My Parents

These are my parents, Cliff and Avis Hamilton. This picture was taken 2 years ago today, on their 58th Wedding Anniversary. Today, what would have been their 60th Wedding Anniversary, my mom and I held each other, cried and spent several hours sliently thinking about my father, who died just over 9 months ago.

My parents taught me alot of things about life and relationships. Ed and I just celebrated our 28th Wedding Anniversary. I owe many of those years to my parents who taught me not to run when things get tough, to love unconditionally, to care about others first, and to keep on keeping on.

Daddy, I love you and miss you. Mom and Dad, thank you for your example in so many things, especailly in love.

You can't see me

Shhh...the Master believes he can't be seen.

This is so typical of our owner. He "hides" all over the yard, thinking we can't see him. I have a whole file of pictures of him "hiding". What a crazy creature.

On this day we were painting our front porch, he was keeping guard, laying in wait for some unsuspecting victim to come along so he could spring out and begin a game of tag.

What a goof ball.

Does it pay to ignore your own needs?

Because I am always ignoring what my body is telling me, I am now facing yet another surgery, and possibly more than one. Dang, double dang and dang again!!! or in other words, oh crap!

After spending 5 hrs in the ER on Sunday, another 2 hrs today at the Dr.'s office...and having now added another trip to the hospital for a 2 hr test on Friday morning in which I will need to be put under and will have to stay until I recover... and then yet another test in 2 wks, which will also require putting me under.

I have a new job...which comes with only 4 days pd sick leave. No need to explan the frustration there.

Oh crap!

Good Bye My Friend

Got a call at the office today from my husband, our life long friend, Nancy had suddenly died. I am saddened by this news for more than the obvious reasons. You see Nancy had over come many obstacles in her life just recently, and she seemed to be moving on, moving into a better place in life, both mentally and physically.

Due to her health she had all but quit leaving her home many years ago. She did not work, although she did run a day care for years when my boys were young...that too had come to a halt as she became more and more ill. Depression was a battle as her health failed her. We would talk on the phone from time to time but I did not see her. One time when I went to her home, she did not answer the door. I know she was there, this was not unusual.

Just over 2 years ago she had a surgery that her doctor told her would save her life, without the surgery she would be gone in a few short wks, she was also told that she had a "very high possibility" of not survive the surgery itself. Bill and Nancy, and their 3 adult children decided this had to be done, they had to take the chance of surviving the surgery to give her a chance at living. Remarkably she pulled through the surgery in great shape, and she began to live!!

Suzy, another friend, took Nancy's recovery on with personal care. Suzy visited Nancy at her home DAILY, when Nancy was able to get out of her house, Suzy would stop by and they would go for rides all over town 2-3 times a wk, they would frequently stop by the church for Nancy to pray in the sanctuary, Nancy had not be in the church building for years. I enjoyed these times because it always included a visit to my office.

They would go for walks, first just a block or two...then I heard they were walking for a mile or so. Her health was returning.

Nancy was soon out driving around on her own. Then I heard she was working!!! She had gotten a job in a little coastal town not far from our little town as a CNA - - AMAZING!

Nancy and Bill would be seen all over the place, they once again had a social life. I would see them driving around town, laughing and carrying on like two teens in love with not a care in the world.

I don't know what happened...in the last little while she was beginning to battle depression once again. Things were getting rough for her. Headaches were a part of her daily life, not just mild ones, but ones that she sought medical help for. She struggled emotionally with choices their children had made and the conseqenices of those choices. Nancy had once again slipped into the giving up mode. She just did not want to fight any longer.

Sad, so very sad...words can not express my mixed emotion of joy for the past 2 years of watching her regain her health...and sadness that she died so soon, missing so many more years of grandchildren and loving her husband, Bill.

Good-bye my friend Nancy Reed. I will miss your jolly laughter, I will miss seeing your victories, I will miss knowing you are enjoying life and health.

