Sunday, March 11, 2012

Six Weeks of Easter

I don’t remember the actual title, but one year I wrote a six week celebration of Easter. When I presented the idea of involving all ages over several weeks before Easter, husband quickly reminded me we did not have a budget for extra anything.

It didn’t take long to find a willing and talented crew to help. I had a vague idea of what I wanted, the group brainstormed and then it happened.

Our costumes were sheets we gleaned from a motel and second hand clothing. In two days our church foyer became a Jewish marketplace. The platform was transformed into a village. For hours Wanda, Bob, Slim, Candy, husband the Carpenter girls and I built scenery.

Slim, the artist made cardboard into a barn puppet stage. Wanda had an eye for décor and created a small home with curtains, baskets, and weeds. The Carpenter kids helped build rocks from crumpled paper bags.

What did we purchase? Duct tape, masking tape and black markers.

What did we learn? It is a lot of work to present a drama for one week—lots more when you include different ages for different Sundays and add a choir, too.

Togetherness. More than church family, we played, laughed talked and created. Our congregation became totally enmeshed and involved in the last days of Christ’s days on earth and the resurrection.

Christ died that we might live. That each one might have life and have it more abundantly.

And husband, The Rev. Crawford, preached in his Biblical best. And me, I directed the choir in my fine inexpensive costume. (Note my toes.)

Monday, October 10, 2011

HUSBAND NUMBER ONE

Awe, my goodlooking husband number one, Gary Crawford, 1959.






In the fifties, photos were far and few between. I don’t have one picture of husband number one and me while a dating couple, yet my mind doesn’t forget. Funny how those memories hang around. Husband wore a suit to church every Sunday and even Wednesday nights. He wore “Kings Men” aftershave, which sent me swooning.



Later, after husband number four came along and I felt comfortable enough to tell him, I said, “You know I married you because you looked and smelled good.”



Sounds like a teenager’s reasoning, don’t you think?


CHECK the beginning of the story www.caringbridge.org/visit/kat2009

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Savannah Says

Recently Savannah checked this blog to see what Grams might possibly have posted about her. Well, I haven't talked about her for awhile. For two years I've written my journal on www.caringbridge.org/visit/kat2009.

When Savannah lived with me, she was my daily humor. Now she just comes to visit every other week or so—my guest room is her place to crash. Although she’s a full time CNA living on her own and she has celebrated another birthday, she’s still a little kid at heart.

Several months ago I put a basket on a shelf in “her” room. Every week I put something in there—a little change, a porcelain pig, a T-shirt, a cartoon or maybe a piece of jewelry.
Savannah usually greets me, but before she stops to call friends or turn on TV she checks her basket.

Wonder which one of us enjoys the basket joy more?

Monday, March 8, 2010

BLIND! NOW SEE!





I've posted the story on caringbridge--but needed the photos side by side for effect.


Even in the midst of pain, laughter is a great way to start the day. What's funny in your world?











Enjoy, smile today.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010




My naked face showed up in the kitchen. “Mom, take a picture before makeup.” Her first shot took my arms and feet so she aimed again. Then she stood in the doorway and said, “Well, me too. Take a picture of me before I dress for church.” She sounded like a five-year-old rather than my mom.

I giggled, snapped the photo and we started again. Me with makeup and jacket, Mom dressed in clothes, then I added the wig, not Mom. She didn’t add a wig. She popped her false teeth loose, hung them free in her mouth and smiled. “This is what I looked like years ago. Wish I had teeth that showed when I smiled.”

Today’s post is nothing but nonsense to anyone else, but Mom and I had fun and we were ready for church on time, too.

Necessary Fun

Laughter swallows up the pain,
it chases away the blues,
it allows us to talk about husband with joy.

Laughter takes us back to husband’s humor,
His mimic of Danny Kaye and the Court Jester,
His wearing out the “Ace is the Place” commercial.

Laughter creates smiles across the face
Smiles that erase the worry wrinkles
Smiles that tease away the loneliness.

Laughter is good, do something fun today.

Kat©2010

Enjoy,
Still Lionhearted, Kat



Mom's before wouldn't stay in the upper corner, sigh. The pictures loaded where they wanted and I don't have time to mess with them. Enjoy your day. We will too. I don't know what happened with the wig picture, oh well, you got the real me. Kat













Tuesday, January 19, 2010

HOW'S YOUR STRESS SCORE

I stumbled on a stress score sheet husband and I used in the ‘80’s while counseling young people. The score sheet is messed up, yellowed with age, but relevant. I didn’t search for updated materials. This worked. It proved I’d better adjust what I can change, let go of what I can’t change, and ask God for help with the rest.

According to two men at the University of Washington, Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, if your stress points tally 300 or more you have the great possibility of a major illness occurring within the next two years. I’m already in the thick of a major illness and my stress points tally 592. I never thought I’d appreciate that old boxed life, filled with nothing but routine.

Knowledge is power, now that I know what I’m facing what will I do?

1. Journal daily—not the caringbridge writing, not blogging, but the journal where only the Lord can see, where I can release my anxiety.
2. I will endeavor to write on caringbridge.org/visit/kat2009 daily. I enjoy sharing with others.
3. I will give up my kitchen and quit stressing
4. I will begin to work from lists again—I learned to leave husband a list he could complete when and how he wanted. I can do the same for Savannah. She’s great help and doesn’t need a micro manager.
5. I will have devotions with Mom and Savannah. What a golden opportunity.

Nuff for today.
If anyone wants a copy of the stress sheet, email me:
lionheartedkat@cox.net

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Body Building Weight Setup


Dear freinds,
Because my husband passed away on 11/25/09 I'm needing to sell this weight set.
My mother is coming to live with me and I need the room.
Gary bought the best his money could buy. He weighed 240 when he started using this setup, his bench had to be able to handle a lot of weight.
Weight Setup

Body Vision 547
Bench with Curl over and leg extension bar
Two barbell setups
Weights:
2 25 lb
2 11.25 lb
8 10 lb
8 5 lb
4 4 lb
2 2.25 lb
4 1.25 lb

2 25 lb dumbbells
2 20 lb dumbbells

I haven't set the price just yet, working on it. Please feel free to email me:
Also own an Elliptical Machine

Paid $125.00 last year