Jesse left yesterday afternoon.  He's in Seattle visiting his sister & brother for a few days.  His sister's fiance' died last weekend and the gentleman's funeral is today.

One of my PRECIOUS children awakened me at 5-something this morning saying she had a sore throat and her body ached.  I gave her a Cepacol sore throat lozenge and an Ibuprofen tablet and sent her back to bed.  But . . . the outcome of children sharing bedrooms and all . . . she woke up the youngest and they were having a great time yacking it up around 6am!  I threatened to kill them both, but they didn't believe me and carried on with their giggling, and all the other sounds children make in the early hours!

Couldn't figure out why I felt so hungry - it's a little past 7:30am.  I guess since I've technically been up for HOURS . . . it would only be natural for me to feel hunger!  The two early birds ate bowls of cereal, and now I've locked the little darlings in the big bedroom with a TV and the threat of duct tape over their mouths if they wake up anyone else in the house!

When Rissy woke me up at 5-something, it was storming to beat the band.  Loud thunder, lightening, deafening gale winds and heavy rain on the windows.  If it hadn't been for her waking me up, I would have probably slept through the whole thing.  Our backyard has turned into 3 swimming pools and more rain is expected to come.

Fortunately, today I have nothing planned outside of the house except to take Luci to daycare and pick her up.  Perfect plan for a stormy day!

My other plan is to work around the house.  The girls can help by dusting furniture and sweeping & mopping the kitchen floors. 

Later tonight for dinner, I'm having a mini Thanksgiving meal.  Small turkey, dressing, gravy, sweet potatoes, broccoli casserole, extra sweet yellow corn, and cranberry sauce.  I'd like to make one of those fruit salads (you know? marshmallows, sour cream, mandarin oranges, coconut . .. no calories, whatsoever!!!) and maybe even brave a pumpkin pie.  I have everything I need to make whatever I want - we'll have to see where my motivation is later this afternoon!

So, as I sit here in the semi dark trying to wake up, I remember that life goes on whether Jesse is here or our routine is upside down.  I think all of the girls are keenly aware that he is far away and THEY are the ones having a problem with being nervous.  We are never apart from each other or our children.  The never ending questions about Daddy being gone tells me that we are a VERY close knit family and I pray we stay that way forever.   I'm blessed and so aware of God's hand on our family and our lives.  Not even the distance from mid-south to NW coast can separate our family.

Since today is Memorial Day, I thought "Monday Memories" was apropos!

The people I want to remember today are my parents, both sets of grandparents, and my "almost" aunt and uncle.

I've talked about these people before; but, today I will memorialize each one of them.

Dad:  He wasn't around much.  Yet, the biggest impression he made on me was to be generous and big hearted.  I remember him helping out many little old ladies, who were widowed, by doing handyman work and just doing kind deeds, in general, for people outside of our family.  My generous nature is directly due to him.

Mom:  She, by far, was the one who had the best sense of humor.  I KNOW she has to be the source of my own sense of humor.  She could always find something to laugh about, even if it was the irony of a bad situation.  In many ways, my joking personality is an offshoot of my mother's.

Maternal Grandma:  Grandma brought "class" into my life.  We discussed proper etiquette and "what I would do if I were ever invited to the White House for dinner" - so many times - it brings a smile to me now as I write about her.  She traveled extensively and had such wonderful stories to tell about her trips.  She loved to sit and watch people and "wonder" about them.  I do the same thing.  I'm quite content sitting at a mall or in an airport watching people and "wondering" about their lives.

Maternal Grandpa:  My "businessman" Grandpa.  Despite starting out as a young stockboy in a grocery store, he became a board member of an IGA grocery subsidiary in St. Louis.  He obtained great wealth, but still stuck the skinny piece of soap on the new bar of soap (a habit I've retained) so as not to be wasteful.  He was always full of advice about success.

Paternal Grandma:  The person to whom I was most close.  The one person I miss the most.  She rarely got angry and rarely got sick.  Such a positive attitude every day of her life.  She taught me (by her example) that caring for our family (AND extended family) was the most important thing we could give each other.  That included being there at a person's time of death - comforting the dying, comforting those remaining behind, and helping to settle the estates of the deceased.  When Grandma died, it was a privilege to be at her side.

