Heart for Writing

 Sue’s Story , a writing in progress. I know I was born at Stouder Memorial Hospital in Troy, Ohio. The first house I lived in was on the property of where my parents used to live, Grandma and Grandpa Cassell lived across from Great Grandpa Harley ( my Grandpa Harley Ditmer). The blue barn is where the their house was then and the current house is where their barn was at that time. I was just close enough to Aunt Mabel ( my mother’s only living sister) and Grandpa Harley’s house that I could run down the road to their house anytime I got upset with my mommy. I knew where they lived. I lived there with mom and dad until I was three years old, then we moved to what we called “Five Points”, one mile just north of Phillipsburg on route 49. We lived back a long quarter mile lane on a large farm that my daddy farmed for our land-lady, Mrs. Lolie Thomas. She lived in town and when we went with daddy to pay rent, she would give us homemade sugar cookies. Yum!  Two and one half y...

It's been almost a year since I've written. So much has happened. My mom passed away a month ago and my aunt, my dad's sister a few days ago. How life can change. But still goes on. I still feel blessed. The Lord really works in our lives. Even in death, there is life. I know that my mother is in a better place and that she didn't suffer in the end and that gives me comfort now. At first it was such a shock. I'm sure those of you who have lost loved ones know what I mean. I wasn't ready to give her up and still have my moments, but I just now have decided I have to begin writing or I might not get this down how I feel. She lived life to the fullest. She loved The Lord and shared how she cared about others just in how she cared. A letter and card writer, she was always writing notes and cards to others. It could have been your birthday or for an illness, you would have heard from her. It didn't matter how old you were. Young or old. It didn't matter. ...

Just had the opportunity to entertain my mother for the first time in several years.  The first time since my dad passed away. This was also special because today would have been my mother's sister's 100th birthday. Our Aunt Mabel lived to be 60 years old. She died of cancer back in 1973 around Christmas time. I'm the oldest of five children and she was like a second mother to us. As my mother's only sister, she doted on us and spent much of her time in the summer with us. A first grade teacher for many years, Aunt Mabel influenced us as well. Four of the five of us became teachers. She never knew all of this but perhaps she knows. I look forward to seeing her someday. We spent last evening watching a PowerPoint and reminiscing about the times we spent with her and watching videos too. She would have loved being there with us. This morning my sisters along with my husband sang at church with me during our Worship service. My mother seem to soak it all in. She said later...

A new year and a new day...these are my thoughts this afternoon. I just read something that mentioned a "W" word rhyming with Wednesdays. So I thought it would be nice if I would do one for every day of the week. Give me a theme to write by, but still be flexible to write what I like. Since I left teaching in June I feel like I am wondering somewhere but not know where I am going. Before I retired, I had all these ideas of what I wanted to do, but now it is much harder than I thought. Because I am retired,many feel like I can do so much. I must pick and choose. Today will be Wondering Wednesday - I wonder : What goals I should set for myself now? Will I become more productive if I get back into a routine? I want to follow God's leading so I want to keep Him in focus. Where are you leading me God? How can I be want God intended me to be? The is so much to wonder about...but I'll take one day at a time and consult The Lord first each day. Thank you for stopping...

It seems like an eternity since I posted on this blog. I have retired but what does that mean? I'm still feeling my way in retirement.  I volunteer at church and go to school approximately one day a week if I'm not at my daughter's (I have a new grandson born in Sept.) or seeing my mom, or working at home.  Life is not in a routine right now. That is hard for me.  I've been used to a routine and I have to find a new normal whatever that is.   I am doing more reading, but less writing, but I want to include more writing.  I actually don't sit  much so I guess that is the reason for less writing.  I'm not making any promises or commitments at this time. We'll see where this goes.  I miss my students and the staff at school.  I know that is life.  People tell me it usually takes a year to adjust. We'll see.  Happy slicing!  Let me know what you think.

Time has a way of going by too quickly. Now that I retired. It really shouldn't be that different because i am used to being off in the summer, but since I retired from teaching, it has been one thing after another.  I just returned from staying with my mother.  It was a wonderful visit. I even had the opportunity to spend time with my grandson and see my daughter and son-in-law.  He rode over 15 miles in the heat on Sunday eve.  At least it wasn't as bad as it had been.  Thank goodness for the relief from the 100 degree temperatures. I will be recognized at our school board meeting tonight and I'm loking forward to that. I am reorganizing my basement since I brought home my "stuff" from school from the last 17 years in the same classroom. My daughter gave me a workshop online and at first I wasn't so happy but it really has been a Godsend.  Very helpful! Rode 6 miles in town last Sat. morning before I went to see my mom.  The storms had our ...

