9/11

September 11, a day that we compare to December 7...a day that will forever live in infamy. Or has it? We were united for a while, and then everyone started blaming somebody else and pointing fingers. Shame on us.

There are two blogs I've read today that I recommend to you. My Gentle Retreat has words of a song about 9/11 that I hadn't heard before. She has put the words there. And then Dr. Bob has a stirring post with those photos that should be on the front page of every newspaper again to remind us so that we never forget. Go there today.

A Wonderful Truth

Every morning when I open my e-mail there is a devotional there from Max Lucado. Sometimes I glance through it, and sometimes I am struck by the truth that is told so simply. This past week I read this thought.

God is love. While some may love us because we're attractive or do nice things or they simply love us because of who we are. But He loves us because of who He is. He loves us because he has decided to. We don't cause him to love us; He loves us because He is love.


The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,
And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,
God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,
And pardoned from his sin.

When years of time shall pass away,
And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,
On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,
All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race
—The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,
Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,
Though stretched from sky to sky.

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song!

taken from Cyberhymnal.org

Football really is NOT all there is right now

Well, it was a good day for Penn State, but not a good day for Notre Dame or Michigan. I won't say any more.

This past week we found out that Anthony's leukemia cells have come back and are multiplying. He had just been cleared to go back to school. Prior to that he and his brother had blood work done at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and the doctor called this past week and said that Anthony must return to the hospital after Labor Day. Apparently another bone marrow transplant is necessary. They still have some of the cells that they saved from the first one. I don't know exactly when this will take place.

The tumor in Sarah's cat continues to grow. The surgeon says it would not do to operate again. Treatments are prohibitive in cost, and there would be no guarantee, so...

I've never written about Leland before. His parents came to Haiti to work in 1972 soon after I left. Their son Leland was always sickly, and so they brought him to the States where he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Seven years ago he had a double lung transplant, and since that time he has gone through rejection a couple of times. About a month ago, we got an e-mail that during a bronchial biopsy, it was discovered he was showing signs of rejection again. He traveled up to Duke for treatment. That is where he had his transplant. The doctor said that the medicine he would use was not usually used a third time, but that was the choice. He is now out of the hospital and getting ready to come back to Florida on the 15th. He sent an e-mail in which he speaks of his "lungevity." I'd like to share a bit of it with you.

"Just wanted to let you know what was going on, where I've been, & why the heck I'm not in South Florida at the moment. This info is straight from the rabbit's mouth. As a result of my bronchoscopy biopsy on 8/13/07, my lungs have shown signs of rejection & infection.

Therefore, I am in the DUKE University Hospital area being treated for both. Primary medications in this "treatment" are: IV rATG (rabbit antithymocyte globulin), IV Ganciclovir & Inhaled Tobi (Tobramycin). If I start craving carrots & hopping everywhere. it must've worked!Despite all that, I continue to FEEL GREAT! My lungs are functioning @ 99% & I have no fever or shortness of breath which are 2 critical signs concerning rejection/infection in Lung Transplantation. Praise GOD & thank Duke!

I'll try not to bore you (or myself) with the details unless you write back & want them.Bottom line. I'd appreciate your prayers for the following:
***That I will move to the MIDDLE of God's Good, Pleasing & Perfect Will.
***For the wisdom of my doctors & all those who are involved in my healthcare.
***The treatment/medication will do what it is SUPPOSED to do without damaging my organs or causing any harmful side affects.
***Any / ALL medications will be lowered &/or discontinued. ie. NO MORE Imuran!
***My PBC Youth for Christ Students, Staff & Fellow Youth Workers as they cover for me in my absence.
Relying on THE Great Physician & in the meantime, this JESUS Freak is STILL Kickin.
Please don't be offended if I don't hug you, shake your hand or do the hokey pokey with you. I need a few weeks of infection-free human interaction."

I've never met Leland, but I'd love too. I love his attitude and outlook.

Church Cats

A mother looked out a window and saw Johnny playing church with their three kittens. He had them lined up and was preaching to them. The mother turned around to do some work.

A while later she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She went to the window and saw Johnny baptizing the kittens. She opened the window and said, "Johnny, stop that! You'll drown those kittens."

Johnny looked at her and said with much conviction in his voice: "They should had thought of that before they joined my church."

With thanks to Pastor Tim.