"Auntie" Irene:  So full of life.  She was a positive person, laughed at everything, always young in spirit, and, despite her health problems, always full of encouragement for others.  She sometimes appeared no-nonsense and not very sensitive or "soft," but I remember those winks meant only for me and the squeeze or pat she'd give my arm when she walked by me.

Uncle "Eldie":  The smartest man I've ever known.  Overcame tremendous obstacles from childhood and could never really accept people doing nice things for him, but I always did them, anyway!  Another one who winked secretly at me and whispered words of encouragement in my ear when no one else could hear.

There are friends who have touched my life and,  then, have passed on.  I have many fond memories of those friends, and I'm sure they would never dream I would still remember them after so many years. 

Despite these friends, it's my family I wished to remember today.  Our family doesn't have graves to go visit (cremated instead of buried), which is a blessing.  It allows me to be able to visit them in my memories whenever I want.

Today is no different than any other typical week day.  Housework looms in front of me everyday when I awaken!  At the end of each day, it never looks like I've done anything.

I did 92 million loads of laundry yesterday and I'm still not finished. I finally had to stop with half dried towels in the dryer, more wet towels in the washer, and two piles of clothes on the floor.  With the piles of laundry and 2 appliances full of wet or dry laundry, it doesn't look like I did anything!

I spent a long time washing dishes that didn't fit in the dishwasher and cleaning the bar along with wiping off all of the pretty things that sit on top of the bar.  I've decided to put away the pretty things in an effort to clear off the bar.  Of course, the washed pretty things are still sitting in a pile on the bar.  It doesn't look like I did anything out there, either!

Jesse had given me four pieces of silver (different unusual utensils) and I polished those and put them in my silver chest.  I decided to also polish the silver tray and silver oval bowl (with lid) from the china cabinet.  I don't think anyone noticed.  It's not the kind of thing you check when looking to see if someone "did anything" all day.

I vacuumed the entire house, but need to get out the carpet shampoo machine and get the spots in the dining room and hall.  The machine is sitting in my kitchen waiting to be used.  With that cleaning monster blocking the pathway from the kitchen cooking area to the kitchen eating area, it doesn't look like I did anything.

I got the bathtubs and showers cleaned, especially the shower walls and grout, but who ever looks in there to see if I've done anything?

I cleaned all the dishes from last night's dinner and put things in the dishwasher, but "someone" came around later, ate a snack, and THOSE dishes are sitting in my sink this morning.  It doesn't look like I've done anything.

I know exactly what's going to happen next: I'll finish laundry today, finish cleaning the kitchen bar, then cook lunch and dinner, mess everything up in the kitchen, my family will take off their dirty clothes tonight and fill their laundry baskets, and . . . it will look like I didn't do anything today, either!

JUST LIKE IT LOOKS EVERY SINGLE DAY!!!

I remember my very first favorite television show.  It was the original Mickey Mouse Club, which was in black and white, with Jimmy Dodd. 

I don't know how old I was when I discovered the show, maybe in 3rd or 4th grade.  I remember being glued to the tv set each day of the week, except Wednesday.  Wednesdays were boring because they only showed a Disney feature movie and had no singing or dancing.  I wasn't old enough to appreciate Annette Funiciello and Frankie Avalon - they were SOOOO old! 

As the years went by, I learned the words to all of the show's songs and even picked up the choreography to all of the dances (dancing was a natural ability).  To this day I remember the Mouseketeer introduction song and choreography.  I remember asking my elementary school teachers if I could be excused from class to go to the restroom.  I would then stand in the empty restroom in front of the big mirror on the wall and practice the Mouseketeer dance numbers.  The acoustics in the tiled bathroom only enhanced my singing!  As I think back, I have often wondered how long I was really gone from the classroom and why, over all of those years of rehearsing in the restroom, no one ever came to check on me!  Maybe there was a peephole and I entertained masses of teachers and principals without ever knowing about it!

My poor mother had the hardest time convincing me that I couldn't grow up to be Karen Pendleton (the youngest girl on the show).  She told me all of the shows I was watching each day were reruns, and I just nodded and said I knew.  But, I still wanted to grow up and be Karen!  I think I figured if I knew the dance numbers and the show found out about it, they'd use me as an understudy, discover my TRUE talent, and I would be propelled into stardom by becoming Karen on the reruns.  A little bit of reality/fantasy balancing problems, I'd say!

