A Tale of Two Babies

A newborn Ella

Two babies have joined families that I know in the last month.  One of the babies, Samuel, was born to a couple in our church who have been married for ten years and have desired a child so much. Our whole church has been so exited for this little life that has joined E and S.  Samuel is going to have lots of "grandmas" to love on him. His mom told me that because she is 39, she was considered a geriatric o.b. patient.  Oh my.

Another baby boy was born about six weeks ago to a teen mother who already had one child and didn't want this one.  My daughter has a friend, who with her husband, have desired to have a baby join their family. The only thing is that a few years ago H. was in an accident that left her in a coma and her insides badly messed up.  After many surgeries, she survived but was left unable to carry a child.  They prayed for a child, just as E. and S. did, but their son arrived  a different way.  The nursery was ready, waiting for the little life who would join them.  Two days ago, the young mother called and said, "Come and get this baby.  I don't want him."  Needless to say, they went and got him, and now they have their baby.

I'm so glad that this teen mother did not choose to abort her baby.  She could have, but she didn't and now B. and H. have their little boy.

Catching up

Last week, or maybe two weeks ago, I asked what you do when you can't sleep.  There were lots of suggestions or ideas.  I'm not sure what has happened, but I'm beginning to sleep better.  I am very grateful for that.  The leg pain is diminishing.  I'm able to walk a good distance now without pain.  Standing still is difficult.  I have a few more sessions of therapy, and then I think they will discharge me.  I went to a pain management doctor who wanted to inject me with cortisone in my lower back, but I decided not to do that.

Our town was quite excited this past weekend when one of our local high schools (my alma mater) played their first football game of the season against a team from Tampa and beat them quite handily.  The exciting thing was that it was telecast on E*PN.  I had a ticket for a play at the local theater so I didn't get to go, but I would have been there otherwise.

Now we are all excited by our Tampa Bay Rays who will be playing in the post season unless something horrible would happen.  I've been to quite a few games in St. Petersburg during the season and hope to make it to some of the post-season games.  A ticket or two for the World Series would be fun.

For the past three weeks I've been helping a dear friend get settled in her new home at Il Villagio (formerly known as Bradenton Missionary Village.)  Winters in New York have been harsh, and so her children thought a move here would be good.  Moving to Florida in August is not ideal.  The weather is hot and humid.  We've had fun buying some living room furniture for her apartment and taking care of lots of other things.  It has been hard for her to make such a move at 85, but she's a good sport, and I know that once winter comes, she'll be glad she's here.  I know I'm glad she's here.  We've been good friends for a long time. In fact, I taught a couple of her kids when I was in Haiti.

I wish you all a good week ahead.

Did you hear about...

the Senior Prom that took place this past week at a baseball game in St. Petersburg?  It took place on Wednesday.   Perhaps you saw this commercial.

The player in the Rays shirt is Evan Longor*a, one of many stara on our home team.  He suggests in the commercial that they might have a senior prom for senior citizens.  The Rays picked up on the idea and this past week there was indeed a senior prom after the baseball games...not for high school seniors, but for senior citizens in the community.  Now if you know anything about St. Petersb*rg, you know that there are a lot of senior there. 

I heard once that when folks retired to Florida, they moved to the east coast and sent their parents to the west coast.  As I myself grow older, I look at the seniors with a great deal of admiration.  When I had my knee replacement and was in rehab for a short while, I remember watching people who were much older than I was who had double knee replacements, and they were so diligent about working hard to get those new knees working right.  But I digress.

"For Wednesday's game against the Texas Rangers, the staff booked an oldies band and a Frank Sinatra impersonator; bought boutonnieres and corsages for all the seniors; crowned a king and queen of the prom; and offered group discounts for everyone over 55."--taken from an article that I will link to.

More than 2500 seniors bought tickets for this game.  I wish I had been there.  A writer for the St. Petersburg Times wrote this article about the senior prom and one dear old gentleman who attended.  Please click on the link and read the article.  It will put a smile on your face.  It will be a good way to start your day or finish it nicely.  If you can't find the link, it appears that it isn't there, but look in the sentence "A writer for the St. Pete Times wrote...then there is a space.  The link is there.  It looks like a blank space.  I don't know how to make it appear.  I will work on this template and try to fix it.  Thanks.

Open Forum Monday - What Do You Do?

Back when I was really bothered by shingles pain and blogged about it, your comments turned into a bit of a symposium on dealing with said pain.

I have another problem.  Since I have been having pain in my leg, I have had a very difficult time sleeping at night.  When you can't sleep, what do you do?  I stay awake all day in hopes of being really sleepy when I go to bed.  I go upstairs, lie down, and become wide awake.  Do any of you experience this problem and what do you.

I read about the soothing effects of chamomile tea and made off to the grocery store to buy some.  I steeped tea last evening, took a sip, and then held my nose to try to drink more so that I wouldn't taste it.  Blech!  When Mother Rabbit made it for Peter, I think it was truly a punishment! 

I welcome your thoughts.  Does anyone want 19 bags of chamomile tea?  They are sealed.  I will send them to the first person who asks.  Good night.

Just Because

A Smile costs nothing, but gives much.

It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.

It takes but a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.

None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it,

and none is so poor, but that he can be made rich by it

A Smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business,

and is the countersign of friendship

It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad,

and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble.

Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen,

for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given away

Some people are too tired to give you a smile;

Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

--Author Unknown

Now I Am Four!

When I woke up this morning, my room was filled with balloons!  What fun I've had playing with them.  I went to the store with my mommy and told everyone that now I am four.  My grammy has come to help celebrate, and tonight my aunt Sarah is leaving to drive up to see me and celebrate this weekend.

Where have the years gone? A lot of you have been seeing photos of Ella ever since she was born. Here are a few of the photos from this past year.