Football, football, football

First of all, it is too hot to go to a football game in August in Florida. A couple of years ago, my friend Peggy asked me if I'd like to get a season's ticket for the local high school team. I thought, "Why not?" So I got those tickets and went to the first game, which was some time in August...hot and humid. It was hot sitting in those bleachers. I can't begin to imagine what it was like on the field for the football players and for the members of the band in those uniforms.

I had not been to a high school football game since 1959 when I was a senior in high school. Returning to the stadium just a few blocks from my home where I had watched football games since I was a child was a real eye opener. When I was in high school, we were still segregated, so everything was lily white. Girls came to the games reasonably attired. I won't say any more here. Vicki recently went to a Cubs game at Wrigley field and described quite well some of the attire there. If you read her description, you can transpose that here...maybe not quite so bad.

I had tickets last year, but I did not use many of them since I went to be with my son and his family in Virginia. So I'm trying again this year. Did I think it would be cooler? Not really, but I was hoping. Friday night when I went, there was a little bit of a breeze, but it quieted down. The game was not too exciting either. The home team, one of the larger high schools in the county was playing another high school, which is not nearly as large and has a hard time fielding a good team. So the game was not too interesting. I left after half-time and came home to my cool house and got geared up for Saturday's game.

When my son went to Penn State, I began following the Nittany Lions and have, since 1998, watched their games with Penn State alums and friends at a sports bar in Sarasota. It's always a great time, especially when the favorite team is winning. They've had some rough years lately, but seem to be on the upswing again. Yesterday was a game between a storied team and FIU, a commuter university in Miami that only instituted a football program in 2002. I believe the newspaper said that they had not won a game at all last season. The game ended up being a blowout for Penn State (59-0.) JoePa tries not to run up the score, but even with the third string team in, they scored.

The favorite moment of the day was when the game was over, and the TV switched over to the last few moments of the Michigan-Appalachian State game. Wow! That was probably Penn State's favorite moment. (Sorry, Vicki, if you're reading this.) One article said this morning that Michigan probably figured this game would be a tuneup for the regular conference play. They got the shock of their lives. As one Penn Stater said, "You know good and well that when we play them, they're going to be madder than h*ll."

I asked someone when I first started watching the games why these smaller schools play the big boys, and the answer was "money." I read this morning that Appalachian State took home $400,000 from the game.

Everyone was saying, "Where is Appalachian State?" I would have won the trivia prize yesterday. Back when, Appalachian State was Appalachian State Teachers College, and it was located in Boone, North Carolina. (It still is.) Teachers from Florida would go there in the summers to work on graduate degrees because they could escape the Florida heat and go to school at the same time. Not a bad idea!

As has often been said, anyone can be beaten on any given day.

And for all the undue emphasis on athletics, I still love it. I love college football. I even love baseball, even the Tampa Bay Rays, who one of these days, are going to win lots of games.

Updates

The other day I posted about cats. In that post is a photo of Tucker, my daughter's firstborn kitty. Three months ago he had surgery for a mass that was growing in his side. It turned out to be cancer, and the mass has returned. Below is a comment that Sarah left this morning on that post after having spoken to the surgeon.

"The surgeon has not recommended a 2nd surgery for Tucker. Now we are going
to consult a veterinary oncologist and get her take on it. Should know something
hopefully Friday, but could be Tuesday. To me, money is not an issue in taking
care of him, but to an extent it is an issue. If the oncologist does not have a
good outlook, the tumor will just continue to grow in Tucker until he becomes so
uncomfortable he can't stand it or it erupts inside of him. I can't imagine
losing him. So, your prayers for this situation are coveted. Thank you, Tucker's
mom. Sarah"

And then I received this e-mail this morning from one of the teachers at Bradenton Christian School. Anthony had just been cleared to return to school after having a bone marrow transplant earlier this year. The following is the message received.

"It is with a heavy heart that I write to tell you that the MDS
(pre-leukemia cells) are back for Anthony. As many of you may remember
right before transplant they discovered 11% of the pre-leukemia cells.
Post transplant Anthony was at 1%. Recently some tests were concerning the
Drs. so they ran this test. Dr Harris from Cincinnati Childrens Hospital
called to tell them this evening that they need to be back in Cincinnati on
Monday. At this point please pray for the whole Negrin family.
Please pray for all travel arrangements to go smoothly. I will continue to
keep you posted as regularly as I can. Please pray for the Negrins to not
become discouraged or tired. "

If you are prayers, I would ask you to uphold Sarah and Anthony and his family in prayer. The latest report on Louise is that her liver functions seem to be improving, so slowly, very slowly, he is making some progress, but she has miles to go.

