

Exercise
Please understand I’m not anti-heavy work-out. If you enjoy that type of exercise and benefit from it, good for you. It concerns me that some people might feel that a less strenuous work-out isn’t as beneficial. After his stroke, my husband endured many, many, hours of physical therapy to regain mobility; his “work-out” was no less than someone else running a 5K race. Guess what? Good news! We don’t have to run a mile, do jumping jacks a hundred times or lift heavy weights


Earl
Today is my 55th wedding anniversary. August 18, 1962 Earl and I married at St. Paul’s Methodist Church in Omaha, Nebraska at an evening ceremony. Only a few friends and a couple cousins attended. Earl left me last year on October 22, 2016. He was in a lot of pain but seemed to realize we were there with him. He was surrounded with family and our wonderful children. He sensed that he was not alone. I’ve often wondered what all the drama that was our life amounted to? I


Bookkeeper
As a caregiver, you wear many hats. Bookkeeper is one of them. Often becoming a caregiver happens without warning, so you have little or no time to prepare. If your spouse or parent did the bill paying, investing, car up-keep, house maintenance etc., you can easily become overwhelmed by junk mail and correspondence. This is added stress for you and stress is dangerous. I can sympathize because, it didn’t take long until my desk and counter tops were covered with stacks of pa


Gardening
My neighbor has an enormous garden. Really, it’s more of a mini farm. From that garden comes my favorite meal of the summer. Recipe: take freshly dug potatoes, wash, slice and do not peal. Take one garden onion wash and slice. Take one large skillet, add oil and a little butter, add sliced onion and sliced potatoes. If possible, find an August tomato and add a slice on the side. YUM! We can file that under, “simple blessings”. Simple blessings are like fresh strawberries in

Buck, Betty and Bud
Since you and I are just getting acquainted, I feel it important for you to know that I believe in angels. I’m not telling you to believe, only that I do. I believe God sends them to interact in our lives. The proof to me, are the countless times one has appeared, unexpectedly; for example, a card or note of encouragement in my mailbox when I am having a “throw in the towel” kind of day. There are unexpected visits from a grandchild or a neighbor just to say “hi”. Random a

Our Story Begins
Our story begins. My husband’s final journey began in the fall of 2002. He was 63 years old when struck with an alarming TIA. The doctors didn’t think it serious until, an exam proved his carotid arteries were 95% clogged. Blood tests showed his cholesterol to be fairly normal, but his triglycerides were off the charts. His family has a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and he was a “closet” smoker. The operation to clear his arteries was successful, except, the force