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. I QUIETLY WALKED INTO THE LIVING ROOM, AND THERE IT WAS AGAIN. SOMEONE WAS ON THE PORCH! IT WAS NOT A GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, AND TO TELL THE TRUTH, WE KEPT A SHOTGUN HIGH UP IN THE CLOSET JUST IN CASE WE EVER NEEDED IT. I HEARD SOMEONE AT THE FRONT WINDOWS. "WHO IS IT!!!" I DEMANDED- AND GOT NO RESPONSE. I WENT TO THE CLOSET AND GOT THE GUN DOWN. MY HEART WAS POUNDING, BUT I HAD 3 SMALL CHILDREN AND MY HUSBAND WAS AT WORK. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH, BUT I WAS GOING TO PROTECT MY KIDS. I WENT BACK INTO THE LIVING ROOM. I SAW THE DOOR HANDLE BEGIN TO TURN, AND THEN THE PERPETRATOR BEGAN TO RATTLE THE KNOB! "WHO IS IT?!!!" I YELLED. WHILE COCKING THE GUN, I SCREAMED, "YOU BETTER SPEAK UP OR I'M GOING TO BLOW A HOLE IN YOUR GUTS RIGHT THROUGH THIS DOOR!!!! "HONEY, HONEY, NO, NO, IT'S ME, JUST ME" SAID MARTIN. "PUT THE GUN DOWN, IT'S JUST ME!" IT TURNS OUT THAT MARTIN HAD FORGOTTEN HIS LUNCH, DROVE HOME TO GET IT AND DIDN'T HAVE A KEY. WHEN HE REALIZED THAT I THOUGHT HE WAS A BURGLAR, HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO PLAY A JOKE ON ME. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR, HE WAS AS WHITE AS A SHEET, AND THE FIRST THING HE SAID WAS, "WHERE'S THE GUN?" HE KNEW I WASN'T ABOUT TO FOOL AROUND WHEN I THOUGHT MY FAMILY WAS IN DANGER! AFTER THAT HE WAS CAREFUL TO LET ME KNOW WHEN HE WAS COMING IN AT NIGHT, AND HE ALWAYS TO OUR KIDS WHEN THEY WERE OLDER, "DON'T TRY TO SNEAK UP ON MAMA, SHE DOESN'T FOOL AROUND!" FINALLY, THE REPAIRS WERE DONE, AND TO OUR SURPRISE, WE SOLD THE HOUSE RIGHT AWAY TO A PROFIT OF 2,000.00! ON MOVING DAY, MARTIN DROPPED ME AND THE KIDS OFF TO START PUTTING THINGS AWAY IN THE NEW HOUSE AND WENT BACK FOR MORE OF OUR THINGS. IT WAS ABOUT A 40 MILE ROUND TRIP AND SO HE WAS GONE FOR AWHILE. I REALIZED THAT HE TOOK THE KEY WITH HIM AND THERE I WAS WITH THE CHILDREN AND NO WAY TO GET IN. BUT AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THE WINDOW IN THE FRONT WAS NOT LOCKED, AND I WAS ABLE TO TAKE A BROOM AND PUSH IT UP. UNFORTUNATLEY, THE WINDOW WAS ALSO ABOUT 5 FEET OFF THE GROUND AS THIS HOUSE WAS BUILT ON BLOCKS. JESSICA AND BOBBIE JO WERE WAITING IN THE FRONT YARD, WATCHING AARON IN HIS LITTLE CARRIER. I WENT TO THE EDGE OF THE PORCH, AND WITH A NIMBLE LEAP, WAS ABLE TO CLEAR THE DISTANCE TO THE WINDOW AND THROW MYSELF HALFWAY IN THE OPEN WINDOW . I LANDED FACE DOWN ON THE WINDOW SILL, FANNY HANGING OUTSIDE AND MY HEAD INSIDE. THEN, OF COURSE, THE WINDOW SLAMMED DOWN AND I WAS TRAPPED. I COULD NOT GET THE WINDOW BACK UP, AND WAS WELL AND TRULY STUCK. I CALLED FOR JESSICA, BUT S HE COULD NOT HELP, SHE WAS TOO LITTLE. THE WORST PART WAS, I WAS WEARING AN OLD DRESS, AND IT HAD RIDDEN UP TO SHOW MY UNDIES TO ANYONE WHO WAS LOOKING. JESSICA TOLD ME THERE WERE SOME MEN WORKING ACROSS THE STREET, MAYBE THEY COULD HELP. "OH GOOD, SWEETIE! GO AND GET THEM TO HELP ME" I TOLD HER. "BUT MAMA, YOUR GREAT BIG UNDERWEAR IS SHOWING! YOU CAN'T SHOW THEM YOUR GREAT BIG UNDERWEAR! YOU TOLD ME NEVER TO SHOW MY UNDERWEAR, IT ISN'T NICE!" BY NOW THE BLOOD IS RUSHING TO MY HEAD, AND MY GUTS ARE KILLING ME. AND YES, MY "GREAT BIG UNDERWEAR" ARE SHOWING, BUT WHAT CHOICE DO I HAVE? "SISSY! GO TELL THE MEN TO COME AND HELP ME! MAMA NEEDS HELP!" SO SHE WENT TO THE EDGE OF THE YARD AND TOLD THE MEN THAT I WAS STUCK. I KNEW THEY UNDERSTOOD HER WHEN I HEARD THE HOOTS OF LAUGHTER- AND AS THEY CAME DOWN THE DRIVEWAY, JESSICA WAS STEADILY SCOLDING, "DON'T YOU LOOK AT MY MAMA'S UNDERWEAR! STOP PEEKING! IT ISN'T NICE!" WELL, THOSE DARLING MEN GOT THE WINDOW RAISED, ACTED LIKE THEY DIDN'T SEE MY UNDERWEAR, AND TRIED NOT TO BURST OUT LAUGHING WHEN I FELL ON INTO THE HOUSE. ONE OF THEM HAD AARON, AND THE OTHER WAS TELLING JESSICA THAT HE DID NOT PEEK AT MY UNDERWEAR. "YES YOU DID" SHE SAID, "THEY ARE TOO BIG TO MISS!" POOR MAN HAD TO WALK AWAY TO HIDE HIS AMUSEMENT. THE REST OF THE DAY WENT OFF WITHOUT INCIDENT- I SHOULD SAY IT WAS THE FIRST OF APRIL, APRIL FOOL'S DAY,AND ONE I WON'T EVER FORGET! TOMORROW, I WILL CONTINUE LIFE IN OUR NEW HOUSE, AND MAYBE EVEN TELL YOU ABOUT A SURPRISE! LOVE, NANASEE

3 KIDS AND HEADING FOR THE LOONEY BIN

NOW THAT I HAD THREE CHILDREN, LIFE BECAME VERY HECTIC. JESSICA WAS ONLY 4 SO SHE WAS NOT IN SCHOOL AND BOBBIE JO WOULD NOT BE 2 FOR ANOTHER FEW MONTHS. THEN THERE WAS AARON, WHO, THANK GOODNESS, WAS AN EXCELLENT BABY. HE ONLY FUSSED WHEN HE WAS HUNGRY OR WET, AND HAD NO TROUBLE NURSING AT ALL. WHEN WE FOUND OUT HE WAS A BOY, WE REALIZED THAT HE WOULD NEED SPACE OF HIS OWN.. MY FRIEND AND I CLOSED IN THE BACK SCREEN PORCH AND MADE A LITTLE NURSERY FOR HIM. WE OPENED A DOOR TO OUR BEDROOM, AND PAINTED A CRIB DENINM BLUE, PUT RED BANDANA CURTAINS IN THE WINDOW, AND GLUED RED BANDANA MATERIAL TO THE END OF THE CRIB. I PUT MASON JAR RINGS FOR A MOBILE OVER HIS BED. IT WAS SO CUTE, BUT THEN WE REALIZED THAT WE HAD TO COVER THE CEMENT FLOOR. I GOT THE BIG IDEA TO GO TO A CARPET COMPANY AND ASK FOR CARPET SAMPLES, AND WE MADE A PATCHWORK CARPET FOR THE NURSERY. EVERYONE JUST LOVED HIS LITTLE NURSERY. SOON ONE DAY AFTER, WHEN AARON WAS ONLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS OLD, ONCE AGAIN, WE HAD A FURRY VISITOR. I SAW IT GOING OUT THE BACK DOOR AND HYSTERICALLY KNEW THAT IT HAD BEEN IN THE NURSERY. THAT WAS IT FOR ME. THE HOUSE THAT I HAD FALLEN IN LOVE WITH, TRULY BECAME A RAT HOLE. MY ROSE COLORED GLASSES FELL OFF MY EYES, AND I LOOKED AROUND TO SEE THE TRUE NATURE OF THE LITTLE HOUSE. NO HEAT, NO AIR CONDITIONING, THE SCREENS NEEDED REPLACING, THE KITCHEN WAS ANCIENT, THE SINK HAD A HOLE IN IT, THE HOUSE WAS TINY, AND IT WAS TIME TO MOVE. MOVE? WHERE? WELL, THE MOVING BUG WAS ON ME AND I BEGAN TO LOOK. I FIGURED THAT IF I FOUND A PLACE, MARTIN WOULD GO WILLINGLY. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, OF COURSE WE COULD NOT FIND A PLACE WE COULD EASILY AFFORD. BUT, OUT IN THE COUNTRY, WE FOUND A TWO BEDROOM HOUSE WITH A SMALL OTHER ROOM AND A FENCED ACRE OF LAND, THAT WAS IN REALLY GREAT SHAPE. AND, IT WAS CHEAP! WELL, I FOUND IT, AND THEN I HAD TO CONVINCE MARTIN TO MOVE WITH ME. SUPRISINGLY, HE WAS ALL FOR IT. AS USUAL, WHEN THE URGE HIT ME, I FOUND A WAY TO GET WHAT WE NEEDED. BEHIND THE LAND, WAS A HUGE FIELD, AND IT HAD HORSES ON IT. ON CHIRSTMAS EVE OF THAT YEAR, MARTIN AND I SIGNED A CONTRACT FOR THAT HOUSE. THE LAST THING THE REALTOR SAID WAS. "Y'ALL GO ON HOME AND EAT SOME CHRISTMAS PIE". WELL, THAT IS JUST EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, EAT PIE AND KISS AND CANOODLE. THE HOUSE COST ONLY 19,000.00, AND THE PAYMENTS WERE ONLY 127.00 A MONTH. WE COULDN'T BELIEVE OUR GOOD FORTUNE- AS USUAL, HEAVENLY FATHER BLESSED US WITH WHAT WE NEEDED. TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIG MOVE- AND THE NEW YEAR AND ALL IT'S SURPRISES. LOVE, NANASEE

I'M BACK!

THE TORNADO THAT I MENTIONED IN MY LAST BLOG WAS PUBLISHED FROM ANOTHER COMPUTER BECAUSE IT MESSED UP MY COMPUTER AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET ONLINE. BUT I AM BACK, AND I CERTAINLY HAVE MISSED WRITING. TO GET BACK TO THE STORY, AFTER WE HAD RETURNED FROM OUR TEMPLE TRIP, I BEGAN TO MAKE PLANS TO WELCOME OUR NEW BABY. (NO.3) ONE DAY IN AUGUST, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A CHECK-UP, THERE WAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE RADIO THAT ELVIS PRESLEY HAD DIED. I HAD TO PULL THE CAR OVER AND DIGEST THAT INFORMATION- I WAS VERY YOUNG WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO FAME, BUT HIS MUSIC AND TALENT HAD BEEN A PART OF MY LIFE AS LONG AS I COULD REMEMBER. I FELL IN LOVE THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE WITH HIM IN THE MOVIE, "BLUE HAWAII". I LOVED HIS MUSIC. I HEARD MY OLDER GIRL COUSINS GIGGLING ABOUT THE WAY HE "MOVED HIS YOU-KNOW" WHEN HE SANG. MY AUNTS WOULD BE SO SCANDALIZED WHEN THEY CAUGHT MY COUSINS WATCHING HIM ON TV. WE HAD TO SNEAK OFF TO THE MOVIES TO WATCH HIM, IN A BAPTIST COMMUNITY, IT JUST WASN'T DONE! HE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. HIS EYES CRYSTAL BLUE AND RAVEN BLACK HAIR. HE WAS POLITE TOO, SAYING "YES MA'AM AND NO SIR". OH, THOSE LUCKY LADIES TO BE IN MOVIES WITH HIM. I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD RESPECT FOR NANCY SENATRA AFTER THE WAY SHE TREATED HIM IN THE MOVIE THEY STARRED IN TOGETHER. (REMEMBER I WAS JUST A CHILD). I WOULD'NT HAVE TREATED HIM LIKE THAT! (LOOKING BACK, I NOW KNOW THAT THE LEADING LADIES WERE SUPPOSED TO PLAY HARD-TO-GET). THE BEATLES MEANT NOTHING TO ME. THEY WERE JUST TRYING OUTSHINE THE KING. THROUGH THE YEARS, I LOVED ELVIS, AND ALWAYS WILL. I WAS SO SAD WHEN HE DIED AND THE WAY HE DIED. I REMEMBER EXACTLY WHERE I WAS AND THE TIME OF DAY WHEN I HEARD THAT RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT. I FINALLY REALIZED MARTIN'S SORROW AT HEARING THAT JOHN WAYNE HAD DIED. I COULDN'T SYMPATIZE WITH HIME UNTIL THAT MOMENT. I LOVED JOHN WAYNE TOO- OOOOH, THAT MAN, HE WAS FABULOUS. HE WAS MY HERO, SO STRONG, ASSERTIVE AND COMMANDING. I AM AFRAID I PUT THE MEASURE TO ALL MEN BY HIS EXAMPLE. I THINK THAT IS WHY I FELL IN LOVE WITH MARTIN SO QUICKLY, HE EXEMPLIFIED JOHN WAYNE IN HIS ATTITUDE TOWARDS ME. FOR MANY YEARS OF MARRIED LIFE, I HAVE SAT THROUGH MOVIE AFTER MOVIE STARRING JOHN WAYNE, AND PATIENTLY LISTENED TO THE NARRATIVE GIVEN BY MY HUSBAND AS TO WHY, WHEN AND WHERE EACH MOVIE WAS FILMED. (I GUESS MARTIN FORGOT THAT I WAS SITTING RIGHT BESIDE HIM THE LAST TIME HE EXPLAINED IT ALL TO ME!) I MEMORIZED EACH FILM WHERE HE DIED, (IMPORTANT INFO FOR SOME REASON). WE HAD JOHN WAYNE PICTURES, RECORDS, (YES, HE MADE A RECORD!) BOOKS AND FILMS. OUR COFFEE TABLE BOOK WAS "THE COMPLETE HISTORY AND LIFE OF JOHN WAYNE". WE EVEN HAD A CERAMIC BUST OF THE MAN, THAT STOOD IN HONOR UPON THE MANTLE. OH, AND DON'T FORGET THE PICTURE WHERE MARTIN PUT HIS FACE IN THE CUT OUT OF JOHN WAYNE TAKEN AT AN AMUSEMENT PARK! (HE DID ONE FOR INDIANA JONES TOO). BUT, WHO CARES? WE ALL HAVE SOMEONE TO ADMIRE-OR SHOULD I SAY EMULATE! NEVER THE LESS, IT WAS HARD ON MARTIN WHEN JOHN WAYNE DIED, AND NOW, HEARING ABOUT ELVIS, I COULD UNDERSTAND. THE FALL CAME AND I CONTINUED TO CAN MY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. MARTIN WONDERED WHY I WAS CANNING SO MUCH, AND I EXPLAINED IT WAS FOR FOOD STORAGE. ONE DAY, MARTIN HAD SOME GUYS OVER FROM WORK, AND I MADE LUNCH FOR THEM. I MADE TURKEY AND GRAVY, AND POTATOES AND VEGETABLES. MARTIN TOOK PRIDE IN TELLING THEM THAT THE TURKEY WAS AT LEAST A YEAR OLD- AND THAT I HAD CANNED IT MYSELF. (THAT