Adequately described

I received these in an e-mail this morning. I believe I've read most of them before, but seeing them again made me smile. Perhaps they'll bring a smile to your face, as well.

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office:
"Dr. Jones, at your cervix."
**************************
In a Podiatrist's office:
"Time wounds all heels."
**************************
On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon:
Yesterday's Meals on Wheels
**************************
On another Septic Tank Truck:
"We're #1 in the #2 business"
**************************
At a Proctologist's door:
"To expedite your visit please back in."
**************************
On a Plumber's truck:
"We repair what your husband fixed."
**************************
On another Plumber's truck:
"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.."
**************************
On a Church's Billboard:
"7 days without God makes one weak."
**************************
At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee :
"Invite us to your next blowout."
**************************
On a Plastic Surgeon's Office door:
"Hello. Can we pick your nose?"
**************************
At a Towing company:
"We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."
**************************
On an Electrician's truck:
"Let us remove your shorts."
************ **************
In a Non-Smoking Area:
"If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."
**************************
On a Maternity Room door:
"Push. Push. Push."
**************************
At an Optometrist's Office :
"If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."
**************************
On a Taxidermist's window:
"We really know our stuff."
**************************
On a Fence:
"Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"
************************ **
At a Car Dealership:
"The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."
**************************
Outside a Muffler Shop:
"No appointment necessary We hear you coming."
**************************
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
"Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"
**************************
At the Electric Company:
"We would be delighted if you sent in your payment.
However, if you don't, you will be."
**************************
In a Restaurant window:
"Don't stand there and be hungry. Come on in and get fed up."
**************************
In the front yard of a Funeral Home:
"Drive carefully. We'll wait."
**************************
At a Propane Filling Station
"Thank heaven for little grills."
**************************
And don't forget the sign at a Chicago Radiator Shop:
"Best place in town to take a leak"
**************************

In honor of cats

There are many whose blogs I read who are lovers of cats and have one, two, or five or seven cats in their house. I have recently become acquainted with Grammie, who recently had to put her dear Gizmo to sleep. He was with her for eighteen years, just like my Color was. We have more in common than cats. She became a first-time grandmother last September, and she is going soon to help her dear little grandson celebrate his first birthday. I so enjoy reading her posts about him because I so identify with her emotions. Stop by and say hi, and tell her I sent you.


Samson, Sarah's cat that she adopted from the Humane Society

Tucker, Sarah's firstborn. Tucker had surgery a few months ago, and his mass has returned. He's going to the vet on Monday to see what can be done.

Samson and Tucker looking longingly at the out of doors. I love the way their tails curl. Samson looks little in this picture, but he is one pudgy guy. Tucker is long and lean while Samson is short and squat.

Color, who came to live in our house when she was seven weeks old. She especially loved my husband who loved her back. He had never been one for cats until she came to stay with us.

I was sorting through some books this afternoon and came across one of my cat books, Poetry for Cats, by Henry Beard. He has rewritten poems by famous poets in literature. When my daughter was in high school, she loaned the book to her English teacher, who put a couple of the poems on a test, to see if the students could recognize the poet. See how you do.

The Hairball and the Mouse

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's cat

I chased a mouse beneath the stair.

It went to ground I knew not where.

For, so swiftly it ran, my sight

Could not follow it in its flight.

I coughed a hairball in the air.

It fell to earth, I knew not where.

For though my sight is sharp and true,

I saw not where that fur-bullet flew.

Sometime afterward, quite by chance,

I spied them both in a single glance.

For the mouse in a corner lay dead

A hairball lodged in his tiny head.

Let's Go, State

Are you ready for some football? Just one more week, and college ball will be in full force. We can hardly wait! Who is your favorite team? I know that there is a great rivalry among some bloggers between the Spartans and the Wolverines. And then there are the two old men, who are still coaching and will probably be carried off the sidelines one of these days.

One day I was in the parking lot at Publix, and I saw a Florida license plate that had the letters, "Go JoePa" on it. It seems that Penn State fans are everywhere. One of the Sweet Adelines who happens to be from Pennsylvania has the letters "PSU" on her plate. I asked her if she had ordered it that way, and she told me no.

Of course, here in Florida, there is great rivalry between UF and FSU. I feel a little guilty, being a native Floridian and all, not having a particular loyalty to either team. Since David went to Penn State and I make it a point to watch the games with the Penn State faithful, my loyalty has been there.

