My little warriors...

Each Sunday I teach 6-9 Sunbeams.  And while my body gets quite a workout each week, they are a joy!  I love teaching these young children.  They are so honest.  A few weeks I was trying to explain my church calling to a friend who is a non-member.  When last we spoke of church things and what I was doing, I was Relief Society President.  She thought I had been demoted, when in fact I feel just the opposite.  So was trying to explain why I felt promoted instead, and had to borrow a term from Mandy.  I told her that I taught little 3 year old warriors for God.  Her reply?  "Good grief Cheryl, you are getting them while they are pretty young!"  To all my parents.....Thank You for sharing your little ones with me each Sunday! 

If ye are prepared....

The day started like any other day, with Bill getting the children up for school at 5:30 am (seminary doesn't start until next week).  The storm last night was fierce, however the sun was up.  It was a bright new day.  The children went to school to find the power was out and some classes could run on the generator--up until the cooks discovered that the freezers how gone out and there was no food to feed the 1200+ always hungry teens.  So they sent them home. 

As I have run my errands, I found that there are many still without power living and working here is St. Joseph.  They say that there 70,000 people in St Joseph and out lying areas without power.  With all of the limbs and lines down, they don't know when the power would be back on.  I feel very blessed that we are not of that number, while just 2 blocks in any direction are feeling the effects of no power and above 90 degree tempratures. 

My home has been opened to those who need a place to stay, and my freezer is being filled with other's food (carefully marked) so it will not spoil.  It is times like this that make me grateful for all I learned growing up.  Preparedness wasn't just something we talked about, it was something we lived and breathed each day.  However that being said--I do not yet have a generator, and if our power goes, it will NOT be a good thing.

I trimmed and set Ethel's hair, adding new earings for the week.  We spent time visiting as we do each week.  She likes it when I read to her from my vast collection of fairy tales on my Kindle.  With her living in the nursing home, I have been able to rediscover the joy of visiting with her rather than the constant difficulty of trying to take care of her needs.  I feel there is a balance to all of that.

Lastly I went to purchase my books for the upcoming semester--oh my, talk about sticker shock.  Even with most of the books being used, it was still almost $600.  As there is still one more class to buy as yet (the books are still in printing).  How much more will it be this semester, I wonder?  Yet, I look at these books with wonder.....I am living my dream of going  school.  Each day is as a long awaited gift that I treasure.   

Until We Meet Again...

On May 8th my Uncle Mike died.  He was a man I had a bond with, that for me was deep, abiding and strong.  He taught me so much, but mostly how to give of myself or serve others with a joyful heart.  It is still too raw for me to write much, so I will borrow from my cousin Mike Bess, (known in the family as lil Mike, because his son is young Mike--we have lots of Mikes in our family)who writes eloquently what I am feeling.  I wish all of you could have known the great man my Uncle Mike was--for me he lives on, and the best way to honor his memory is to pass on his stories and his love.

Uncle Mike--always a smile!

Dearest all... the final sitrep from the Pacific.

Of all the finest men, ...the finest father, the finest grandfather, the finest friend, the finest husband, the finest companion, the finest person,... he made the list. Chief Michael R. McComb. For me, my Dad. To you, your loved one. Our so very much loved one. The man who took me under his caring kindness from the days of my youth until the day of his final sail of the Pacific he loved; who taught me directly over and again what charity means by his example. He loved me, he loved us, with the deepest kindest love. Such a heart, such a tremendous heart.

I have considered over the years what I would be, what I would not have now were it not for him. So much...I would not have my wife, my children, grandchildren; for it was by him I crossed the globe to the Islands of the Philippines where I met my future wife. It was by him that my mother was convinced to let him and I bring her to the states for me to marry even though I was still young.  If there was ever a question of any kind about life matters, he was there. He has always been there. Always.


