Guest Blog By Granddaughter, Alyssa

My Grandma has always been a huge inspiration in my life for as long as I can remember, and I can remember way back in the days of being a baby toddler, sitting on her lap and playing with her sapphire necklace as she read Mother Goose stories to me in such an enthusiastic, animated manor. That is when my admiration for her first began. I have always noticed her passion and spark for life.

My favorite memories of my childhood that stand out all involve my grandma. She was always there for me, for every birthday, holiday and on the weekends when I would come stay with her. I remember in grade school we would bring our favorite grandparent in for grandparent’s day and I would always be so proud to show mine off. She would play with me, again with such enthusiasm. She would teach me how to cook, sew and be creative. She would come up with all kinds of games to play and craft projects to work on together. We would play school and she would always let me play the teacher. She would be my student and we would write stories together. I always gave her a gold star on her report card. She let me believe I was teaching her, but really, she was teaching me. She taught me how to use my vast imagination to its fullest.

As I was growing up, we never grew apart or lost touch. Even when she moved out to our airport in Bowling Green and lived a hour away, we would write to each other, talk on the phone regularly and I would visit her often for a fun-filled weekend. We would enjoy the country side together and take walks up and down the runway, and talk about anything and everything. We would laugh often together. There was always lots of laughter with grandma. She taught me that humans require at least 13 good laughs per day, and I mean real, hearty ones! She also taught me to ask questions, to seek knowledge and understanding of the world around me. In addition, she always taught me to be myself and to share my knowledge and understanding with others. Why keep something so wonderful all to yourself? I am proud that her inquisitive mind has rubbed off on me.

Now grandma lives back in Saint Louis and I visit her as often as possible. Even when I’m not with grandma, she is always in the back of my mind and ALWAYS in my heart.

She has always been so strong-willed and I have never seen her cry, with the exception of when her dear friend, Russel, passed away. I remember just after he died, we were watching my sister’s play at school when she was in 3rd grade. I was in the audience sitting with grandma and the children sang a song about best friends. I looked over at my grandma and saw her beautiful face in her handkerchief, wiping her streaming tears. If there is one thing in this world I can’t stand, it’s my grandma in pain. I wish I could take all her pain away and feel it for her. Yesterday when visiting her at the hospital, she shared with me her horrifying experience in the recovery room post op. It is against hippa law to allow patients’ families to be in the recovery room with them. The doctor said it’s because the patients deserve privacy and because you may see something you don’t want to. I believe it. I never want to see my grandma in agony. As she was sharing what the experience was like with me, I felt like I was sharing a body with her at one point, as if her soul and mine were bonded and sharing her experience. I never want to see my Grandma in any kind of pain. She is a beautiful child of God and the strongest spirited lady I know. I want to be just like her.

I have learned from grandma that life is about not wasting time, working hard, imagining immensities, finding what you love and sticking with it. I’ve learned from her that the best thing you can do is practice loving-kindness and have compassion for others. It’s what keeps families together and it’s what makes the world a better place. I have the utmost love and respect for that woman, probably more than she will ever really know. May God bless her abundantly now and always!

family

 


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Sleep and Storms

Something came up the other day about being able to get a good night’s sleep?  So, thought I would  ask more people what do you do  or not do   – just to get to sleep?

One comment was if they thought about getting to sleep early enough in the evening they would prepare a nice glass of warm milk. I was thinking  about  that answer and as I remember,   I can drink warm milk any time of  the day and never feel like   –   very  shortly I’ll be in dream land, never gave that   suggestion a   try  for me. But, of course every one is different.  If I am going to have warm milk  – then I would much rather have a cup  of “Hot Chocolate milk”  – and maybe even a second cup or more.

Last night, as I went to bed  – there was an awful rain storm going on outside,  the thunder and lighting was doing a terrible number in this location, and I,  was almost  afraid of a lightening strike as I pulled up the covers. I usually let the radio run  for an hour  – why  ?   I do not know because  – I’m asleep so soon  and never hear all that they are talking about. (I think the  ‘talk’   puts me to sleep?)

But, last night with the storm carrying  on like it had to do  – I started praying  PS.23  – The Lord is my Shepherd.   I just got that  said and  “WOW”   – like a light  – I was out!  So, from  “ME” to  “YOU”   –  try  saying PS.23    –  and see if you don’t also  –   sleep like a baby through the storms of life?


