Otay

Just the other day Maria started responding to us with okay, which really comes out more like "otay".  Of course that made me think of The Little Rascals and Buckwheat when he would say that and make his okay sign.  I couldn't find a clip from the original series, only one from the movie version.  This clip isn't actually Buckwheat who says it, but Porky.  And I thought this clip was TOO cute and made me smile since Maria loves pickles so much, and was actually eating one in the video we took of her saying otay.

round one!

Do you ever feel like you are in a boxing match, just waiting to get knocked out? As I sit here on Christmas Eve and think about how I would have described my Christmas plans had you asked me last week, I am positive that 80% (or more) of what has/will happen this week wouldn't have passed my lips. I feel like I keep getting hit with another blow even after I have barely recovered from the first.
Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start, so we had planned to head home last week to celebrate with my family on Saturday, which happened, just not in the originally planned manner. So we left Friday morning, in the midst of ice, snow, sleet, just plain YUCK! We made it, but on the way found out that my parents had lost power, due to the lovely ice, so we would head to my grandmother's house to stay. My parents had heat, but we wanted to be able to enjoy the luxury of working toilet facilities. Since the power still wasn't on for our planned get together on Saturday my mom brought the whole dinner over to grandma's to fix. So everyone came to grandma's house instead, which turned out fine. It was nice considering the number of years it has been since we have been able to celebrate there together as a family and not having grandpa with us it was good to be at their house.

Saturday night Larry had to head back to Culver for Sunday's church service. Meanwhile, we were unable to attend church due to the ice/loss of power at my parent's church, but we were still up at 7 am because the power had gone out at grandma's now! The temperature didn't waste any time dropping and within a couple hours my dad came over to pick us up and take us to their house, along with all our clothes for the viewing. We were unsure if the funeral home even had power, but found out later they had a generator if it became needed. After several hours at my parents the power came back on, allowing us to shower and dress for the viewing.

During this time Larry had called to say he was getting ready to head back, but that he had received a call from his parents with more sad news. His grandmother, Nana, had passed away that morning. This week was getting to be too surreal to believe.

So since the power was back on the church was a go ahead for the funeral on Monday. It was so cold (below zero with wind chill) that they had most of the service in the church and a quick prayer at the cemetery. It was hard to say our final goodbyes, but we know that he is celebrating this Christmas with his Savior, born so many years ago, come to save us from our sins. The church hosted a nice dinner for the family and friends afterward, and we were soon back on the road.

Herbert William Ringenberg, 94, died on Thursday December 18, 2008 at Hickory Creek at Hicksville. He was born on July 23, 1914 in Detroit, Michigan the son of Gideon Arthur and Jessie (King) Ringenberg. He was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Seslar on March 20, 1942 at Pioneer, Ohio – celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary in 2008.
He was a graduate of Hicksville High School with the class of 1932.
He was a lifelong farmer; a member of North Scipio United Methodist Church – Harlan, Indiana; Farm Bureau Council; Board Member – Hicksville Grain Company; and enjoyed wintering in Leesburg, Florida for (16) years.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ellen; (2) daughters: Janis (Marv) Edwards – Hicksville and Cheryl (Charles) Unger – Harlan, Indiana; a son: Bruce (Martha) – Hicksville; (10) grandchildren; (9) great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister Mabel Albertson.
Funeral services will be on Monday at 11:00 at North Scipio United Methodist Church with Rev. Keith Schreffler officiating with visitation after 10:00. Visitation also on Sunday from 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 – 8:00 at Smith & Brown Funeral Home of Hicksville. Burial will be at Scipio Cemetery – Harlan, Indiana.
Preferred memorials to Crippled Children & Adult Society or the church.

We have plenty to praise God for; the power was restored in time for the plans to all happen.

A dreaded phone call

My mom called this morning with sad news, my grandfather went to meet his Savior this morning. He had been in the nursing home since Feb, after a scary hospital stay, when we thought we were going to lose him first. He had been back in the hospital again last week, but had returned to the nursing home. Mom said he looked so at peace as he passed and now we know he is with his Savior, free of pain, free of the hindrances of arthritis and other ailments of old age. Now we deal with this loss and remember the wonderful memories that we have of such a amazing grandfather. He was the best grandfather you could ask for...pray for our family as many travel in for the funeral Monday and as we celebrate the holidays minus a loved one. It would take a novel to tell the love that he shared with others during his lifetime, and the pain we feel only acknowledges his significance to us. He was a gift to us.

We have plenty to praise God for; God is the same today, yesterday and tomorrow.

prayers please

My grandpa isn't doing well at all, and could we could use your prayers, especially for my grandma Mary. Herb, my mom's dad, had a serious hospital stay back in February when we thought we might lose him, but he pulled through then. He has been in a nursing home since and just isn't the same. He was admitted this weekend and though, he has made a bit of progress since admittance, he is not out of the woods yet. The doctor is surprised at the progress he has made, but at 94 you just never know what might happen.

Also Larry's grandmother, Nana, has been not doing well either. She fell back in October, not seriously injuring anything. After a short stay in the nursing home side of her living complex, she is back in her own apartment. Since then however, she has not been eating well, or getting around, and has basically 24 hours care with her. She turned 101 at the beginning of October and we think she may be just plain tired!

We pray that God's will is done in these situations even if that means a loss for us, we know that God knows best. Thanks!

We have plenty to praise God for; He is omniscient.

Milestones

My Grandpa is turning 94 today, yes, quite a milestone, especially for all he has gone through in the past year. We thought we had almost lost him earlier this year, so it is a blessing to still be able to celebrate his birthday. I have such wonderful memories of growing up with wonderful grandparents. And since they lived only a mile away we were frequent visitors. I only wish I could visit him as frequently now. We love you grandpa. (These pictures were from a couple weeks ago on the weekend of the 4th)

We have plenty to praise God for; milestone birthdays.

road trip

Maria and I took a road trip last weekend back to my parents for a baby shower for my best friend, Mindy. Larry had to attend conference in Lafayette during the same time. While I was home I was able to visit with my grandparents, my two grandmothers and my grandfather who is in a nursing home . We also went to dinner at my brother and sister-in-law's house. We had a nice visit with all of them.
On Friday night we went to the shower for Mindy, who is having a baby boy in July. She got lots of great baby stuff!

Maria had been running a low fever since Thursday and wasn't feeling her best. Upon returning home I thought Maria's fever was going away, we had hoped it was from teething since she has had that before, but at 5am Sunday morning her screams told us otherwise. She was burning up, and with a 104.6 temperature, I decided to head to the ER while Larry stayed behind for church service. The ER doc decided that it was an ear infection. So we got a super dose of Motrin for the fever and a scrip for some antibiotic. We were a little concerned since we were to leave for vacation that afternoon. They assured us it would be fine, just watch her fever and make sure it stayed down and eventually went away. It really was a blessing in disguise as she slept for a nice portion of the trip out to New Jersey. Within 24 hours she was seeming to be her normal 1 year old self!

We have plenty to praise God for; a daughter who has just had her first major sickness at 13 months.