It is written that Charity never faileth, and indeed, his never did. Neither failed his love. His love of family and friends. Oh how he loved us, and us him!  Please consider him now... and all the wonderful reasons you love him; for he surely loved you. And yes, he still does.  My faith is that he lives now on the other side of the veil and I know I will see him again and I so, ...so very much already, ...long for that day.  What joy I will have again then, to see that ever smiling face and feel that so loving embrace... of my Dad.  It is my faith that you too shall see him again. Remember him throughout your lives now in the best way; be as loving and charitable to all.


Collect your pictures, your memories, your stories. Tell them to your children and your children's children.

May we never forget this sailor... Chief Michael R. McComb


He sails ahead of us and no doubt will be working some way of preparing and arranging great things for us. You know he will. He always did.
Carry on Chief, carry on McComb, carry on Dad, carry on Gpa, carry on GGpa, carry on dear brother, carry on dear beloved of us all who remain...With tears, and smiles and hearts overwhelmed with love for you,.. as you did with us,... we bid you Adieu


Michael R. McComb January 15, 1946 - May 8, 2011.


May the wind always be at your back and may you have following seas


Adieu

Uncle Mike



Uncle Mike and Aunt Jeannine



Snow . . . . .

Snow is falling on the ground
On the rooftop, all around. . .

I don't think I can properly express just how tired I am of winter.  It has been a harsh winter here this year.  Lots of snow and ice.  I so long to see beautiful flowers pushing up through the ground......

School is going fantastic.  We just finished up bones in A&P.  Now I get two weeks to learn all about muscles.  I just wish that the names were easier to say and more importantly for my tests, spell.  In Microcomputers, I am learning so much.  I have always loved working on the computer, but learning even more about word, excell, and powerpoint is tons of fun.  Sometimes I forget that it really is a class.  HIT is going well.  I am calling this semester so far "Alphabet Soup."  So named because of all of the acronyms for the various government agencies, programs, and tests that health providers use.  Funny thing about HIT stuff though--it is as if someone is just reminding me of things I always have known--like a door opening in the brain.  Mandy says that I am hardwired for HIT--Josh just says I am becoming a HIT MOM.  I think he is going to dress up as a Mob Boss for my graduation--sometime in the "I can't see it yet" future.  It makes me smile.

Snow + Boots x Walking = Pain

It is a fact, that I haven't really left the house much in the past few winters.  I have had my hands full taking care of Ethel and being sick.  So when it snowed, I thought "no problem, I have boots--really good ones too."  Feeling confident in having proper outdoor walking equipment--(I have special gripper spikes that go on my boots if it is too icy, as well as my boots) I went to school. 
College students study
as they walk and walk and walk,
College students think
as they walk and walk and walk. . .
Anyway, after 3 days of criss crossing the campus, wearing my super, duper, 5 pounds each, boots--didn't need the spikes--well I have a lot of pain in my tookus, and my legs, and my lower back and my lower abs. . .Guess what?  On Monday I will put those boots on again.  Dad said no pain, no gain.  I don't think he meant from walking in boots!  Wait!?!  Could this be a new exercise program hidden by the boots?  Someone pass the naproxen please.

And So It Begins. . .

I went to my school email address yesterday.  No real reason, just curious to see if anything important might be happening.  There it was sitting in my inbox--an email from one of my professors.  Yep I have a test on the first day of class.  Time to study.

Dear Knitting,

My have we been productive during this break.  You and I have made 3 scarves, 1 hat and 1 1/2 mittens.  Oh how nice it has been to have the yarn run through my fingers and knit up into pretty things. Knitting has been such a joy, however we have a problem. . .

So here is the plan
1.  We are going to donate some of the yarn to a worthy project that our friend is doing.
2.  We are going keep an ongoing project in the the little knitting bags that our Bill got us for Christmas that fit in my school book bags. (the elevator incident wouldn't have been so bad if you had been there with me)
3.  Knitting between classes is a good study break--I know I need to do that--and won't make me miss you so much. 

Hopefully this will help to build up stock, use up yarn and keep me sane.

Lots of Love.