2Homes*2Lives

2-14-08 I used to call Mom birdie because she ate so little when she was done making sure everyone else had what they needed and finally sat down to dinner with the family. She was laid to rest on Valentine's Day. It was a simple funeral that centered on what a wonderful mother she was, though she would have been the last to let others know. The funeral was at Girrbach funeral home on the corner, a half block from our old family home. Those who were a part of our past filtered in and we mingled. Rev. Kathy Brown from the Methodist Church conducted a gentle service about love, and especially love of family and how Mom showed it in everything. My husband isn't a fan of women ministers, but even he was impressed! To say Mom looked lovely in the casket sounds silly, but even she would have been pleased. We requested donations to the hospital fund, in honor of Mom's having worked there, but there were a few flowers and a cast stone angel that my sweet daughter in law's famil...

A gracious lady has walked among us and left an imprint that will long be remembered. As the second daughter born to Artie and Glen Densmore on January 29, 1919, in the Coats Grove area of Barry County, Audra grew up on the family farm during the prosperity of the 1920's and depression of the 1930's. Farm life taught her a persistent work ethic and a caring for those around her. She attended the Woodland Public Schools and had a keen interest in writing and music. Her writing skills were recognized as a finalist in a State essay competition. Along with her mother on piano, her older sister, Margaret on violin, and Audra on the traps, the Densmore Orchestra regularly provided entertainment at local venues. The family moved to Hastings when Audra was entering her junior year in high school. She graduated from Hastings High School in 1937. Audra was accepted to Oberlin College where she studied music and became an accomplished musician on the piano and organ. After college, she re...

Our mother Audra passed on 2-08-08. I arrived in Michigan late Friday. Stopped by younger sister Martha's on the way to have her go with me, but she was still in her pj's and had just woken up..she said she would go on Saturday instead, as she had been with Mom the night before and she was stable then. Mom had last rights earlier Friday (priest, minister?) before I got there. Younger brother Bob was waiting at the door when I arrived at the rest home and said Mom had taken a turn for the worst. I held Mom's face in my hands, stroked her hair, put cream on her one exposed arm. She was on her side and you could hear the water in her throat as she was unable to swallow. I thought how cruel it was that she was drowning in fluids, but they had tried to drain it and she bit down so hard that they were afraid she would break the plastic. They had put patches behind her ears to dry the fluids. The oxygen had been removed. She was only at 80% and should have been at 90%. After a...

Now that teaching is drawing to a close...June is but a few months away...I find myself thinking of the words to the song, "Is that all there is, is that all there is, then lets keep dancing, bring on the beer, and have a ball...if that's all, there is." I think Peggie Lee sang it. ---- It's like closing off a part of myself that has been me for the last 30 years and entering a new life in retirement. Marilyn Above painting done by a California artist by the name of Hessam...saw his work at a beautiful gallery in Petoskey, Michigan.

Summer was a dream at best. Now, several chapters later, I am home to take on the responsibility of finishing out my last year of teaching. I have a student teacher waiting in the wings to take over my job. March seems more likely an exit than June. Right now it's all about Martha. Nothing else seems so important. She's my younger sister. I remember when she told me once that life had not been what she thought. That the knight in shining armor had never come by her way. Now she's been diagnosed with stage four metastic breast cancer. I want to be that sister she can count on, but we live a state away and leaving my family to help her is not easy...I doubt it ever would be. I had trouble believing she had cancer and still probably do. Nothing is clear. I only know that I will do what I can. I trust in God, but I don't think she does. How do I tell her it is all in God's plan when she is afraid that this may not be something she can survive. Still, I trust. Please pra...

First two weeks at the cottage in June we spent with grandson Jake along. Amazing how a 7 yr. old can change your days and was wonderful to see the place through his eyes. However, when he was good, he was very very good and when he was bad, he was horrid is oh so true with him. He asked if he could stay the whole summer, but we told him his family would miss him too much...truthfully, we haven't the energy to keep up! We were remarried on June 20th (It was our 30th anniversary and we wanted a date easier to remember so we "reset" it) by husband and wife Methodist ministers who live on the point on our deck at sunset and topped it off with wine and pizza. The next day I came home to find the above message ("Honeymoon Palace") on an empty pizza box by the door...gotta love that Bob! We took Jake home and spent a couple of days getting car titles, meds., mail, etc. then back up to the cottage. Since being back have finished a logo for a window decal to sell at the...