I never bought a Mickey Mouse "ears hat" (I thought they were dumb),  but I did mimic the short skirts & white blouses and Karen's long braids!  Tap dancing in a skirt was so much nicer than my plain black dance leotard!

When I was in my early 20's and married, I came across one of those gossip magazines that had pictures of Karen - then and now.  I remembering snatching it from the display at the check-out stand and hurriedly flipping through the pages to read about KAREN!!! 

Despite the 40 odd years, or so, that have gone by since my "wanting to be Karen," I think I would still stop to watch one of those "then and now" shows about her if I saw one on tv! 

The only difference now is that I'm just fine being Cherylyn; I got all of the dancing, singing, & entertaining out of my system years ago; and, my life has turned out just fine.  I hope Karen's did, too! 

I didn't get to this yesterday - so here it is a day late!

Thirteen People Who Influenced Me This list is in chronological order and not in order of importance. 1. My birth mother. We had so much fun together. She taught me to always have a sense of humor and to be able to laugh at myself (and, believe me, I do plenty of things that are laughable!). She taught me how to set a formal table and how to coordinate everything from clothing to furniture in a room. She always encouraged me in all of my endeavors. She also taught me to cook, good manners, how to tell time . . . she said she wondered if I'd EVER learn to read a clock! . . . and to be responsible. 2. My father's mother, Grandma Murche. What can I say? She was (still is) the strongest influence in my life, although gone for over 10 years. Born in 1896 and died in 1994. SHE IS THE ONE WHO read me Bible stories as a child; was always jovial and made me feel welcome in her house; was proud of me & my accomplishments (and made no bones about it!); role modeled a happy marital relationship (which I have envied and still strive to model in my own marriage); kept our family's history alive by showing me a ton of pictures (along with her consistent narrations) of people who lived and died in the 1800's and stories of her own childhood; and, showed me by her actions (NEVER with speeches) how to care unselfishly for family members & friends. 3. A next door neighbor, Pat Baker, from the 1950's - early 1960's. She was an excellent homemaker and stayed busy all the time within her home and garden. She also made sure the children were clean and calm when her husband came home from work each day and had a delicious meal waiting for him as he walked in the door. I've never forgotten the peace that reigned in their home and the tidiness of her girls' bedroom - as was the entire house. 4. A next door neighbor (on the other side!), Joan Snider, from the same era. She was married with four children and a very younger sister she raised in her home. She is the one who gave me my first taste and desire for a large family. She had an active family, but there was always such a happy, loving, and welcoming atmosphere when I set foot in her home. Such a sweet speaking voice. Also, she played Johnny Mathis records all the time. Made me love Johnny Mathis! 5. Mom Theurer, my adopted Mom. Although I loved my birth mom immensely, I also have loved this Mom. She's has influenced me as much as my birth mom, but with a totally different color and flare. Another woman with a large family - five children. I fit into this family very naturally and watched Mom's every move as she managed so many active children. She was attractive, a great cook, taught me to not over react, and many more things that have made me who I am today. She has given me lots of encouragement throughout my life, and I still rely on her in so many ways. She's the one who taught me to read directions FIRST before doing anything - like dying my hair!!! 6. The neighbor behind my "Theurer Parents" who was like an uncle to us - Uncle Eldie. He taught me the importance of education. He read the newspaper *completely* through and then discussed EVERYTHING. He was a concrete thinker and VERY real. No mincing words with him! 7. Betsy Blakesley. A young woman I worked with at a hospital transcription job in the early 1970's. She was a devout Christian, soft spoken, and LIVED a Christian life without preaching. I think she was one of the strongest Christian influences in my life and has NO IDEA of the impression she left. I learned from her to walk, and not talk, my Christian life. She impressed me most by quietly bowing her head and praying before every meal no matter what or who was around. 8. Peg Rogers, an older cousin I lived with when I moved to Oklahoma City. She also had a husband and large family of five children. I envied her calm ability to manage her children, her home, and still be available to her husband. Another person who didn't preach, but role modeled a Titus 2: 3-5 woman. 9. Lela Engling, my first mother-in-law. She really taught me the refined skills of homemaking and making a house sparkle. She gave me hints about how to make a husband feel important and how to keep him interested in his wife. To this day, I use all those little tidbits of information! 10. Marilyn Mercer Thigpen. She is someone I worked with in the early 1980's and was one of the most clear thinkers I've ever known. She didn't let her emotions get muddled with the facts, when dealing with problems. Just by watching and listening to her, she taught me to simplify my thinking. 11. Melinda Fleming, another friend from the same job where I met Marilyn, but several years later. Melinda (and her mom & extended family) were most like my Grandma Murche. They came from a very close knit church group and believed in walking in a person's door and helping, as opposed to saying, "Call me if you need anything." There should be more people like Melinda. She taught me to reach out and help others and to be VERY generous when doing so. 12. Sylvia Sparks (an ALMOST mother-in-law). Without a doubt, she was the most influential person and pivotal point in my spiritual walk. She opened up the Bible to me in a way no one had ever done before. Besides our spiritual talks and country gospel music singing, we shared much affection. She taught me the art of country cooking, how to singe duck feathers off of a new kill (giggle!), and many other things I've retained (chocolate gravy on biscuits!). It was at her house I saw my first calf born and saw my first bluebird. I miss her terribly and, despite her son and I ending our relationship, I would have loved to continue my friendship with her. 13. Tangi Robertson, a wonderful friend I met about 6 years ago. She also has a large family (six children), so she and I throw child rearing techniques off of each other all the time. We share all of our accomplishments and disappointments and have a healthy friendship that is very open and honest. She's given me some of the best advice in these recent years. We've talked about everything from church & religion, politics & world peace, to inventing a tube system (like the drive through bank lanes) so we can borrow things from each others homes! 14. I know this is supposed to be a list of only thirteen things, but I couldn't eliminate my youngest sister, Nancy. I don't know when she became a person leaving an impression on my life and when she stopped being just the sister I adored (and to whom I'm the closest). Nancy LOVES children, is a special education teacher, has the respect of her own children, and communicates (in all areas) so very well. Her voice is calm, her elocution is clear. Her reasoning and communication is succinct. She is someone who is very different from me in lifestyle and experience, but very much the same as me in reasoning and placing importance on family - both children and elders. I've drawn lots of wonderful information from her and have applied it in my own life.   Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