TICKLED ME, HE DOESN'T USUALLY SHOW INTEREST IN STUFF I DO LIKE THAT). THAT FALL JESSICA AND I TOOK BOBBIE JO TO THE LITTLE PARK A BLOCK AWAY AND WE HAD SO MUCY FUN PLAYING IN THE FALL AIR. WE WOULD SWING AND SLIDE, AND IN GENERAL JUST HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME. I WOULD TAKE LITTLE PICNICS TOO, JESSICA LOVED THAT. REMEMBER THAT OUR LITTLE HOUSE DIDN'T HAVE HEAT? WE HAD A SPACE HEATER, BUT IT DIDN'T GO VERY FAR, AND SO WE ALL SLEPT IN THE SAME ROOM AT NIGHT. IT WAS VERY COLD THAT YEAR, (1977). THE BABY WAS DUE ON OCTOBER 14TH, AND I WAS AS BIG AS A TRUCK. SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE WOULD OPEN UP A PATH FOR ME TO GET THROUGH BECAUSE MY STOMACH STUCK OUT SO FAR. ALL I EVER HEARD WAS, "ARE YOU HAVING TWINS?" FINALLY, OCTOBER 14TH CAME, AND----NO BABY. NEXT FEW DAYS, NO BABY. WHY WAS I SURPRISED? A WEEK WENT BY, YOU GUESSED IT, NO BABY. HALLOWEEN CAME, NO BABY. I WAS COLD, HUGE AND MISERABLE, AND WORSE OF ALL, HALLOWEEN CAME ON A SUNDAY THAT YEAR, AND I HAD TO INVENT WAYS TO HAVE IT AT HOME, AS I DIDN'T WANT THE GIRLS GOING OUT TO TRICK OR TREAT ON SUNDAY. I LUMBERED AROUND MAKING GOODIES AND THINKING UP GAMES, AND EVEN MADE A LITTLE SPOOKHOUSE FOR THEM. THE NEXT DAY, THE DOCTOR TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO INDUCE LABOR AS I WAS GETTING TOO BIG. SO, ON NOVEMBER 2ND, LOLA CAME TO WATCH THE GIRLS, AND MARTIN AND I GOT IN THE CAR TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL. IT IS A MEMORY THAT WILL LIVE WITH ME- AS WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR, CRYSTAL FLAKES OF SNOW BEGAN TO SOFTLY FALL. WE STOOD IN THE FALLING SNOW AND KISSED EACH OTHER, KNOWING THAT IT WOULD BE AN ETERNAL MEMORY FOR US. AFTER I GOT SETTLED IN MY ROOM, THEY STARTED THE MEDICINE TO PUT ME INTO LABOR. I WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE NATURAL BIRTH, AS THE OTHER TWO CAME WITHOUT DRUGS, SO I SETTLED IN AND GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS. LET ME TELL YOU THAT INDUCED LABOR IS NO PICNIC! RIGHT AWAY, THE LABOR PAINS WERE QUITE STRONG. HMMMM-NO DRUGS? NO! I AM KEEPING TO MY DECISION. DID I SAY THE PAINS WERE QUITE STRONG? THAT IS LIKE SAYING THAT AN ANT COULD WRESTLE AN ELEPHANT! BEFORE I KNEW IT, I WAS GASPING IN PAIN, AND NOT ONLY THAT, THEY CAME CLOSE AND LIKE CLOCKWORK! I DECIDED TO COUNT CARS GOING BY ON THE FREEWAY THAT I COULD SEE FROM MY WINDOW. THE PAINS CAME LONGER AND HARDER- GOSH, COULD I DO THIS? I HAD TO! NO DRUGS! (REMEMBER, BACK THEN, WE WERE ALL IN THE EARTH MOTHER STATE OF MIND, AND IF THE PIONEERS COULD GIVE NATURAL BIRTH, SO COULD WE, MEANING THOSE OF US WHO WANTED TO EMULATE WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE REAL WOMEN). TODAY, IF ANYONE ASKS ME I TELL THEM, "DRUGS! GET DRUGS!" (EXPERIENCE IS A GREAT TEACHER!) FINALLY, 6 HOURS LATER, THE BABY MOVED DOWN INTO THE BIRTH CANAL- AND IT'S BIG OLD HEAD GOT STUCK! TOO FAR DOWN FOR A C-SECTION AND TOO BIG A HEAD TO JUST COME ON OUT. REMEMBER THAT SCREAMING WOMAN NEXT TO ME WHEN I HAD JESSICA? WELL, SUDDENLY I UNDERSTOOD HER WITH CLARITY! SCREAMING SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA, NEVER MIND WHAT THE PIONEER WOMEN WOULD HAVE THOUGHT. BUT, THEY HAD MOVED A VERY YOUNG GIRL IN WITH ME, AND SEEING HER FRIGHT AND REMEMBERING MY TERROR AT THE SCREAMING WOMAN, I DECIDED TO HOLD IT IN. (SOMEHOW). THE DOCTOR TOOK ME TO DELIVERY AND DECIDED TO MAKE 4 INCISIONS TO HELP THE BABY COME OUT. 4! WELL, I DIDN'T CARE, JUST GET THAT WATERMELON OUT OF ME! FINALLY, FINALLY, THE BABY CROWNED, AND THEN WE HAD TO GET TO WORK. WELL, I DIDN'T HAVE ANY MORE WORK IN ME! BUT, SOMEHOW, AFTER MANY TRIES, I WAS ABLE TO GIVE BIRTH TO MY SON! HE WEIGHED 9LBS 8OZ, AND THOUGH THAT IS SOMEWHAT BIG FOR A BABY, HE WAS VERY SKINNY. IF HE HAD BEEN ANY KIND OF CHUBBY, HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 11LBS. WHEN THEY LAYED HIM ON MY CHEST, I LOOKED AT HIM AND REALIZED THAT HEAVENLY FATHER HAD ONCE AGAIN TAKEN A CHANCE ON GIVING ME A SPECIAL SPIRIT TO RAISE. I HOPED I WAS UP TO THE CHALLENGE- BUT I KNEW THAT SOMEHOW IF LOVE COULD RAISE A CHILD, HE WOULD BE FINE. MARTIN LOOKED AT HIM, AND ACTUALLY ALMOST PASSED OUT. ALL HE COULD SAY, AS THEY TOOK HIM OUT TO SIT DOWN, WAS, "A BOY! I HAVE A BOY!" (AND GUESS WHAT MARTIN, THIS TIME HE'S YOURS, NOT THE OTHER LADY'S!) WELL, MARTIN'S FAMILY WAS ECSTATIC, THEY HAD A GRANDSON, AND KEPT CHECKING INSIDE HIS LITTLE DIAPER TO MAKE SURE THERE WAS NO MISTAKE. WE NAMED HIM AARON ABINADI SEE. I FELT THAT HE SHOULD BE NAMED ABINADI (AFTER A MORMON PROPHET) FOR SOME REASON, AND MARTIN DIDN'T CARE, SO WE DID. AS FOR BEING SKINNY, IT DID NOT LAST FOR LONG! HE GAINED WEIGHT QUICKLY, NURSING ALL THE TIME, AND WAS A GOOD BABY. BUT AS TO THE DAY WE TOOK HIM HOME, I WAS HAVING A HARD TIME WALKING BECAUSE OF ALL THE STITCHES, AND MY BREASTS HURT BECAUSE OF HIS VIGOROUS NURSING. I HOBBLED INTO THE HOUSE, AND INTO MY BED, ARRANGED MYSELF AS BEFITTING A NEW MOTHER THAT WAS EXPECTING COMPANY, AND GREETED MY LITTLE DAUGHTERS. OR, I SHOULD SAY, I GREETED JESSICA. "SISSY, WHERE IS BOBBIE JO?" I ASKED. "OH, I LEFT HER AT THE PARK WITH A MAN" SHE SAID. WHAT? AT THE PARK? WITH A MAN?!!!!!!!" "MARTIN!!!!!!" "GO GET HER!! HURRY!!!" MARTIN BOLTED OUT THE DOOR AND DOWN THE SHORT BLOCK TO THE PARK, TO FIND LITTLE BOBBIE JO SITTING ON A PARK BENCE WITH AN ELDERLY GENTLEMAN. THE GENTLEMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE TWO LITTLE GIRLS WERE PLAYING AT THE PARK, AND THE LITTLE ONE WOULD NO GO HOME WHEN JESSICA WANTED TO. HE TOLD JESSICA THAT HE WOULD TAKE CARE OF BOBBIE JO SO THAT SHE COULD GO HOME AND GET HER MAMA. IT SEEMS THAT BOBBIE JO WANDERED OFF TO THE PARK AND JESSICA WENT TO GET HER, BUT SHE WOULDN'T GO HOME WITH JESSICA. WHERE WAS LOLA? I NEVER DID FIND OUT WHY SHE DIDN'T KNOW THE GIRLS WERE GONE, AND SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO RUIN AARON'S HOMECOMING, I JUST LET IT GO. THE GENTLEMAN WAS SO NICE, AND ONCE AGAIN HEAVENLY FATHER TOOK CARE OF MY CHILDREN. SO, NOW I HAD THREE CHILDREN, AND VERY BLESSED TO DO SO. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

A STORMY DAY

WE HAVE HAD ONE STORMY DAY, IN MORE WAY THAN ONE. FIRST OF ALL, IT HAS STORMED ALL DAY. WE HAVE NOT SEEN RAIN LIKE THIS SINCE HURRICANE IKE. IT WAS VERY BAD ALL MORNING, BUT WE DECIDED TO MAKE A TRIP OUT TO GET A NEW MICROWAVE OVEN, AS OURS HAD QUIT WORKING. BUT, LET ME BACK UP A BIT. THIS MORNING, AT 3 O'CLOCK AM, MARTIN, PEANUT AND JAYBIRD WENT TO STAND IN LINE TO SIGN JAYBIRD UP FOR FOOTBALL. THERE WERE ONLY 8 OPENINGS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF HOPEFUL LITTLE BOYS. EVEN AT THAT TIME OF DAY, THERE WERE 5 BOYS ALREADY IN LINE. SO, MARTIN, PEANUT AND JAYBIRD WAITED UNTIL 9 AM TO SIGN UP. GUESS WHAT? WE DON'T EVEN KNOW IF JAYBIRD GOT IN OR NOT. WE JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO FIND OUT. THEN, EVERYONE GOT HOME, AND I HAD ACTUALLY DONE SOME THINGS TO HELP GET THE NEW KITCHEN IN ORDER. (I DIDN'T FEEL AS GUILTY THAT I HAD SLEPT IN). THEN, AFTER A BIT, OUT WE WENT FOR THE MICROWAVE. WE WENT TO SEARS LIKE WE ALWAYS DO, AND WHILE WE WERE THERE. THE STORM INCREASED. ON THE WAY BACK, WE HAD PLANNED TO STOP AT OUR FAVORITE MEXICAN RESTAURANT, WHEN THE PHONE RANG, AND IT WAS JESSICA, PANICKED THAT THERE WAS A TORNADO GOING OVER. SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS ONE, BUT IT HIT MY NEIGHBORHOOD, NOT HERS. BEFORE WE COULD FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE, WE GOT TRAPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE WATER WAS SO HIGH THAT PEOPLE WERE GETTING STRANDED LIKE BEACHED FISH. WE WERE IN TRAFFIC AND THE STORM FOR 3 HOURS BEFORE WE FINALLY FOUND OUR WAY HOME. OUR STREET WAS LITTERED WITH BROKEN TREES, OUR TRASH CANS WERE DOWN THE STREET, AND WORSE OF ALL, WE SAW THAT THERE WAS ONLY A FEW INCHES LEFT BEFORE THE WATER WOULD HAVE COME IN OUR HOUSE AGAIN. WE ARE NOT DONE REMODELING AFTER THE HURRICANE! FORTUNATELY, THE WATER DID NOT GET IN, BUT ONE OF MARTIN'S SAWS WAS DAMAGED, THE PATIO DOOR SCREENS WERE BLOWN AWAY TO THE PARK, TRASH WAS EVERYWHERE AND OUR PATIO THINGS WERE SCATTERED ALL OVER THE PLACE. STILL AND ALL, NOTHING HAPPENED TO OUR HOUSE, BUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY 3 HOMES TOOK A DIRECT HIT, AND WERE DAMAGED PRETTY MUCH. WE HAVE NO POWER RIGHT NOW, AND HAVE TO SPEND THE NIGHT AT JESSICA'S. WE WENT TO KFC FOR DINNER, AND THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK, I AM ALLERGIC TO CHICKEN, AND I WANTED SOME! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH! I WANT CHICKEN AND STEAK AND HAM AND BAR B QUE- I WANT HAMBURGERS, HOTDOGS, TACOS AND EGGS. I STARTED CRYING AND COULD NOT STOP. HARD TO BELIEVE THAT I COULD BE UNDONE BY A CHICKEN LEG, BUT I WAS. NOW, I AM FACING A STORM OF ANOTHER SORT. I AM FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF. GRIEF LADY IS KNOCKING ON MY DOOR. SPOILED LADY IS ON HER HEELS, AND I CAN'T SEEM TO BANISH THEM. SO, DEAR READERS, I AM SORRY TO TAKE UP YOUR TIME WHINING-THE BEST THING FOR ME IS TO COUNT MY BLESSINGS. LET ME START BY TELLING YOU ABOUT OUR TEMPLE TRIP. I WAS 5 MONTHS PREGNANT WITH AARON, BOBBIE JO WAS 18 MONTHS OLD AND SISSY WAS 4. WE PACKED UP THE LITTLE STATIONWAGON, (I MEAN REALLY PACKED) AND OFF WE WENT. IT WAS THE LAST FEW DAYS OF JUNE, AND IT WAS HOT. WE DECIDED TO CAMP ALONG THE WAY, (BIG MISTAKE, PREGNANT CAMPING) AND FOUND A CAMPSITE IN RED ROCK TEXAS. THE KIDS AND MARTIN HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, AND I LEARNED HOW NOT TO GRIPE. THE NEXT DAY, WE WENT ON THROUGH ARIZONA, AND FINALLY ON THE THIRD DAY, UTAH. WE DROVE ON AND ON THROUGH RED MOUNTAINS, AND DESERT. THERE WAS ONE PLACE WHERE THERE WAS NO FILLING STATIONS FOR 180 MILES. THAT REALLY MADE ME NERVOUS, BUT WE MADE IT THROUGH. WE ATE PICNIC LUNCHES AND MEALS ALL ALONG THE WAYAND STAYED WITH A FAMILY THAT LIVED IN A TINY TOWN,IN A HOME BUILT IN THE PIONEER DAYS. IT WAS THE ORIGINAL HOME, AND SO LOVELY. THE UPSTAIRS WAS SO STEEP, AND THOUGH THERE WAS NO AIR CONDITIONING, IT WAS NICE AND COOL. THE FAMILY WAS SO SWEET, AND MADE A LOVELY BREAKFAST BEFORE WE LEFT. FINALLY, SALT LAKE CITY UTAH! WE DROVE UP TO THE TEMPLE AND I WAS AMAZED AND AWED AT THE BEAUTY AND SPENDOR OF ALL THE SITES. WE HAD PARKED ON THE SIDE STREET OF THE TEMPLE WHICH IS QUITE STEEP, AND FOUND WHEN WE CAME BACK THAT THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE ON THE CAR. IT IS TOUGH TO JACK UP A CAR ON A STEEP INCLINE, BUT MARTIN DID IT- UNTIL THE CAR BEGAN TO INCH FORWARD AND THE JACK BEGAN TO