As much as I love football, I find it very disturbing with all the emphasis that there is on sports. The other day there was article in one of the papers about the coaches (special teams, linebacker coaches, and assistants) who pull in twice as much as a professor. The article went on to say that the professors are trying to pull in grants to fund their programs while the athletic department brings in millions. One would think that those funds would help to fund the educational programs. Go here to read an opinion piece written by a departing professor.

First Day of School

Today is the first day of school for students at my son's middle school in Virginia. When Sarah and I went up for Ella's birthday at the beginning of the month, I went with David one day to his classroom to see his setup and to view the Smart Board that he has in his classroom. What a wonderful way to be able to demonstrate math concepts to eighth graders. His is the only middle school in his city, and the school has undergone some major renovation and new construction.

When I walked into his classroom and walked the halls and visited some of the other classrooms, the first thing I looked at was the floors. How they sparkled awaiting new students. I remember as I would begin a new year of teaching looking at my room that had been cleaned so well over the summer with the shiny floors. The first day was probably the last day that they were so clean. Those of you who have been in the classroom know what I mean.

David's computer is connected to the smart board, and he is able to write with a stylus on the board and then choose to have the computer recognize it and save it. As you can see here, his desktop shows up there on the board. I asked David what his students thought of his photo of Sabrina and Ella. He said, "Oh, they love it. It helps them know that I'm human."

While he's there at the board, he can go to the internet and pull up helps and visuals for his students. Did you have a good grasp of fractions as a student, or did you just learn those facts like I did? Why does the larger denominator mean a smaller part? Here it is easier to visualize.

He can have a worksheet like this reproduced for the students to work at their desks as he demonstrates and helps them from the front.

This equation was written with the stylus by hand, then recognized by the computer. I was amazed. I'm not sure how many Smart Boards are in his school, but he, as a first year teacher, had one at his disposal last year. Such is not the case everywhere. I asked one of my teacher friends who in our county had smart boards. Her reply? "If you have connections, you might have one. They're very expensive." And then, unfortunately, there are still teachers who are a bit afraid of the "new stuff."

It is a new day in education. Methods change. Technology makes advances every day, and yet teachers are still working with human beings. I was always a bit jealous of my husband who was a master electrician. When he did a wiring job and was finished, there were never any loose ends, no wires hanging loose. If there had been, he would have been in big trouble. When he was finished, he was finished.

As a teacher, I never felt that way. I never felt that my job was done. There was always something more that could be done...never finished. And we were working with humans. We tried methods that got thrown out because it was decided that wasn't the right way to do it, and then if we waited long enough, here it came again...the same thing with a different name.

I salute the teachers who have started or will be starting this school year,

and I take my hat off to you, my son.
May you be a teacher who will make a difference in the lives of your
students this year, not just by the things that you try to teach in the
classroom, but by the life that you live before them each day.

(Please excuse the appearance of this post. The way that it posts, and the way that it previews are not one and the same.)

Hope

True hope dwells on the possible, even when life seems to be a plot writtenby someone who wants to see how much adversity we can overcome. --Walter Anderson

I have been thinking about the word "hope" a lot lately. We use the word so easily. "Well, I hope so." Hope seems to be tied in with waiting. Several months ago, I wrote about a young man named Anthony who was awaiting a bone marrow transplant at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. Whenever his father would write in the journal at Caring Bridge, he would end his entries with this passage, Isaiah 40:31 and then write, "I will hope."

Last week Anthony and his twin brother, who also has Fanconi's Anemia, but who is not affected yet, were examined by physicians in Cincinnati. All of their tests show them well, and they cleared Anthony to go back to school, so this past week, Anthony began his senior year at Bradenton Christian School. Talk about excitement there. The school is such a great family, and everyone had been praying for and raising funds for Anthony and all his family's expenses.

On Wednesday of this past week, Anthony was back in class. You can read his story here.

I have been following another young person who had a bone marrow transplant about three months ago. Louise is still waiting to soar on her eagle's wings. She has had infection after infection and graft versus host disease. She has been gravely ill and remains so. Her liver is now affected. The doctors have run out of drugs to use. The family had researched and found a new drug that is not out yet, and they were going to try to get that and use it. In the meantime, the doctors have been doing plasmapheresis to try to help her condition improve some.

At the end of every update, her boyfriend, who has not left her side, asks for prayer and a miracle. Sometimes it seems that they've almost given up hope. But I guess the saying is true, "While there is breath, there is hope."

