Sunday, August 26, 2012

ANGEL IN POLAND

Angel in Poland ; No blame is placed on the station or people we met but on our own lack of research and foresight and preparation.
This is how it looked in 1945. It looked similar 1991 In 1991 My husband and I were in Poland on business. Since it was our first time abroad, we decided to take a trip to Germany and Austria. We had rented a car in Lodz and had toured and worked around Poland and planned to drive it to Poznan to a big old train depot and take a train late at night which would take us to Berlin When we discussed this with our car rental agent, Jerzy (pronounced Yerzy),he questioned us and looked at our tickets. He explained “this is not good for you” he said it over and over again in his Polish accent. He was very concerned. He finally said. “I will take you there.”
 It was 126 miles (over 2 hours one way) to Poznan and we couldn't believe that he would do this. Even at no extra charge. He met us in the evening in Lodz with an employee to help and drove about half way and delivered our rental car there with the employee and then we got in the car with Jerzy and he drove the rest of the the long distance to Poznan.
                It was about midnight when we were to board our train. As we approached the station with Jerzy, we could see that on the outside and inside were many young soldiers who were all quite inebriated. We found no one who spoke English and without Jerzy we would have been in deep trouble.I became very frightened. Jerzy helped us obtain our tickets and then led us out through the menagerie of train cars in the dark to find our train. The train we were to be on had been moved to another track and we had a hard time finding it.. It was dark, poorly lit, dirty and scary. When we got there Jerzy handed the attendant our tickets and took us on the train car and found our berth then asked "do you have any Zlotych" (Polish money)? We did not. He then handed us a large sum of money for which he would not take payment. We found later that we really needed to have that money in order to pay fees and buy food and other needed items on the long train ride.
               We were ushered into a little semi private berth where there were two benches facing each other. They were very old but upholstered in a plush burgundy colored upholstery fabric on the straight stiff cushions. I later learned that it was very dirty and wherever you touched it the dark sooty dust would rub off. There was a quiet woman and boy and a man also seated in the car across from us. They didn't look at us or speak to us. They departed early on in the journey and we were then alone This train stopped in every town it passed and they were about 7 miles apart. When it would stop it would screech and rock like the engineer had slammed on the brakes. Then a very stiff acting soldier would come in looking and sounding very much like a world war I movie and gruffly and abruptly shout something in languages we did not understand. We would show our passports and tickets and then they would leave.
               There was a scruffy, sloppy looking man staggered in as drunk as could be and demanded something we couldn't understand about three times. Finally my husband said. "We only speak English". He then shouted “Beer !”. We shrugged and indicated we had none so he left. The train stopped about every twenty to thirty minutes all night long. I was totally traumatized by the whole experience.
              Today, a train ride from Poznan to Berlin is a little over 3 hours. It must have taken us almost twice that long with all the stops but finally morning came and we were in Berlin tired, hungry and dirty but glad to be alive. The Berlin wall had just fallen two years prior and there was freedom in the air. We shall ever cherish the kindness of a man in Lodz Poland who ran a car rental business. He chose to be our guardian angel. He guided us, taught us and even paid the way. His actions were completely Christlike and we are still grateful over 20 years later. From that time on, every time we traveled to Poland, Jerzy would meet us at the airport and drive us to our hotel and leave a rental car with us. Often when I reach out a hand to help someone I am inspired by the memory of this unselfish charitable deed we received from a stranger, who became a beloved friend, in a far country.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Lesson to Journal or "Our Kid History"-

Our Son RAM just turned 39. I found this funny birthday picture of him the year he turned 8. We were staying at my brother's cabin and I had forgotten my decorating tips so he just got a plain cake and some candy on it. It was fun to recreate the picture in our very own version of "Kid History". I even found the entry in my journal of that day and was able to copy that and give it too him. His aunt and uncle took him fishing in the morning and the kids went tubing in the river after that. It is a shallow slow river so don't worry. The girl on the left is a cousin KR and the girl on the right is is little sister RPM in the original picture. We had to subtitute another sister for the cousin on the left but it was so much fun to do. By the way. I also made a cute mickey mouse cake for a birthday party 3 days later. That picture was in the journal. I will add it here also.
There has been a lot happen in the last 31 years raising 6 children and some foster children along the way and life isn't always easy or perfect but I love this scripture. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. RAM is now a brilliant lawyer, father of 8 and very good man. Sigh, I am so blessed to have him and his 5 other siblings as my children. Thanks God, for loaning them too me and for their spouses and the the 30 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren they have brought into my life. Life's lesson: KEEP A JOURNAL

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Food For Love

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Food for Thought Often I have taken pictures of food. I have been looking for more old pictures of Birthday Cakes but have not found them yet. some are in an album I haven't found yet. I have about 50 scrapbooks so it is a treasure hunt. So I just started saving some pictures of special foods. they were all made with love and care for different special occassions. Not all by me but I thought they were pretty neat. so view this with love and you won't gain one ounce for it! Just feel the love.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

44 years later

Today was our middle son's birthday so I decorated a cake for him just like the one he got when he was 4. He even remembered it 44 years later. From a picture of course but I think that is still amazing. He has a memory like that! The picture at age 4 was with his older brother but the second picture is with his younger brother depicting the scene. It is such fun to relive such happy memories.