The yearbook was submitted today!!!!! As yearbook editor I work with a staff of 20 junior high students who take almost all of the pictures for the book. It's 64 pgs., all color. They use a Sony Mavica camera with floppy disks, so the pictures are not as sharp as I would like, but it's easy for the kids to take and view on the computer right away. Shown are two facing pages from this year's book arriving late May. Am already plotting an easier way to do the book next year and things that could be different. Have the staff all year, first thing in the morning, so the kids are like family. Really enjoy doing the book with them... We have the books published by Walsworth Yearbooks . My rep Shelley is just the best ever...patient, helpful, professional, down to earth...just a terrific gal! I have a nasty habit of turning the book in late...procrastination is my strong card, so she has a lot to put up with, but takes it in stride. Thanks Shelley!

Mom was dehydrated last weekend, sending her to ER. My sister called upset that she would not last. My younger brother suggested we should have a plan in place for her funeral. I agreed because I don't want to have to make decisions when the time comes, but am hoping against hope we don't have to give her up yet. Went to see her yesterday. Took our grandson Jake also. As I approached Mom to wheel her out of her room she looked up with her sweet eyes saying, "Marilyn" and my heart melted. Just being near her is comforting and it was sad seeing her struggling to answer anything we asked her as if she could not access information in her brain. Jake played cards with my sister and me and my younger brother, we call "the funny one", injected his humor. Still, the time seems fleeting when with her. Putting my all into this week as the school yearbook is due and one art show and then it is free sailing just about to the end of the school year. I so wish I lived clo...

RC and sons Jake (6) and Evan (2) came over...Sweet Evan stayed in the house and RC and Bob (Buzz Light Yr. Bob!) took Jake for a ride...Jake lost a tooth around Christmas and hasn't a new one yet. May go out for Valentine's Day with daughter in law Lindsay to shop at Hobby Lobby...great place. Just to get out and shop is a treat anymore. Usually I just love being home. This is our second day home due to snow and Bob is enjoying being able to "play" outside like a kid. He has a plow on his car and is helping neighbors and friends clear their driveways, so he's also out doing something nice for others. Beth and I are watching TV, sleeping and picking up clutter in the house...Heaven.

Our mother Audra is a trooper and the older I get the more wisdom I find she has passed on to her children. It's not always that woman out fighting for career rights and heading up every committee that has the most lasting impact on their children. I have learned from Audie that you can put others before yourself, be cooperative, get through anything in life that comes your way, and always, always be there for your kids. She was a steadfast anchor in our lives and remains that to this day. Everytime we are near her we are reminded that her only wish in life was to be a good wife to her husband and a loving and supportive mother to her children. Her biggest legacy will be in the way we parent our children and face life's challenges with dignity and the will to Just Do It, as the ads tell us. We only hope for more time to show the respect, love and devotion we all have for her. Happy 88th Birthday, Mom ! Time for a new camera, don't you think? Sorry for the blurry pictures. P...

If you think students look forward to snow days off school, you should be a schoolteacher! In Ohio, where we live, the snow can be an inch and they freak! We got our first stay on the ground snow fall last night, I think of the season. More predicted midweek. Husband Bob and son RC are looking forward to trying out two bright purple snowmobiles Bob bought off a neighbor at the cottage up north.

One of the reasons I married husband Bob 29 yrs. ago was because he always knew how to make me smile. He was on the computer today when I wanted to use it and when he turned it over to me, he handed me this, that he cut from green computer paper...

Top 4 photos were taken by my younger brother Bob, who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Pres. Ford was laid to rest. The two on the bottom are from the National News service online: - Mrs. Ford being escorted down the center aisle of the National Cathedral by Pres. Bush at the funeral and - in April 2006 when Pres. and Mrs. Ford visited with Pres. Bush. Gerald R. Ford left this earth with the dignity and grace in which he lived his life.