Rejoice with Anthony and pray for Louise that her miracle will come.

These verses from Jeremiah are a wonderful promise for those who hope and wait for God.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Growing Older

The photo of Ella and her Aunt Sarah has nothing whatsoever to do with this post. I just thought it was a cute picture of her in the straw hat. She loves hats as you may have noticed from previous posts.

I received an e-mail today from a friend inquiring about how I was. I replied that I was quite tired. She responded by saying, "Well, as we get older, it takes longer to rest up from a long trip." I guess it is true, after all, isn't it. Our minds think we're still young, but the body sometimes lets us know that it just isn't so. (I wanted to use "ain't" there so badly, but I couldn't let myself.)

This evening when I was checking my e-mail, I received this from a high school friend. It pretty much expresses how I feel.

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, he was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let him know.

Growing Older, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body ... The wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the cellulite. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself I've become my own friend. I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to be messy, to be extravagant, to smell the flowers. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m. And then sleep until -- ?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 50's & 60's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love, I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. (Now that is one thing I wouldn't do.)

They, too, will get old. (if they're lucky) I know I am sometimes forgetful. But then again, some of life is just as well forgotten and I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say "no," and mean it. I can say "yes" and mean it.


A you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being older. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day...

(if I want).

Today, I wish you a day of ordinary miracles. Love simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

Well, I don't really eat dessert every day. Maybe, once a week, because I do know the consequences of that.

I read a blog by a lady who has in her signature line, "I'm going to live forever. So far, so good."

Ella Loves Books

Ella loves books. What a joy to see her enjoy the pictures and listen to the words of favorite children's books. David has been home this summer with her, and he has "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" down pat. Do you remember those days? I do. I loved reading books to my children, hoping that when they got older, they would continue to love books.

We left very hot Virginia and traveled to Florida where, although hot, has not had the temperatures that some of you all have had in other states. When we were driving down I-95, temperatures ranged between 96 and 100 on the thermometer in the car. When we got near home, it dropped to 92, so you see, it is cooler in Florida than other places. Well, not cooler, but temperatures are lower.

One day after I got home, I had to deliver some P*mpered Chef products to a customer, and a lady who works in the place of business I stopped was one of my husband's clients when he did electrical work at her previous place of employment. Don had done work for her and her husband in their home, and he got to know them quite well.

This lady's husband used to be a commercial fisherman. Later he worked for the county and then retired on disability because of problems with his knees. He still loves to fish. His wife told me that one day last week he was cast netting out by the bridge that goes over to the island. He started to move to another spot, and as he did, he felt something like seaweed, or so he thought, caught on his pants.

After a few moments he looked down, and there was a manatee, bumping up against his leg. He was so amazed. His wife said he told her that the fishing was forgotten for a while. He spent probably a half-hour stroking his head and back. The manatee swam around him and through his legs, and then he stroked him some more.

I got goosebumps and had tears in my eyes as she told me this story. What an experience! Some people pay to have that experience. Our local museum has Snooty, a manatee that was born in captivity around 60 years ago. Our school used to take field trips to the museum every year, and that was always the highlight of the trip. The children loved to see Snooty. I still like to go see him, but I especially love to see them in the river or the inlets when they come in.

Have you every seen a manatee?

One year old!

One year old! August 4. Friends and family gathered for a birthday celebration for Ella in the back yard. Ella's mom and dad planned a wonderful day for Ella and all of us who gathered. The gorgeous cake pictured above and another one were available for the guests while Ella had her own cake.

She wasn't too sure about her cake but did manage to get her hands in it and then on her face and in her hair. That's what the first birthday cake is for, right?

Ella's parents had requested the presence of guests, but not presents. However, not too many people listened. Books and clothes were the presents of the day. One of the books was the Golden Book, The Poky Little Puppy. I think that was the first Golden Book that I ever had, and that was probably 55 years ago. Maybe it was actually longer ago than that.

We all oohed and aahed over the clothes while Ella seemed to enjoy the hangers. A couple of molars are working their way through, so the hanger can only help, right?

One year old, part 2

A lovely table was set with several different appetizers and salads for guests to choose from. No one could say that they walked away hungry. Both David and Sabrina are quite good in the kitchen. They find that a lot of the recipes from the P*mpered Chef fit the bill.

One of the ladies who takes care of Ella brought a gift wrapped in D*ra paper. Ella loves D*ra. She just gets the biggest grin on her face when she sees her.