I would like to remember the thoughts I had when I first "met" each of my children and my impressions of them as the grow (have grown) up.

Stephanie:  The first baby I ever held.  She looked incredibly like her father.  She had the most perfectly shaped head and lips as a baby.  Her toes and fingers were pretty and she had beautiful nailbeds, and still does . . . something she DIDN'T inherit from me!  She inherited some of my facial features and definitely my expressions.  She's always loved animals and, like me, has developed a taste for luxury lotions and candles!!!  As she grew older (teenager) she began to look so much like me.  A few years ago, I saw a picture of us standing side by side in a group and silently thought, "Well, I don't look so bad for my age.  But, who's that older woman standing next to her?"  Yes!  *I* was the older woman and she was heavier because she was 9 months pregnant!!!!!!!!!!

Nikki:  Dark hair like her father and brown eyes like almost everyone else in the family.  She is the quietest child I've ever seen.  She's always tiptoed, doesn't bang doors or cabinets, and is so quiet she has scared me so many times by walking into a room only to watch me scream and jump out of my skin!  She's developed the most delightful, low-tone speaking voice.  When I talk with her on the phone, she is hard to tell apart from my younger sister, Nancy.  Her speaking pitch, tempo, and enunciation are so much like Nancy's.  She has some unique sayings that have been mimicked by others in our immediate family.  The way she says (through clenched teeth), "Da-addddd!"  or her impression of my (very old) cat Jesse-boy.  She makes fun of his horrible old-man meow by using her best scratchy voice to say, "Jaaaaaaasse-booooooooy!"  Now, everyone else copies her!

Annamarie:  She looked just like Dora the Explorer!  Big round cheeks, cute little body, dark hair with bangs and hair that hung over her ears.  She resembles her Auntie JoJo in facial features, although we are frequently asked if she is Hawaiian.  As she began to speak, she mimicked everything I said and made me giggle.  She is my most considerate child and always worried about what she can do to make someone else feel good.  VERY sensitive and kind.  Also, she has the most even temperament I've ever been around.  She wakes up in a friendly mood!  Although, it takes her forever to wake up - just like me!  She is so thoughtful and sensitive to others and their feelings.  She would be a perfect caretaker and massage therapist!  Like Nikki, she gives a great massage.  She's a natural. 

