Grandma’s Stories

Nov 25th “The FAMILY that PRAYS Together – STAYS TOGETHER”

This…  is the time of the year to take a few PHOTOS of the FAMILY – – enjoying a  “FAMILY MEAL”  – – as these times together – – are the best of  “MEMORIES”  – – they are a great occasion today – – but the   “MEMORIES”  – – years down the road from  NOW – – are what makes a good FAMILY – – last and always able to recall the  “BEST of TIMES”  – –  and just having a PHOTO – – always helps!

So… Almighty Yahweh… send  to us your  Family members – – here on Earth  – – the special BLESSINGS that YOU have designated for each of us – – to do YOUR will  – to obey your commandments – – to follow your word as given in the BIBLE – – and Bless all those that we are naming – – friends and family that are near and  dear to us – – NOW and FOREVER!  D.V.

Nov 25th “A Day to really give THANKS for all the Blessings received”

“Gift-Giving” at “Schnucks Grocery Store”

When you get to be my age…never  gave it a  second thought…  that I would be … as old as I am – – because…  there is still … a very  young – –  “18 year old”  – – running around  – inside this old – –  “bag of bones” – –  still trying to do … that which…  “she” used to do!

So… the other evening… my son, Al said  that he had somewhere to go – – did I need to go anywhere? Well… of course I did want to get some things for the… “Thanksgiving Dinner”  – – and  “if”… he would be going near the  “Schnucks Store” he could  just drop me off – – for a few minutes??? So… I grab my store notes and purse – – have to wear a coat – – as it was getting cold – – and when outside – – it had started to rain – – what a combination of weather to have to go out and…  into  – – but  – “Thanksgiving DAY” was only two days away!

 In the store… I have the  “SCHNUCKS STORE” sales  for the week with me – – the items that I was interested in – all circled  -putting different things in my basket – forgetting to mentally keep track of how much I was getting  – in dollars – as I had cash  to use first… with me – – and would then… put the rest on my bank card.

NOW… in line to pay for the groceries – – and when the young man behind the counter gave to me the total – – I began to count out the cash… and ask how much more – – will put the balance  on my card – – – There I am…  looking through every thing in my purse… – can not find my “card” – Almost turn my purse up-side-down – – but… every kind of CARD not the right “CHARGE” CARD!

Pulled out my check book… and ask the “Clerk” – “what was the amount again… I’ll write out a check for the balance?”   The young “Clerk” said as he was wrapping up my “register receipt” – -“There is no balance!” – – –  I replied to him, “But you said… ” there was a balance” –  – and I am ready to write out a check!”

The young CLERK – -hands me the wrapped up ticket – and said… “It is all paid up- – for you!” – – To that … I said “How can that be???” He is  NOW… looking down the row of customers –  in this line… without saying “WHO” – “It has been taken care of!”  So… I turn to the next customer in line and start to “Thank him!”  That man backs …  out of the way of the customer, “WHO” is  behind him,  and … just pointing to the woman behind him – – so I  then … move down the row…  to thank her – – and I just get carried away with many  “THANK YOU’S!”

My last words — –  and so as to not block customers any longer  – – reached out to “HER” – -and said…  “May the Almighty Yahweh Bless you –  exceedingly more than you would ever expect – – I am surely Grateful and Thankful!” —  I was so nervous – – could hardly believe what had just happened  – to me – in the store – – such generosity – never ever happened to me  – nothing  just like this.

Pass it on…” there are daily MIRACLES!”

Nov 22nd “Give Praise and receive Blessings… forever”

Every body just loves to have  some fresh and home made “Corn Bread  Dressing” – – it just isn’t…  Thanksgiving – – without it!

So… if you can not find your favorite recipe – – NOW – – copy this and start  making a dish – – that everyone will  leave  you hearing over and over – – what a terrific time they had at your house for “THANKSGIVING DINNER”  –  because of the great meal – – including this dressing.

We will just say a  “THANK YOU”  –   NOW… to the Almighty Yahweh – – for all  of the wonderful gifts he provides his chosen people – – those that LOVE and are Grateful – – especially THANKFUL for the many Blessings … that they are receiving… and daily and forever!   D.V.

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“Classic Cornbread Dressing”

Nov 21st “Is there a DREAM – YOU want NOW”

The PHOTO  below – – was the way this bedroom looked in 1952 – – when I left. As the  third bed up from the bottom…  on the left side of this PHOTO was mine. For the four or so years that I was living here – – at the German St. Vincent Orphanage –  for a period of six months… I was in charge of keeping this room clean. Each bed had to be made in a certain way – – no dust bunnies on the floor… flying around and once a year on our hands and knees three of us girls would scrub this floor and then wax it and the finish…  polish  it.

In bed at eight-thirty… every evening for us…   eighth grade girls – – and up at  five-thirty in the morning and in Church at six o’clock – – everyone – – even the NUNS.