Blessing Day

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A very specical day for a truly great little family. So full of love and the determination to do what is right. They are an inspiration to everyone who knows them.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Sky

I love the sunset and sometimes it feels like you can almost see into heaven. These pictures were taken during "summer solstice". Amazing things happen in the sky.

Thomas

This darling baby boy is growing like a weed and so adorable. He has tons of adoring relatives too. What a special day when he recieved his name and a very special blessing from his Father. I will post a smilebox of this day soon.

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Fun in the Park

My how I love these children. They are so precious and dear to my heart. Photographing them is essential. When they see all their pictures later on they will know who they are,where they came from and that they belong to a family who loves them.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

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This reminds me of the words to a hymn. "for the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skys, for the land which from our birth over and around us lies. Lord of all to thee we raise this our song of grateful praise. " It is a marvelous and beautiful world full of amazing wonders and I am very appreciative.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Father' Day 2012

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Fathers are pretty special. They have a huge influence on their families. I am ever grateful for a wonderful father and an amazing husband who is father to 6, grandfather to 30 and great grandfather to 3. He is revered by all of them. We also enjoy a few extra people who have become a special part of our family in different ways. We will get together for almost any reason we can find but a special holiday like this one is even better.

Monday, July 9, 2012

KIDS SAY THE CUTEST THINGS

Isn't she a doll? she is 5 1/2 years old and very smart. One day at a family picnic this converstion went on. 18 year old boy cousin Taylor: "Rachel , if you eat your carrots then your eyes will be so good that you might be able to see right through the roof of that house next door" Rachel: "huh ah (no) Only ASIANS can do that !" I think that my Asian friends will love this the most but don't be too flattered. She has Asians and Aliens mixed up!

Independence Day

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Sunday, July 8, 2012

Celebrate

I love the 4th of July. I love flag ceremonies and the whole gathering of friends who feel the same way. America is a beautiful place and in spite of it's struggles I truly believe that we will all be OK and that things will turn out good in the end. If you don't love America and you live here then you should travel and see and feel the difference and also the wonderful things and people who exist all over the world. The whole world is a wonderful place full of people who are all our brothers and sisters because we have the same loving Heavenly Father. Celebrate the good in the world! Every day! Celebrate the good things!

Brotherly Love

I love this picture of three brothers who love each other and have a lot of fun together. Can't you just see it in their faces? What a blessing for them to have each other and a family like that. Everything may not be perfect but it sure helps one through the rough spots to have strong family bonds.

Wedding anniversary and musings

It has been a long time since I have blogged but I have decided to get back with it and record and share some good things from my life. Things that may help or inspire others. I hope at least that they help someone see the every day ordinary happy life of a Mormon Grandma and the family that surrounds me and my wonderful husband of 53 years. We just celebrated out 53rd wedding anniversary by spending a weekend with out youngest daughter and her family with four delightful children. The most outstanding thing about this family is that there is not much fighting. The kids really love each other and exhibit that. There is a lot of teasing going on though and a lot of good natured fun and hard work. Ball games, plays, picnics, gardening, raising 4-H lambs for the county fair and serving others. Serving in the church and teaching others of their testimonies of Christ. We even got to watch some great fireworks. We spent Sunday afternoon with four of our grown children and their families and some extended family for a party in our honor. We had a wonderful time and are so very blessed. Our son made a cupcake display with our wedding picture on the top like a cake topper. It was so cute.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Friday, April 13, 2012

Relief Socity Birthday Celebration

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60 parent packets for parents of babies in the NICU at local hospital. Numerous Clothing protectors for rest home patients. several lap blankets for rest home and red, white and blue ones for vets. All local needs. Everyone had a great time and enjoyed serving others.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

19 dresses for WCA

 

I just donated 19 little dresses sizes 3-8 to the Women's children's alliance. The pictures are of only 14 of them because there are duplicates of some. It took a few weeks with interuptions to get them done but I had them almost done in 2 weeks then took another to finish up. My hope is that the little girls and their moms will be delighted with these new little dresses. They are all poly/cotton and easy to fit and no buttons or zippers so they are durable. Most of the fabric was donated by ladies from my LDS ward. They were so generous when I mentioned it.I buy the elastiac and thread and interfacing plus some matching fabric. I have already made up most of my own fabric and with some of their fabric. The first batch of 19 (I don't know why I ended up with 19 both times ) went to Ethiopia. I also sent 6 dresses and shirts and underwear that was given to my by others.

There is a huge need out there for help in so many ways. This is just a small thing that I can do. It feels good. My greatest goal is to lift a burden and let them know that someone cares.
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Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Great grandson is here-

He is so cute. We couldn't be more pleased unless we could be there to hold him in person.