GROAN. WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT IT, I RAN TO THE FRONT OF THE CAR AND TRIED TO PICK UP THE FRONT BUMPER. SOMEHOW, I HELD THE CAR UNTIL MARTIN COULD GET IT UNDER CONTROL, AND THEN, REALIZING WHAT I HAD DONE, COULD NOT BELIEVE THAT I COULD HAVE HELD THAT WEIGHT! THE NEXT DAY, AFTER SPENDING THE NIGHT WITH FRIENDS, WE WENT TO THE TEMPLE. THE CEREMONY WAS BEYOND MY IMAGINATION, AND I WILL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL THAT MY FAMILY AND I ARE SEALED FOR ETERNINTY. THIS WAS ON JULY 2ND, AND THE NEXT DAY WAS A SUNDAY. WE WENT TO THE TABERNACLE W HERE THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR WAS PRACTICING FOR THE PROGRAM OF THE DAY. THE USHER AT THE DOOR SAID I COULD NOT COME IN WITH THE CHILDREN, AS THEY WERE GOING TO BE LIVE ON THE AIR AND THE CHILDREN MAY BE A DISTURBANCE. I TOLD HIM I HAD COME ALL THE WAY FROM TEXAS, AND I WANTED TO HEAR THE CHOIR. IF HE THOUGHT MY KIDS WERE GOING TO BE A DISTURBANCE, JUST TRY KEEPING ME OUT OF THE BUILDING AND SEE WHAT A TRUE TEXAS RUCKUS COULD BE! HE MUMBLED SOMETHING LIKE, "YES MAAM," AND WE WERE USHERED IN. IT WAS AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET. WE SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY TOURING THE CITY AND ATTENDING CHURCH IN THE MORNING. THE FAMILY WE STAYED WITH WAS SO KIND, ACUTALLY, WE HAD KNOWN THEM IN OKINAWA, AND IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE WITH THEM AGAIN. THE DAY BEFORE, AFTER THE CEREMONY, THE FAMILY SHOWED US AROUND, AND THE THING I WAS SO TICKLED WITH IS THAT CHERRIES WERE FREE IF YOU DIDN'T MIND PICKING THEM! THERE WERE SO MANY CHERRY TREES, AND OF COURSE I PICKED SOME. THEN, WE HAD TO LEAVE TO COME HOME. WE DECIDED TO TRAVEL ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, BECAUSE THE NEXT DAY WAS THE FOURTH OF JULY, AND WE WANTED TO BE ON OUR WAY. I BOUGHT A HAM AND SOME CHEESE, FRUIT, BREAD,COOKIES AND CHIPS. WE HAD DRINKS AND DIAPERS, AND WITH HEARTFELT CHEER, BEGAN THE LONG TRIP HOME. THE FIRST NIGHT WE MADE IT TO ARIZONA. UNFORTUNATELY IN THE LITTLE TOWN WHERE WE STOPPED, SOMEONE HAD STOLEN THE FIREWORKS, AND THE CELEBRATION WAS CANCELLED. THEN, DRIVING ON, I FOUND THAT AT LUNCH TIME, THE HAM HAD BEEN SOAKED IN THE MELTED ICE WATER. I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE THE HAM, SO I TOOK IT OUT, AND TIED IT TO THE ANTENNAE WITH IT'S PLASTIC BAG. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A CLEVER WAY TO DRY IT OUT. WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH THE DESERT AND RED MOUNTAINS AGAIN, AND SUDDENLY, WHEN WE HAD TO SLOW DOWN FOR A BIT, I NOTICED A HUGE DOG RUNNING UP ON THE CAR. "SPEED UP!" I YELLED, "THERE IS A HUGE DOG BEARING DOWN ON US!" (I WAS WORRIED BECAUSE WE HAD TO KEEP THE WINDOWS DOWN TO KEEP COOLER AIR COMING IN AND I WAS AFRAID THAT DOG COULD GET IN SOMEHOW). MARTIN TOLD ME IT WAS NOT A DOG BUT A COYOTE- AND HE WAS FAST! I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY HE WAS CHASING US, BUT THEN I REALIZED HE WAS AFTER THE HAM! (ANOTHER HAM INCIDENT). I STARTED TO UNTIE THE HAM AND JUST THROW IT TO HIM, BUT MARTIN YELLED AT ME NOT TO GIVE HIS HAM AWAY! HE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAM SANDWICH, AND NO JIMENY CRICKET COYOTE WAS GOING TO GET IT! I THREW SOME BREAD OUT THE WINDOW, AND THE COYOTE QUIT CHASING US. TO THIS DAY, WE LAUGH ABOUT THAT COYOTE WHEN WE SEE THAT BRAND OF HAM. WE MADE IT TO TEXAS THAT NIGHT, AND DECIDED TO DRIVE AS LONG AS WE COULD. THE KIDS SLEPT QUITE A BIT, AND SO WE DECIDED TO GO FOR IT. WE PASSED EL PASO, AND KEPT DRIVING. ABOUT 2 IN THE MORNING, I COULD DRIVE NO FARTHER, SO I DECIDED TO CLOSE MY EYES FOR JUST A BIT. I PULLED OVER UNDER AN OVERPASS ABOUT TWO HUNDRED MILES EAST OF EL PASO, CHECKED ON MY SLEEPING FAMILY AND RESTED MY EYES. THE NEXT THING I KNEW, TWO HIGHWAY PATROL MEN WERE KNOCKING ON THE WINDOW. IT WAS 8 O'CLOCK AM, AND I HAD SLEPT THE NIGHT AWAY, RIGHT THER ON THE HIGHWAY! ANYTHING COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO US, BUT WE WERE SAFE, (AND RESTED). SO, OFF WE WENT, AND BY THAT EVENING, WE WERE ALL SAFELY HOME IN OUR LITTLE HOUSE. IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL VACATION FOR US, AND WE HAVE HAD OTHERS, BUT NONE TO COMPARE TO OUR LOVELY TIME IN SALT LAKE CITY UTAH. MORE TOMORROW, LOVE, NANASEE

LIFE IN OUR LITTLE HOUSE

YES, THERE WERE MANY REPAIRS NEEDED IN OUR LITTLE HOUSE, BUT WE WERE CERTAINLY HAPPY THERE. WE HAD SISSY, BABY BOBBIE JO, THE DOG SUZY AND EACH OTHER. MARTIN HAD FINALLY BEEN EMPLOYED AT THE POST OFFICE, AND WE HAD SOME SECURITY. THE SUMMER WAS HOT, BUT THE HOUSE WAS SHADED BY A LARGE PECAN TREE. A WINDOW FAN HELPED STIR THE AIR, AND AT NIGHT IT GOT ALMOST COOL. WE LIVED VERY CLOSE TO A LARGE FARMER'S MARKET. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VENDORS WOULD TOSS OUT BUSHELS OF VEGETABLES THAT ONLY HAD A FEW BAD ITEMS. I WOULD GO AND PICK THROUGH THE BUSHELS AND TAKE HOME WONDERFUL PRODUCE FOR FREE. THEN, I GOT THE IDEA TO START TO CAN THE VEGETABLES AND FRUITS. I HAD WAY MORE THAN I COULD USE, SO I TOLD THE LADIES AT CHURCH ABOUT THE FREE PRODUCE. WE STARTED CANNING PRODUCE TOGETHER, AND HAD A REALLY NICE TIME DOING IT. WE TAUGHT EACH OTHER DIFFERENT WAYS TO USE THE PRODUCE, AGAIN ALL OF IT WAS FREE, AND SOON WE WERE SAVING LOTS OF GROCERY MONEY. I SPEND MORNINGS SITTING ON THE FRONT PORCH PEELING CARROTS TO PUT INTO JARS. APPLES MADE APPLESAUCE, JELLY AND FRUIT LEATHER. I LEARNED TO MAKE STEW VEGETABLES, AND WHEN I OPENED THE JARS, I ONLY HAD TO ADD MEAT TO HAVE A STEW OR SOUP! THE GIRLS SAT ON THE PORCH WITH ME AND I WOULD SING TO THEM OR TELL THEM STORIES. WE REALLY LOVED THAT TIME TOGETHER. THEN, I DECIDED THAT I WOULD LEARN TO CAN MEAT. I GOT A BOOK, AND TAUGHT MYSELF TO CAN BEEF, CHICKEN, TURKEY AND OTHER TYPES OF MEAT. I WAS SO EXCITED AND LOVED FEELING LIKE A "MOTHER EARTH" TYPE. AFTER THAT, I TAUGHT MYSELF TO MAKE SOAP. TO THIS DAY, I STILL REMEMBER THE SATISFACTION OF USING MY HOMEMADE SOAP TO WASH AND CLEAN WITH. YOU WOULD THINK THAT HOMEMADE SOAP WOULD BE HARSH, BUT MINE WAS NOT, AND I EVEN BATHED THE GIRLS WITH IT. THE SCENT WAS SO FRESH AND CLEAN. IN JULY OF THAT YEAR, THE FARMERS MARKET HAD "VEGETABLE DAY". THIS WAS A TRADITION EACH YEAR. THE VENDORS WOULD HAVE A CONTEST OF THE BEST VEGETABLES, PRIZES WERE AWARDED AND THEN BASKETS OF PRODUCE WOULD BE GIVEN TO EACH FAMILY. WATERMELONS WERE ICED DOWN, SLICED AND GIVEN TO THE CROWD, AND SUGAR CANE WAS CUT AND PIECES GIVEN TO THE CHILDREN. OH, HOW WE LOVED VEGETABLE DAY! EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT, WE LOOKED FORWARD TO THIS CELEBRATION, AND HAVE LOVELY MEMORIES. THE REST OF THE YEAR PASSED UNEVENTFULLY, THE LITTLE GIRLS GROWING AND OUR FAMILY LOVING EACH OTHER. CHRISTMAS CAME AND MARTIN DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING TO GET OUR CHRISTMAS TREE FROM THE WOODS. WHAT FUN! (I THOUGHT). HE PACKED UP THE FAMILY, AND OFF WE WENT TO FIND OUR TREE. I WAITED IN THE CAR WITH BOBBIE JO WHILE DAD AND SISSY WENT TO FIND THE PERFECT TREE. AFTER A WHILE, I NOTICED SOMETHING MOVING IN THE WOODS, AND SURE ENOUGH, MARTIN WAS DRAGGING BACK A MONSTER OF A PINE TREE. "UH, SWEETIE, WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO PUT THAT THING, AND HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET IT HOME?" I ASKED. "TRUST ME" HE SAID. AGAIN, UH-OH. WE PUT IT ON TOP OF THE LITTLE STATION WAGON AND DROVE HOME WITH THE TOP OF THE TREE DROPPING INTO THE WINDSHIELD-AND DRIVING ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR, AS WE COULD NOT SEE TOO WELL WHERE WE WERE GOING. BUT, I CAN'T GRIPE, IT WAS A FREE TREE. (I AM NOT SURE WHOSE LAND WE CUT IT FROM, BUT WE DIDN'T GET CAUGHT, AND IT DIDN'T OCCUR TO ME UNTIL LATER THAT THEM MIGHT HAVE OBJECTED OUR SNATCHING A TREE). MARTIN MADE ME WAIT OUTSIDE UNTIL HE HAD THE TREE PUT UP, AND THEN TOLDME TO CLOSE MY EYES. HE LED ME INTO THE TINY LIVING ROOM, AND THEN--SURPRISE!-- THE WHOLE LIVING ROOM WAS NOTHING BUT PINE TREE. YOU COULDN'T SEE THE FURNITURE, LAMPS OR ANYTHING, THAT TREE WAS SO BIG. I DIDN'T WANT TO BURST HIS BUBBLE OF EXCITEMENT, SO I TRIED TO BE ENTHUSIASTIC. HE TOLD ME NOT TO WORRY, HE WOULD SEND SISSY UNDER THE BOTTOM FOR THE PRESENTS WHEN WE HAD WRAPPED THEM. (I THOUGHT I MIGHT NEVER SEE HER AGAIN IF SHE DID THAT, BUT WE WOULD SEE). WE COULD ONLY DECORATE THE VERY FRONT, AS WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH LIGHTS OR ORNAMENTS TO DO THE WHOLE THING. SURE ENOUGH, WE KEPT THE TREE, JUST AS IT WAS, AND ON CHRISTMAS MORNING, WE SENT SISSY UNDER THE BOTTOM TO RETREVE THE GIFTS. WE HAD A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS THAT YEAR, NOTHING EXTRAVEGANT, BUT SO WONDERFUL. THEN, ONE MORNING, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT IT WAS TIME FOR ANOTHER CHILD IN THE FAMILY. IMAGINE, BOBBIE JO WAS NOT EVEN A YEAR OLD YET, AND I FELT THE URGINGS FOR ANOTHER CHILD. I MENTIONED IT TO MARTIN, AND HE LOOKED AT ME LIKE I HAD GROWN ANOTHER HEAD. HMMM, BETTER KEEP THIS IDEA TO MYSELF FOR AWHILE! THEN, ONE NIGHT IN JANUARY, AS WE WERE SAYING OUR PRAYERS, MARTIN SAID, "LORD, THY WILL BE DONE TO SEND US ANOTHER CHILD". AFTER THE PRAYER HE SAID, "I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM, IT JUST POPPED OUT OF MY MOUTH!" THAT NIGHT, WE BOTH HAD THE SAME DREAM. WE DREMPT OF A LITTLE BABY BOY WITH BLUE EYES AND WHITE BLONDE HAIR. IN BOTH OUR DREAMS, WE WERE EACH HOLDING HIM AND FEELING SUCH JOY. WHEN I WOKE THE NEXT MORNING, I TOLD MARTIN OF MY DREAM AND HE GOT SUCH A FUNNY LOOK AS HE TOLD ME HE HAD DREAMED THE SAME THING. WE KNEW THEN, THAT HEAVENLY FATHER WAS LETTING US KNOW IT WAS TIME TO THINK ABOUT HAVING OUR NEXT CHILD. IT NEVER OCCURRED TO ME THAT I COULD NOT DO IT, TAKE CARE OF THREE CHILDREN, I JUST FIGURED THAT IF I COULD TAKE CARE OF TWO, I GUESS ANOTHER ONE WOULD NOT BE ANYMORE TROUBLE. SO, WE BEGAN TO TRY FOR NUMBER THREE, KNOWING THAT AFTER THE TROUBLE HAVING BOBBIE JO, IT COULD TAKE AWHILE BEFORE I WAS PREGNANT. BY THE END OF FEBRUARY, I WAS ALREADY HAVING SYMPTOMS! BY MARCH, WE KNEW FOR SURE THAT OUR NEW BABY WAS ON THE WAY. REMEMBER MY TELLING YOU THAT I NEVER GOT VERY BIG WITH OUR CHILDREN? THIS TIME BY APRIL, I WAS SHOWING AND VERY OBVIOUSLY PREGNANT. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT MARTIN AND I DECIDED TO GO TO THE TEMPLE TO BE SEALED AS A FAMILY. FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEAN, A TEMPLE SEALING MEANS THAT THE FAMILY WILL NEVER BE SEPARATED IN THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT, AND WILL FOR ETERNITY BE A FAMILY TOGETHER. WHEN CHURCH MEMBERS ARE MARRIED, THE SEALING TAKES PLACE THEN IN A TEMPLE WEDDING, HOWEVER THOSE WHO WERE BAPTIZED AFTER MARRIAGE, AND WHO HAD CHILDREN, WOULD GO TO THE TEMPLE AND SEAL THE PRESENT CHILDREN AND THEMSELVES AS A FAMILY, AND THEREAFTER ANY OTHER CHILDREN WOULD BE BORN, "UNDER THE COVENANT". SO, WE WANTED TO GO TO THE TEMPLE TO BE SEALED. WE HAD TWO CHOICES, MESA ARIZONA, OR SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH AS THOSE WERE THE TWO CLOSEST TEMPLES. TODAY, WE HAVE ONE IN HOUSTON, AND IT IS MUCH EASIER TO GO. SINCE OF COURSE MONEY WAS TIGHT, I DECIDED TO SEE WHAT I COULD DO TO HELP WITH THE TRAVEL EXPENSES. DEAR FRIENDS TOLD US THAT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS IN UTAH WOULD ALLOW US TO STAY WITH THEM, SO ALL WE HAD TO DO WAS TO HAVE TRAVELING EXPENSES. SINCE I HAD LEARNED TO CAN PRODUCE, I GOT THE BIG IDEA TO MAKE HOMEMADE JELLY FROM THE WILD BLACKBERRIES THAT ARE ABUNDANT IN THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF TEXAS. I GATHERED UP THE GIRLS, AND WE WENT AND FOUND "DEWBERRIES" OR WILD BLACKBERRIES. THE LORD MUST HAVE HELPED US, BECAUSE WE PICKED BUCKET AFTER BUCKET AND SOON HAD GALLONS OF BLACKBERRY JUICE TO MAKE JELLY WITH. PEOPLE GAVE ME MASON JARS, AND I BOUGHT THE SUGAR IN BULK. MY TUMMY WAS GETTING HUGE, BUT I DIDN'T LET THAT GET IN THE WAY- WE JUST PICKED AND PICKED. THEN, I MADE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF JARS OF WILD DEWBERRY JELLY. TO MY GREAT JOY, WHEN THE MEMBERS FOUND OUT WHAT I WAS DOING AND WHY, THEY ALL WANTED TO BUY MY JELLY! I SOLD IT FOR 1.25 A JAR, (QUITE A HIGH PRICE BACK THEN) AND ENDED UP EARNING 150.00 OR MORE. IT WAS MY CONTRIBUTION TO THE MOST WONDERFUL TRIP WE EVER HAD. AND TOMORROW, I WILL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT IT! LOVE, NANASEE

THE RAT HOLE

I TOLD YOU THAT OUR NEW HOUSE NEEDED SOME WORK, RIGHT? WELL, IT NEEDED LOTS OF WORK! REMEMBER HOWEVER, THAT WE WERE USED TO MAKING DO WITH WHATEVER WE COULD FIND AND THIS SITUATION WAS NO DIFFERENT. CALL ME A VISIONARY- I DON'T KNOW, BUT THE REPAIRS DID NOT SEEM SO DAUNTING TO ME. (MAYBE BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ONE FIXING THEM). FIRST OF ALL, MARTIN HAD TO FIX THE LOWER SILL OF THE HOUSE. A SILL IS ONE OF THE MAIN BEAMS THAT MAKE THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME OF THE HOUSE. SO, IF IT COLLAPSED, THE WHOLE HOUSE WOULD FALL IN. HE HAD TO INSTALL A COMPLETE NEW SILL, WHILE MAKING SURE THE HOUSE STAYED INTACT DURING THE REPAIR. HE GOT SOME HOUSE JACKS, JACKED UP THE HOUSE, AND TEMPORARILY SECURED THE FOUNDATION. NOW, ALL HE HAD TO DO, WAS TO DIG A HOLE, DRAG IN THE NEW WOODEN BEAM, TAKE OUT THE OLD DECAYED BEAM AND ATTACH THE NEW ONE. WELL, HE DUG THE HOLE. IT SEEMED LIKE A SMALL HOLE TO ME, BUT HE SAID THERE WAS LOTS OF ROOM UNDER THE HOUSE, NOT TO WORRY. HE WRIGGLED INTO THE HOLE, TURNED AROUND, REACHED OUT AND WITH MY HELP, DRAGGED THE HUGE BEAM UNDER THE HOUSE WITH HIM. "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" I ASKED WITH TREPIDATION-(AFTER ALL YOU COULDN'T GET ME UNDER A HOUSE FOR A MILLION DOLLARS!) "YEAH, SURE BABY, I KNOW JUST WHAT I AM DOING!" (UH-OH, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A INVITATION TO DISASTER!). OKAY, SO I GUESS I WILL LEAVE HIM TO HIS JOB AND GO CHECK ON THE BABY. I AM IN THE HOUSE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, HEARING BANGING AND SWEARING, SO I KNOW THAT ALL IS GOING WELL! SUDDENLY THE BANGING STOPS AND I CLEARLY HEAR A JIMENY CRICKET! (SEVERAL TYPES AND WAYS). HMMM-BETTER GO AND CHECK ON HIM. STEPPING OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR, I SEE THAT WATER IS GUSHING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOUSE! REALLY GUSHING, AND GUSHING FROM THE HOLE THAT MARTIN HAD CRAWLED INTO! OF COURSE. NOTING COMES EASY, RIGHT? I START YELLING FOR MARTIN, BUT I CANNOT SEE HIM BECAUSE OF THE GUSHING WATER. THIS LOOKS SERIOUS! I CALL AND CALL HIS NAME-I AM STARTING TO PANIC! THEN, THROUGH THE WATER, A HAND REACHES OUT. THE FINGERS OF THE HAND ARE POINTING TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. I RUN TO THE FRONT, AND IN A MOMENT, A PAIR OF GREEN EYES ARE PEEPING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOUSE. (THERE WAS ABOUT 4 INCHES BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE GROUND). I HUNKER DOWN, AND I HEAR HIM TELL ME TO SHUT OFF THE WATER MAIN. WHAT? SHUT OFF WHAT? HE SCREAMS AT ME, "THE WATER MAIN! HURRY!" I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SHUT OFF A WATER MAIN, HECK I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT A WATER MAIN IS! OUR DEAR NEIGHBOR HAS SEEN WHAT IS GOING ON, AND HE RUNS TO THE EDGE OF THE YARD, TAKES THE COVER OFF OF SOMETHING, REACHES IN AND TURNS SOMETHING ELSE. THE WATER STOPS GUSHING. MARTIN COMES CRAWLING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOUSE, BLACK WITH MUD FROM HEAD TO TOE. I AM CRYING, MY NERVES ARE SHOT, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO DROWN. HE WALKS UP TO THE NEIGHBOR IN MALE COMARADARIE, AND SAYS, "JIMENY CRICKET, I BUSTED THE JIMENY CRICKET WATER MAIN UNDER THE HOUSE!" THE NEIGHBOR REPLYS, "YEAH, I BUSTED A JIMENY CRICKET ONE MYSELF ONE TIME." THE TESTERONE IS FLOWING, AS THE MEN RECALL OTHER HOME REPAIR DISASTERS