Well, I did it! I retired!!!  It was time. I plan to write more, read more, and spend more time with family and friends.  It was a tough decision but in the end, it was the right decision. Just thought I'd up date and then I'll be back on later and try to become a regular on Tuesdays' Slice of Life!  Happy Slicing! :)

This is a time it is hard to think. My dad passed away yesterday. Forgive me for not slicing yesterday and this is all I have today. Please have us in your thoughts and prayers today and this weekend. Thanks.

I'm working on my lesson for poetry.  I was thinking of teaching about the Doors of Poetry. I had heard Georgia Heard speak some years ago and bought her book, Awakening the Heart: Exploring Poetry in Elementary and Middle School .  I plan to explain each of the doors and have some examples made out of construction paper to remind the students what the doors stand for. The six doors I plan to share are: Heart, Observation, Humor, Wonder, Memory and World. These doors are explained in Georgia Heards book.  I can give a short explanation here. Heart Door- things that we love. Observation, things that we observe in the world around us.  Humor Door - writing about things that are funny or humorous.  Wonder Door- includes things that we wonder about. Mmeory Door- is about the memories of your life. Lastly the World Door includes things that concern you and those things you think about in the world. I hope to help the students open the "doors" or "unlock" the...

I was talking about moving in my last slice. So today I thought I would write about Doris.  The girl who came in my life soon after I moved and became my best friend in Junior High, High School and college.  After several weeks at my new school, I met a new friend. Her name was Doris. She was very quiet and shy, like me.  She had "dreamy " blue-gray eyes and a welcoming smile. Her soft manners and shy approach are what drew me to her. She was never boastful or loud. I really liked the little things about her. Her deep faith, love for her family and her special treatment of me as a trusted friend, made her a friend for life.  Doris was always there for me when I needed her. We never had fights and somehow always had something to talk about. She lived nine miles away rom me. We both lived in the country so in order to visit each other in the summer, we would take turns riding our bicycles to each others' homes when we were in Junior High.  In Hi...

Have you ever moved?  Changed schools?  Felt left out? Life is not always so mundane.  When I was twelve years old, my parents decided to move. To simply pack up and move into another house, another school district, another place. I was devastated. Emotionally I wanted to cry. I was angry, fearful, disapointed and sad. I was leaving all the friends from school that I had ever known.  Why did this have to happen? After we moved, I started school. The first day was hard (it was March). I didn't know anyone. The children in my seventh grade class were nice enough but I felt all alone, quiet and shy. Cathy H., a friendly blonde-headed girl, walked up to me and said, "Do you wan to run around with me?" I had no idea. Another girl, Karen, who was quiet mentioned that I might want to get to know the girls first. She was right. After several weeks, I did find a friend that I did make a lasting friendship with. It goes to show that change can be hard but many ...

What can I say about writing? No one taught me how to write in school. I wish they had.  Writing has become so important to me. I hope I don't forget the memories and events that I want to write about. Seeing my mother in her 80's, she's 87 today, makes me realize that we don't remember all our thoughts forever. There are times, I even forget or don't remember exactly the way something happened and as I tell it, my husband will say to me, "No, don't you remember it happened like this... " The little things are what is most important.  Writing about our children; the words that they said, the actions that they took are most memorable. Some I have written but I wish I had much more of it to read to them and their children, my grandchildren. If you are young now, heed my cry, write down as much as you are able to now, because it will be so precious to you and someone in the future. If I could only read a diary from my grandmother or great-grandmothe...

I think my mind is messed up by this weather. Who ever heard of the 80 degree temperatures in March. Our average temperatures in March usually range in the 40's. So why am I thinking about summer? Wouldn't you? I don't have Spring fever.  I'm dreaming of summer!  I can't wait until summer.  I wrote about our convertible now I just can't wait. Blue skies, blue green grass,of course we'll have to mow you can wiggle your toes in the coolness of the grass, sweet smell of the yellow flowers, bees buzzing, butterflies fluttering here and there, balloons flying over head, the sun over all beaming smiling saying that all is right with the world. Hope it is with you. Happy Slicing! :)