Grandson Jake came over on Saturday to give his parents some calm before the gift explosion.. Bob, Beth, Jake and I shopped, then came home to wrap gifts and work on his first ever wolven pot holders...he slipped one of the loops on his head for the photo...I took him outside to show him the old lifesize manger scene...he asked who each person was...I told him Joseph, the 3 Wisemen, Mary, and the lamb..." Oh" he said. "Mary Had a Little Lamb!" - " No, a baby Jesus" I replied and we both laughed as we walked back up the stairs to the house. I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child. Judy sent this Ashland Link...Normally I don't like the click cards, but the music and the add ons are very calming to watch, so please try it out... http://ecard.ashland.edu:80/2004admission/index.html Enjoy Christmas Eve...will probably post again tomorrow with thoughts of the day. Merry Christmas !

Subject: Christmas Party Three men were about to enter a private Christmas Party when they were met at the door by a large menacing figure of a man. "In honor of the season," said the man, "you must each show me something that symbolizes Christmas before I can allow you to pass." The first man fumbled through his pockets and pulled out a lighter. He flicked it on. "It represents a candle," he said. "You may pass." replied the stranger. The second man reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys. He shook them and said, "They're bells." He was also allowed to pass. The third man started searching desperately through his pockets and finally pulled out a pair of women's panties. The grim figure looked at him with a raised eyebrow and snarled, "just what do those symbolize?" The man replied, "These are Carols." And So The Holiday Season Begins....

http://www.youtube.com/v/qgLgcKcWETA (Click on Link below picture to see/hear video) Everytime I hear this ad on TV, I get up and Dance! Enjoy!!!!!

This year Craftland will open its doors at 70 Eddy St., Providence RI on Friday December 1, 2006, and will be open until December 23. CRAFTLAND is open five days a week, Wednesday - Sunday 11am - 6pm, and Thursdays 11 - 8pm December 1st - 23rd!

Scrubbed Beth in the tub and we hopped into the Volvo and headed to Reenie and Mike's house. We picked up fries and a coke for Beth then traveled mostly the Interstate before going the country roads. The sun was out and I felt like we could have done a Thelma and Louise all day as it was so gorgeous. Turning north we went by a small lake and saw blood smeared all over the road...just ahead I stopped at a hunting store to buy Beth some chocolate milk and there were tire tracks with blood all over the pavement and guys in orange everywhere...it's like the manly thing, though I hate to see a delicate and gracefully moving deer shot for the sport of it. Ellen arrived on time and ran over one of their cats...glad I am always late! Luckily, the cat seemed to be on it's last legs and there were more around to take it's place. It's hard to know when a cat's nine lives are up! We sat at their kitchen counter looking over Ellen's photos (she's a WONDERFUL photogra...

Today was my 59th birthday....Wonderful Day! Woke around 9, showered and put my hair up in rollers. Ran into town, where they don't care what I look like, to buy lemon juice for the Waldorf Salad, gas in the car, coffee etc. Bob was perfecting the two hams for his dinner entries. We arrived at RC and Lindsay's before noon. Beth was stubborn and didn't want to leave the car, but we finally coaxed her inside. The kitchen was filled with smoke...the turkeys weren't done, despite their being cooked by directions. Dinner wasn't for another hour (did they tell me the wrong time to make me show up in time?). RC gave me cards from them and said Jake originally picked one with a sexy guy on it for me. They gave me a beautiful pair of white gold earrings that RC mentioned were worth far more than they paid, so I should be careful not to lose them. I feel so loved by them all the year through. Dinner was great...everything you could ever want. Tables were set up in the living ...

Husband Bill and Annette - Great Couple! Jeanne, Annette, Betsy, Carol, Me, Peg and Karen I'm already thinking this is too long of a story to tell, but will attempt to shorten things. High School and forever friend Annette invited us all to dinner at her house. I had driven halfway and called to ask when Happy Hour started and she told me "wrong weekend!" The next weekend I drove up, I stopped at the same place and bought some eye makeup at a department store...only to discover after returning from the weekend that I left my Master Card with the clerk...a mere 8 hrs. roundtrip...They insisted I had to show up in person to pick it up....took me forever to convince them to mail it back to me! Anyway, back to the story....Arrived for the first time in Annette's town on that second (correct) weekend. Had forgotten her directions, other than she said she lived at the end of a street, but had a map from Mapquest. I went to the house that was so bright with lights and a man ...