Marissa (Rissy):  For the first few months there wasn't a smile on her face!  She was so extremely serious.  Huge brown eyes that studied every move I made and every word I spoke.  It was the longest time before she would respond with more than slightly curled corners of her lips.  Itsy bitsy little thing - and still is, but more long and skinny, now  She was always a couple sizes behind her age in clothing.  She looks most like my baby pictures than the other children.  She has beautiful full lips (I don't) but her turned up nose is like me, as well as her coloring.  She has her dad's personality - a tease DE-luxe!  Her dad says she is a little Cher' in miniature!  She is very observant and bright.  She comes up with the funniest observations and things to say and her timing is always perfect to make us belly laugh.  She has a giggle and laugh that is so catching, she turns heads anywhere we go and makes others laugh.  She's the most self-motivated and the strongest willed child, which IS much like me.  She almost died at birth, and we were given a bad report of how she would probably be nothing more than a "vegetable" IF she lived.  (Can you believe people would really tell that to a parent?)  Our current pediatrician attributes her success in life to her huge motivational drive.

Adrienne (Luci):  Huge!  A big, solid, dead weight baby with a big, round, almost bald head and big marble-like, round, brown eyes.  She reminded me of a little eskimo baby from my history books - all she was missing was the fur hood!  Another one that wasn't quick to smile.  Unlike Rissy, Luci was two sizes ahead of herself in clothing from early on and still is!  As a baby, she became attached to me more than any of the other children.  She has perfectly shaped eyebrows and HAD perfectly shaped lips until she and the brick hearth met, tearing a huge hold into her lower lip.  Now she is "unique!"  She has the most playful eyes and engaging way of expressing herself when she is having fun with someone.  Her smile is infectious.  Her hair is a Shirley Temple mop of curls.  She stands in front of the fireplace with an object in her hand and pretends she is holding a microphone while singing.  She could easily be the next performer in the family!  Has a pretty singing voice and never stops singing!

It would be interesting for all of my children to write their impressions of me!  Maybe when they are all grown up - which will be a while!

We've had so much rain this week  (actually, for 2 weeks) and such dark skies; but, today brings a welcomed crisp, clear, blue sky with sun pouring down on us in huge streams.  It will make it hot and muggy (due to the recent rains), but everyone is ready to pull out some perky, summer colors and light weight clothing!

This morning, Jesse left to mow some lawns (still playing catch up) and will be home sometime this afternoon.  I have kept up with the housework pretty well this week despite all of the errands, appointments, and shopping "excursions" that caused me to be away from the house!  I'm finishing up Luci's and my laundry now.  Then, I will only have my bedroom to vacuum and our tub to clean.

JanaLyn spent the night and will be here all day with the girls until her Dad picks her up after work this evening.  Because of the beautiful day, I'm thinking about making a potato salad and some deviled eggs to go with chicken charcoaled outside.  I guess it's my way of kicking off the warm weather season.  I've put it off and put it off, but I think the chilly days are behind us and it's time to act like it!

Our new bird, Tangi Tango, is chirping away in the den.  She's trying to mimic my sentence, "Who's a pretty bird?" and has the rhythm down perfectly but isn't enunciating yet.  We've only had her one week and she's done very well with us.  Already hops on my finger when I give her that command.  She learned that the first time I worked with her.  I take her in the little bathroom with me when I take a shower to let her get some exercise flying and I spend time handling her.

Marcus is sleeping late this morning and I have no idea how he is able to do that.  The four little girls are giggling and being so silly and VERY LOUD!  But, he's a teenager and I remember those days of vacuum cleaners being used around my bed as I slept deeply!  Now, a sneeze from the girls' bedroom can wake me up and I have difficulty falling back to sleep! 

I'm expecting Jesse's brother, Frank, to be here soon to drop off a truck.  Sharon is with him and they are traveling in two vehicles, for some reason, on their way to visit her mother for Mother's Day tomorrow.  Guess I should get dressed and quit being so lazy!