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Happy Birthday, Louise!

Ask and you shall receive! Follow up on Louise V. A. Stanley.  Thanks to the Little Sisters of the Poor, for having the information we were looking for, Louise  was born on May 31st, 1881  and died on  May 9th, 1972.

Louise  was placed in the care of the  “Little Sisters of the Poor” on July 13th, 1971  –  her daughter Elsa Monson was her emergency contact person of record. And, the last address of record  was 3940 North 20th Street, Saint Louis, Missouri.

Something that I remember Louise, having a  special talent for was making of  breakfast “coffee cakes” and the next best favorite “pumpkin pies!”   There were a good number of her children living  and all doing well  and Louise would take turns living with different ones  – depending if they had small children  and if they had the room for her to stay.

It would be nice,  if more  homes were built on property  to  where a second  and smaller home  could be built, just so that if you have a large family, you can easily accommodate this situation of having members of the family stay  with you,  but, in separate living  quarters.  So close  and yet, no schedule  of anyone is  upset  to make room for  “Mom!”  Also, if you have no family the extra home   makes for  “income rental” – every one needs extra income.

Let me be   the first to send  to you,  Louise   –   “Happy Birthday, Louise!”  After all   –  May 31st is just around the corner!

 

 


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Louise V. Aldrich – Stanley

Louise Vosmeyer Aldrich Stanley, several times over  – great grand-mother, and the question came up yesterday – when was her birth date?  Would you believe that no one living today has any recollection of her birthday? She was  close  to  being  ‘100 years’  of age  –    and nobody remembered ever having a birthday party for  –  Dear old  ‘Lulu?’

So, with very little to work on  –  I know  ‘Lulu’ was born in 1881 and the  last  that we remember she was  93  in the mid  1970’s and not a whole lot more? So if you have some ideas to help us fill in the blanks  –  kindly send   us the helpful information.  We appreciate all the extra help we get!

There was a Ralph Vosmeyer in her family and  Louise did come from  Germany.

The  family  –   her son –   Ralph Stanley – wife Cathy, children – Ralph Jr,  Richard, Darleen, and Denise. (St.Louis, Mo. area)

And,  a daughter  –    Florence Stanley LaFever  – husband   Paul   and daughter  Carol Ann.  (Illinois  area)

It has been a long time since I had the opportunity to talk with anyone  since I lived out of the area, but I wish all of our Heavenly Father’s blessings   on all those who  are  still  here and extra blessings  for all those that have gone on to the  final and best place to be  –  in Heaven!


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“Happy Birthday, Jaime!”

“Happy Birthday to you… Happy Birthday to  you… Happy Birthday dear ‘Jaime’ eee…. Happy Birthday to you  and many more !”

It sure is exciting to see you get up to the “old age of ’23’ years”  –  and just to think   – yesterday I was able to carry you  in my arms”  It is so wonderful to receiver the gift of children  –  and  then to be  ‘blessed’ with wonderful grand-children!

So glad to have been included in the  terrific “Bar-B-Q Party”  your  Father gave in your honour    – everyone  had fun and the best part was that that  the  rain and weather  all did a very cooperative job   –  making it a very pleasant  outside party. I just have to give  “Thanks to God for the good weather!”

Something I read in the bible and wishing for you as a blessing.   PS. 100:5  For Yahweh is good;  his loving kindness endures forever,  And His faithfulness  to all generations.


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“It is Good”!

Did you ever hear, “It is Good?” There is one old movie, I remember more than any  other and have seen more times than I can recall. The story is  full of laughter, happiness and heartbreak  and something  about  “family life” I just love!

Some years ago, when we had to have  cable connections, I had saved one part of the movie, for as long as I could. The scene is about the cat, “Elisabeth” – she was in a fight and the parents thought they put her out of her misery  – the youngest daughter picks her up in her arms  – and she gives the best ‘meowing’ with bandages all over her face!  You just have to watch!  You will fall in love with ‘love’ scene!   The father  tells the wife, actress – Irene Dunne  – the cat only needed rest.

Did you figure out the old movie from “1948”  – I Remember Mama!  Irene Dunne is the one whose use of “It is Good”  – really makes me think we should  all  – stop and think more  of how really good things can be if we will   just bless each and every thing we do. If we say what we are doing is good  –  we just  took all the stress out of   our  lives!


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