This activity table is going be one of her favorites. It has all sorts of gadgets to stimulate her. If you want to learn the alphabet in either English or Spanish, it's here for the taking.

After everyone was gone, all the balloons were gathered in one place for one last hurrah. Ella had a wonderful first birthday party, and everyone enjoyed being with her. I'm glad that I can share this with my blogging friends and other friends who stop by and let me know that they've read my posts.

Ella has been very healthy this first year of her life. We pray that it continues for many, many years to come. We pray that it won't be long before the scientists can discover how to engineer the gene to effect a cure for cystic fibrosis, a condition for which there is now no cure. Won't you join us?

Ella in April

In April I spent two weeks with Ella, and we really got to know each other quite well. She's eight months old in these photos.

These are my absolute favorites photos of her so far. I love how she looked at the baby in the mirror.
Sarah and I drove up into North Carolina today. We'll drive on to Virginia in the morning...one day before the big birthday number 1 for Ella.

Ella's First Six Months

Ella's first birthday is this Saturday, August 4. Some of you have been reading my blog ever since before she was born, and so you know the excitement that we all felt at this precious little girl was born. My dear daughter-in-law says that she looks at these photos very wistfully because they were all taken before we knew that Ella had cystic fibrosis.

After the first few days the results of the blood test came in, and the doctor said that the test was positive for possible CF, but that further tests would need to be done. After the diagnosis, treatment was begun right away, and Ella has spent this first year of her life in good health. When I read of little ones who are born so ill with it, I'm very thankful. Ella's parents are very diligent in her care and treatment which is done every day.

I remember when she began smiling whenever she was lying on her changing table, and then one day she laughed out loud. Now she really laughs and has a good time.

She hd her first plane ride to Florida and December, and we had a good time together with Aunt Sarah, Great-Grandpa, and many friends who had been praying for this baby faithfully and still do.

In February, Ella's mom went to a convention in Nashville, and I flew up to take care of her while she was in meetings. We had a good time together. During her first six months of life, I got to be with her four different times. I am so thankful for that opportunity.

Day after tomorrow, Sarah and I are going to drive up to be with her for her first birthday. We can hardly wait. I'll post some more photos tomorrow that will pick up from here to the present.

This 'n' that in Chicago

I guess you don't have to guess what store this sign is in front of. Do you remember the days when the NBA was fun to watch? Especially in the days of MJ! Last year when I went to an even at the United Center, I took pictures of the statue of MJ outside the center. Inside it was neat to see his retired number, along with those of other players for the Bulls.

I have no idea who said that, but it true, isn't it.

I would have like to visit inside this building. Do they build harps there? Do they get them ready for shipping? How many harps do they sell? Do you play the harp?

Finally, this sign. Isn't that a hoot! And it isn't in Florida. It's in Chicago, out by the United Center. I remember seeing that last summer and being amused. I don't know if there is a senior citizens center nearby or what... must be. I'd say that we could use some here in Florida, but the only problem is, they're all behind the wheel. And that isn't funny.

Along Michigan Avenue

After we came down from atop the John Hancock Tower, my friend said to me, "We can walk back to the hotel." I was not at all sure that would work, but we took it easy as we walked along Michigan Avenue. There is always something interesting to look at. I'm not much of a shopper, so the stores did not beckon to me. However, all along the way there were interesting plantings and every so often there were these dresses.

I thought of Kenju when I saw these creations. She is florist extraordinaire, you know. I was glad for a chance to stop and take a look and then snap a photo. It rested my feet and legs a bit.

Several years ago, when I started going to Chicago for conferences, there was always something to grab your attention. The first one that I remember was "Cows on Parade." There were cows everywhere, beautifully decorated according to the taste of the artist. Many cities began to do something similar. Cincinnati had "Pigs on Parade." Even our city here has geckos here and there on buildings to which artists have added their touch. Since we're Manatee County, I always thought we should have manatees, but nobody asked me. We do have lots of geckos around.

I have a few more photos to post of Chicago, then I'll be going on to a much more important date...Ella's first birthday. Can you believe that baby will be a year old next Saturday, August 4!!! I just got some new photos of her that are so cute! I know you can hardly wait. LOL.

Commenting or lack of same

I want to let those of you who use the blogger comments know that for some reason I almost always cannot leave a comment on your posts. Please know that I am reading them faithfully, and if I had your e-mail, I'd let you know that way. There must be a glitch in my program somewhere, but I don't know how to fix it.