IN THE PAST AND I AM TOTALLY IGNORED. OFF THEY GO IN THE NEIGHBOR'S PICK-UP TO THE HARWARE STORE, WITHOUT MY FINDING OUT IF MARTIN SUFFERED ANY ILL EFFECTS OF ALMOST BEING DROWNED! LATER, THE MEN RETURN, BOTH CRAWL UNDER THE HOUSE AND THE BANGING AND SWEARING COMMENCE ONCE AGAIN. FINALLY, AFTER AN HOUR OR SO, OUT THEY COME, GRINNING FROM EAR TO EAR, AND SILENTLY CRONGRATULATING THEMSELVES FOR A JOB WELL DONE. (I SAY SILENTLY, THE BODY LANGUAGE SAID IT ALL). THE WATER IS TURNED BACK ON AND I SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A GOOD WIFE. I GO UP TO MARTIN AND TELL HIM WHAT A GREAT JOB HE DID. "NO THANKS TO YOU!"HE SAYS, "I ALMOST DROWNED UNDER THERE!" WELL! HOW DARE HE! THAT IS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED NOT TO INTERFERE IN A TESTOSTERONE CONGRATULATIONS PARTY. GOT TO BE TOUGH. PUT THE LITTLE WOMAN IN HER PLACE! SO, LIKE A GOOD WIFE, I WENT TO THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE, GOT THE WATER HOSE, AND BLASTED HIM FULL IN THE FACE. "OOOPS! I MEANT TO GET YOUR CLOTHES. SORRY SUGAR!" I TELL HIM WITH ALL THE INNOCENCE IN THE WORLD. "CAN I GET YOU BOYS A COLD DRINK?" UPON SEEING THE LOOK ON MARTIN'S FACE, I DECIDE THAT NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO JUST LET THEM BE. THERE WERE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESSED, BUT NONE SO WORRISOM AS BIG RAT. ONE MORNING, I GOT UP TO FIND THE CANNED GOODS SCATTERED OUT OF THE CABINET AND ALL OVER THE COUNTER. CONFUSED, I ASKED MARTIN WHY HE HAD DONE THAT. "WASN'T ME," HE SAID, "I THOUGHT YOU WERE ORGANIZING OR SOMETHING." NO, NOT ORGANIZING-ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT! AFTER THAT, THE BREAD WAS MISSING, OR ANOTHER CUPBOARD WAS OPEN AND THE CONTENTS FALLEN OUT. IT DOSENT' TAKE MUCH TO FIGURE OUT THAT WE HAVE AN UNWELCOME GUEST IN THE HOUSE. ONE NIGHT, WE HEARD SOMETHING CHEWING. CRUNCH, CRUNCH-MY IMAGINATION BEGAN TO RUN WILD. WHATEVER IT WAS, WAS TRYING TO GET TO ME. COULD IT BE UNDER THE BED? IN THE ATTIC? WHERE? WE GOT OURSELVES A CAT. SORRY CAT ONLY LAY ABOUT AND DID NOTHING. THEN FINALLY ONE DAY, WE FOUND OUT WHERE THE MYSTERY GUEST WAS HIDING. WE HAD BUCKETS OF WHEAT FOR OUR FOOD STORAGE, AND IT WAS IN THE BATHROOM CLOSET. THE CHEWING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THAT CLOSET, SO WE ASSUMED THE MONSTER WAS IN THERE. I PUT A CAN OF TUNA IN THE CLOSET HOPING THAT LAZY CAT WOULD GO IN AND CHASE OUT THE MONSTER. AFTER PUTTING THE OPEN CAN OF TUNA IN THE CLOSET, I JUMPED UP ON THE TOILET SEAT, AND OF COURSE THE CAT JUMPED UP BEHIND ME. ( I GUESS HE FIGURED HE DIDN'T WANT ANY OF THAT ACTION) MARTIN DECIDED THAT HE WAS GOING IN. (HE HAS RAT PHOBIA BY THE WAY). SO, HE STOOD UP ON A BUCKET IN THE DOORWAY OF THE CLOSET AND BEGAN TO TAKE THE BUCKETS OUT ONE BY ONE. FINALLY, ONLY TWO REMAINED, AND SINCE NOTHING CAME OUT, THE MONSTER MUST BE STILL THERE. MARTIN HAD A SHEEN OF PERSPIRATION ON HIS FORHEAD, AND HIS HANDS WERE SHAKING. I WAS STILL ON THE TOILET WITH A BROOM IN MY HAND, AND THE CAT WAS LOOKING BETWEEN MY LEGS AT THE GOINGS ON. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES YOU JUST DO SOMETHING FOR THE HECK OF IT. YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET HURT, JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT. MARTIN WAS BALANCED ON THE BUCKET, STRETCHED TO THE LIMIT AS FAR AS HIS APE ARMS COULD GO, SCARED TO DEATH BUT BEING THE MAN OF THE HOUSE, KNOWING THAT A MONSTER RAT COULD JUMP OUT AT HIM AT ANYTIME. I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT THE MISCHEVIOUS MISTRESS OVERCAME ME AND I TOOK THE SWEEPING END OF THE BROOM, RAKED IT BETWEEN HIS SPRADDLED LEGS AND SCREAMED, "RAT!" THE NEXT FEW SECONDS WILL BE FOREVER BURNED INTO MY BRAIN. AS SOON AS I GOUGED HIM WITH THE BROOM AND SCREAMED RAT, MARTIN LEPT FROM THE BUCKET STRAIGHT INTO THE TOP OF THE DOORJAM AND SERIOUSLY CRACKED BOTH THE DOORJAM AND HIS HEAD. HE IS QUITE NIMBLE I FOUND, BECAUSE HE THEN TURNED IN MIDAIR AND JUMPED FOR THE TUB, SWINGING ON THE SHOWER CURTAIN ROD WITH ONE HAND AND HOLDING HIS, (YOU KNOW) WITH THE OTHER, AS HE THOUGHT THE RAT HAD GOTTEN HIM THERE. THE SCREAM HE LET OUT WAS PRIMEVAL. HE LANDED ON HIS BACK IN THE TUB AND TANGLED HIMSELF IN THE FALLEN SHOWER CURTAIN. IN THE MIDST OF THE COMMOTION, I SAW A TINY FLASH OF FUR RUN FROM THE CLOSET AND DOWN THE HALL. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MOUSE, OR A SQUIRREL, I WILL NEVER KNOW, BECAUSE YOU SEE, I WAS RUNNING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. I THOUGHT IT WISE TO PUT SOME SPACE BETWEEN MARTIN AND ME- YOU KNOW, JUST IN CASE HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS AS FUNNY AS I DID. (I DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD REACT QUITE SO HYSTERICALLY). SISSY WAS IN THE BATHROOM, TRYING TO HELP DADDY, AND THE CAT THEN DECIDED THAT HE COULD HAVE THE TUNA AFTER ALL. WE NEVER DID ACTUALLY FIND OUT WHAT THE MONSTER RODENT WAS, I THINK WE SCARED IT OFF PERMANENTLY. SOMETIMES MY SENSE OF HUMOR GETS ME IN TROUBLE-I HAVE TO REALLY WATCH IT ESPECIALLY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY ARISES TO HAVE A LITTLE FUN AT MARTIN'S EXPENSE. LOOKING BACK, THE DIFFICULTIES THAT LITTLE HOUSE PRESENTED, HAVE GIVEN US SOME EXCELLENT MEMORIES. MORE TOMORROW! LOVE, NANASEE