Us

This is us, 3 years ago, celebrating our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

Sitting at the San Diego airport, June 2003

Our Home...Blessing to be used and shared

We have been doing many things around our home since last winter, new roof, windows, paint, deck...A couple of other things as well. It all started over 20 years ago when we purchased our home..We needed a new roof...It didn't happen, no money for a new roof, but that did not change the fact that we really needed a new roof...So we did the only thing we knew to do - - we prayed and continued to pray that God would keep our roof from leaking, keep the tresses from dry rot. We are a blessed family. No leaks, no cracks, no water damage at all.

Fast forward to October 2004. My husband decided to attempt a re-fi...we would cash out our equity, which we knew would be plenty since the value of our home has tripled and the housing prices in our area are high. So, while I was dealing with other issues, he did the paper work and managed to get a great deal on our re-fi. We cashed out enough for a new roof, new windows, paint and a few other odds and ends of things. Boy what a difference!!! Realizing we would not be able to stretch the money far enough to get a sliding door and deck put on our home we made some adjustments, still knowing and feeling very blessed.

In April we received an inheritance check, which we had been expecting but did not expect it until much later in the year. So...we decided to go for it and have the sliding door and deck put on the house- - with a bonus!!! Realizing that money doesn't just float around and that we might not be able to get back to this project financially, we decided to go for it and have the deck enlarged.

We have always known we are a blessed family, today we are feeling far more than blessed. God has given us a home that we have shared with many people throughout the years, from simple evenings of a game or cards to a young man who lived with us for almost 9 months during a difficult time for his family. We have offered refuge to more than one person, from a young mom who was hiding from the man who repeatedly beat her, to those seeking answers as to why we are so "different" (faith is interpreted in so many various ways!!!).

We have offered our very meager home to any and all with a variety of needs, we will continue to offer our home, our love, our understanding, our listening ears, caring hearts and our faith, the only difference is now as people come to our home they will enter a tan colored home with a solid roof, windows that are not cracked, doors that are weather sealed, and a beautiful back yard.

We thank our Father for blessing us as he has, loaning this home to us to use for His benefit...and prayfully we have and will continue bless Him as well.

Meow

Here is the long ago promised pic of Ryan's cat, the one who keeps us in stitches. He is hilarious, loving, and a total lap cat. As I write this he is curled up in a ball on Ed's lap.


His eyes are so blue...he loves his dad (Ryan) and they always spend time bonding when Ryan comes home for a visit...

The rest of our kids

Meet the rest of our kids...Albert, Angela and our three oldest grandkids: Rex, Tristan and Kaitlyn. These are our kids who live in the same little town we live in so do have some family here. (Santa is not a member of our family, he just showed up during our Christmas in July BBQ, bearing gifts and spreading good cheer!!!)

This family is a "God-given" family to us. God introduced this young couple and their children to us just when our own 2 sons were graduating and moving away, going to college and entering the next phase of their lives.

We thank God daily for all of our children and grandchildren, born to us or given to us...they are all gifts.

Long Time, No Blog

Back...It has been a while since I last blogged...just over 2 months. I kinda got frustrated when I had worked at adding photos to my blog for a couple of wks to no avail...today I was having a conversation with my son and told him why I was not blogging, after that conversation I decided to try again...and WOW...sign on to Blogger find out that they have updated and adding photos is so much easier...hip hip hooray...

Meet our son, Roy and his beautiful family. Wife, Naomi and children Maddie and JJ. What fun grandkids are!!! Roy and his family live in Northern Washington, we don't see them as often as we would like to, but when we do, watch out..there is never a dull moment. This pic was taken during their last visit home. We spent the day at the beach, getting dirty and making memories. JJ fed the seagulls our leftover frenchfries. Fun times when our kids come home.





This is our son Ryan...he is the one who encouraged me to try to figure out the photo upload again. Ryan lives in Southern California...yes, our boys live at opposite ends of the Pacific Ocean...and we are directly in the middle of them both. Southern California is just right for Ryan...lots of things for him to experience. He is a huge DiscGolf player, loves mountain biking, just started rockclimbing. When you live in an area where the climate is steady all year long you can do all those outdoor things. BUT I still believe if you look at his feet you will find him to be a true Oregonian... complete with webbed feet.

Not going to push my luck, posting this and will be back soon...promise!