Six words that describe me. I was reading a devotional this morning. It mentioned how would you describe yourself in a sentence with six words? Ernest Hemingway wrote his six words as: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” How sad. In the Bible, Paul described Timothy as :“My true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2 NIV). These are just a couple examples of ways it can be done. I have been contemplating this. What can one say in six words? I know that words can be very powerful in one sense and yet not say it at all. Here is what I hope to say: “Spent a lifetime loving and caring.” What would you say? How could you write a story in 6 words? A memoir? I think I will challenge my class to try this. Happy Slicing! :)

Have you ever owned a convertible?  I wasn't so sure I wanted one.  My husband had always dreamed of owning one.  After his mother passed away, he decided he would get one.  I know his mom would get a chuckle out of seeing him with "his" car.  He says it's ours, but it is his.  He lets me drive it, but he truly cares for the car, treats it with the utmost respect and doesn't let anything happen to it.  Well, now that we have had a convertible for about 14 years, I am in love with it too.  I wish we had had one when I was 25!  I think my biggest problem in the beginning was worrying about my hair!  I was concerned that it would get messed up, or I wouldn't look good enough, etc. Now, I don't care! :)  I love the wind blowing through my hair, the breeze, the open sky, being able to see the stars at night when we drive down the road in the country.  It is so relaxing.  What a thrill it is to take people for a ride who hav...

Yesterday was such a beautiful day, my husband and I had to ride our bicycles.  We rode in town. It is flat so I wouldn't hurt my knees.  The weather was so wonderful, warm and sunny.  Can't remember when we have ever had 80 degree weather in March.  Hope everyone could enjoy it!  Happy slicing! :)

I have many memories of Valentine ' s Day.   Some good and some not so good. As a child I really looked forward to the day when my mother and I would take the list of my classmates and make Valentine ' s for them. There were times that we bought some, but making them was so much fun.      We always made a "pouch" for our Valentine ' s in school. A piece of construction paper was folded over or a folder was given to us. We would decorate it any way we wanted. I usually used red and pink construction paper and white dollies.      It was always so wonderful to receive a valentine from all my friends and "the boys"! Even though we gave to everyone, I felt like the boy picked one just for me.      The hardest time was when I was in Junior High. Seventh Grade is really where it started. I liked a particular boy whose name was Allen.   I know he knew who I was, but I don ' t think he liked me as much as I liked him.  ...

Every summer I think I am going to get so much accomplished. The summer of 2005 was just one of those summers. My summer flew by so fast I hardly had time to realize I had a summer.   Before I spent the summer cleaning an old cabinet that had belonged to my mother-in-law. (She passed away in 1998.) It is called a Seller Brand Hoosier Cabinet.  When I started I had no idea what it was, but found out more about it after I had striped it.  It was built in 1914.  The paint was white with cracks and some hard varnish on it.  I have no idea how many years it had been painted, but it was very difficult to remove it. After There was a surprise waiting for me after I removed the paint from the doors. Under the dark paint was a light wood and it appeared to be nice looking. At the top of the doors, a decorative glass almost caramel color with strands of cream color swirled through it, appeared. I was delighted. Something inside me would really like to know more abo...

My Dad's birthday is coming up the 18th. He will be 89 years old. It is hard to fathom just what that means. He is not in the best of health and we have no idea how long he will be living so it makes you want to hold onto every moment you have with him. I realize that life is short and now that I am older, I think about it more. I'm not trying to be negative but positive. I would like to celebrate the person my dad has been to me. Sure he wasn't perfect and neither am I. But he has done many things right in his lifetime. A very caring person, he married my mother first of all. Born the sixth child of seven children. The fifth son, but one of his brothers died at a little over a year old. So he grew up with three brothers and two sisters. He worked very hard as a young man on the farm to help his father. They had grains, animals and some crops like potatoes etc. A religious family of German Baptist origin, they were very devout. My grandmother was very strict....

What I'm thankful for... I'm thankful I live in a free country to have a home I can go to freedom to worship a husband to love and that loves me I'm thankful for two children that I love and their spouses, my adopted children, I love with four exuberant grandsons who shower me with kisses and hugs I'm thankful for sunshine and rain blue skies and shadows that cool me sparkling snow and the gentle wind that blows flowers that bloom for my enjoyment I'm thankful for men & women willing to fight for our country leave their families and conveniences some sacrifice their own lives I'm thankful for my parents still living who gave up many luxuries for their children so we could become the people we are today I'm thankful for a God who blesses me each day by being with me no matter what I go through I'm thankful for you... thanks for stopping by to read my blog! Happy Slicing! :)