So… for me – – my greatest desire was to be at home with my MOTHER – –  and that was my main  “DREAM”  – – when will that happen?  My MOTHER needed someone at home with her – – as there were lots of things that needed to be done – – and she just did not have the strength to do the cutting of  the lawn and pulling up the weeds and all kinds of cleaning in the house and even of fixing stuff – – not as I could do – –  even the  “ringer washing”  machine  was the old style – – and then to carry the wash basket up the out side steps – -and hang the wash on the lines in the yard. This was just too much for  her – – but easy for me.

After my telling my MOM to ask the NUNS  – – if I could leave the Orphanage on SATURDAYS… early after my  “chores”  there and by bus… return SUNDAY evening. “WOW: – – Wonders never cease – – I was allowed to leave every SATURDAY – – taking three buses and doing a lot of walking  – – but back and forth “I DID IT” – – and as far as I know – –  no other poor ORPHANS left … to do work at their own  “Family”  homes.

“If YOU DREAM IT” – – chances are  YOU will work on a PLAN to accomplish it – – that is what I have to do – – even TODAY! That is the reason for that  “BED” – – to rest easy – – let your thoughts start to come up to the front of the fore-head  – –  just sort of thinking – – if this needs to be done –   –  I could do this and then the problem would  be solved – – and if the solution – – just does not seem to be correct – – or another idea pops up – – and seems to work better – – and then before  YOU know it – – YOU are in DREAM LAND – – and working out the  kinks… till   the correct solution arrives in the early hours of waking up.

“WOW” – – What a wonderful night’s work done in DREAM LAND – – new ways to work out things that were in brain – causing all sorts of upsets – – but NOW – – a new day – – and the WORLD is just wonderful – – for you and ME. Thanks to  our CREATOR – – who gave us that “DREAM LAND”  – – same as the SABBATH … a DAY to   REST and gather up fresh strength to  go back to work – –  all refreshed!  D.V.

Nov 20th “Do YOU COMPLAIN”

If you like to  –   “COMPLAIN” – –  I’m betting that – – you have no friends.  – – Especially at this time of the year.

Right … NOW – -Everybody is getting into their “HAPPY” mode – – no matter how hard it will be – – as some have done so much complaining and for so long – – they hardly know what a “KIND WORD”  would sound like – – especially coming from their mouth.

When one starts getting into a  habit… good or bad – – and continues at it for any amount of time – it is so hard too stop – – even when they see all of their “so called” good friends dropping them… like a  “HOT POTATO” – – because who in the world wants a guest at their home   – – who only is sitting around and complaining  – – complaining about everything and anything – – and none of it makes any sense to those around – – but to see this person – – you are looking at…  a body of   “flesh and bones” – – drying up – – and just about ready to be buried!

At an early age… like this PHOTO … below – – children can learn to change their attitude about anything – – – if only you can change the scene – – and what is going on – – into a more friendly affair – – engaging into doing something…  that they like and will enjoy!

I can remember back to the early 1940’s  – – – when my two younger brothers and I  would have been  too wild for  our parents – – and even sometimes when we three received a spanking – – for whatever – – and we were not in too good of a mood – – something to correct the situation needed to be done and soon – – otherwise – – we three would have been thinking of making trouble for someone the next day.

During those  WWII years – – there just were not the many things that you could do to make things especially nice for everyone at home – – So many families had a FATHER or SON  serving in the   “WAR EFFORT” and…  all those at  HOME had to learn to do without a lot of the extras that we have today. BUT…. there was still  one thing that would make everyone “HAPPY” – – just to be alive in AMERICA!

“ICE-CREAM” – – and  TODAY – – that is still a real treat  to PLEASE   everyone. Little ole “ME” was the oldest and would be the one to go – – as I knew where everything important for our FAMILY  was – – if it meant  that someone had to walk and get it. I knew where the “Kissel  Drug Store”  was and could walk   there … all by myself – – even when it was dark out side – – and I was sometimes scared  – – and would duck behind a tree – – if a car light would  come down the street – – of course there were very few – – who has the money for “GAS” in those days?

This walk for the “ICE CREAM”  took me across three streets – – going to and coming back HOME – – and I would almost run – – as .. “Who in the world wants to be on the streets – – late at night – – and… all  by their selves” – – not me!

“BUT… when I got back  “HOME” – – “World WAR THREE” was over – – no matter if we received the worst of spankings – – that “ICE-CREAM”  that we were receiving – – forgave everybody and every thing – – no matter what!”

Those were the days for – – lots of forgiving and forgetting – – no complaining – – we learn to LOVE being together – – when we were HAPPY and LAUGHING – – the “roof’  over our kitchen would lift several inches – –  some of the “BEST of our TIMES” were those days and or evenings…  that we were gather around the kitchen tale.

“Thank you…  Almighty YAHWEH   – – for our sharing LOVE around the dinner table!”