Mary Vogel is a tall,thin pretty lady in her mid 40's. She is married to an equally handsome tall, thin man named Wayne. They look like a perfectly matched, attractive couple, but neither of them is full of themselves. They have four great, growing kids, who have always been a pleasure to be around.
We had the privilege to work with them in Awana, a children's ministry, in Chilton, Wisconsin. They are consistently friendly, giving, kind and positive people - a joy to be around. Mary truly gives out the "fragrance of Christ". I cannot remember one moment of negativity from her or Wayne. She sent us sweet, supportive cards several times and encouraged us through our much lesser difficulties.
When she was diagnosed with breast cancer, she believed that God wanted her to do a wholistic approach. We have at least one other friend who has done well for years and whose cancer has stayed in remission. Unfortunately, it has hit her with a vengeance and she is fighting for her life and is in insufferable pain. She was in Minnesota for treatment, but has been moved to Sunny Ridge Nursing Home for her likely final days or weeks to be near her family. I do have complete confidence that she will be ushered into the Paradise of God when this battle is over, but it is extremely difficult to understand. I am not a faithful pray-er for anyone but I have been pretty consistent in praying for her and another friend in distress almost daily. Please keep Wayne, Mary and their children in your prayers.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Family Gatherings
Family gatherings are a mixed bag. Everyone is excited to see each other after a year, several months, etc...If it is a time of also celebrating a wedding, birthday, funeral or similar occasion, it takes on an added dimension.
We visit, laugh,eat..or if it is Tom's side of the family, pack lunches and hike.
Our family of seven, four brothers and three sisters, were able to come together for Tom's(early for his 60th) birthday this year - and our nephew Corey's. Ironically, it was also our late Grandpa's birthday and a year since the death of our Dad. A few could only stay for several hours but we all made it.
We enjoyed the pontoon, jet skis paddleboats..laying on the tubes..
The men, those who wanted to in each case, enjoyed card playing and golfing. The women watched a couple of movies and went out to eat.
It was the first time all seven of us were together since one of our parents was alive, so a dimension of home and reunion were missing. Our family has come a long way, but there are still some uncertainties and insecurities among us.
Overall, we enjoyed the beauty of Silver Lake and the hospitality of my sister Linda and brother-in-law Mike. When all was said and done, we went through a lot of great food, bottled water, sodas, toilet paper and towels.
We visit, laugh,eat..or if it is Tom's side of the family, pack lunches and hike.
Our family of seven, four brothers and three sisters, were able to come together for Tom's(early for his 60th) birthday this year - and our nephew Corey's. Ironically, it was also our late Grandpa's birthday and a year since the death of our Dad. A few could only stay for several hours but we all made it.
We enjoyed the pontoon, jet skis paddleboats..laying on the tubes..
The men, those who wanted to in each case, enjoyed card playing and golfing. The women watched a couple of movies and went out to eat.
It was the first time all seven of us were together since one of our parents was alive, so a dimension of home and reunion were missing. Our family has come a long way, but there are still some uncertainties and insecurities among us.
Overall, we enjoyed the beauty of Silver Lake and the hospitality of my sister Linda and brother-in-law Mike. When all was said and done, we went through a lot of great food, bottled water, sodas, toilet paper and towels.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Growing Up
Going to my __th Catholic grade school reunion brought back many memories. Obviously, I can't cover my whole childhood in a short blog writing, but I will try to hit a few of the things I remember.
My friend Mary Jo reminded me that I was boy crazy when I was younger (think she may have been too:). My friends were astonished when they thought I was that way since the fourth grade but I think it was since the age of 4. My parents' relationship with each other was not the best and I think I longed for that perfect person to meet my needs.
I will be seeing my extended family this weekend and it is amazing we are all speaking to each other when I think of the drama in our home growing up. It was often a free-for-all when my Dad wasn't there. We would chase each other around the table, throw shoes at each other, taunt each other...I guess some of that is normal?
Steve, the youngest, vividly remembers us threatening to throw him down the laundry shoot. It was a chair-opening type, just big enough for a small kid to slide through if dropped. We never actually did it. We also fought over trying to clean up the house and who had control of the television set. If we girls did get in the mood to clean, we nagged and pestered the boys to start picking up after themselves, which never happened and only further annoyed them.
When I left the house, I seemed like a different person. I remember climbing up our weeping willow tree and asking God to make me normal. The jury is still out on that one:). I usually felt I fit in okay except during those difficult adolescent times. A big turning point for me was when Scott R. decided he liked me better than my popular friend. The relationship, mainly centered on discussing the Batman series, didn't last long, but it gave me confidence.
In high school,I was neither in the popular group nor the left out group. I had to work so I found my first job, after babysitting and snow shoveling, at Grant's dime store. I also enjoyed being in debate, a drama club, math club for awhile (mainly to meet a boy, of course).
My high school counselor felt I had the potential for college. I was third in my family and the first to consider it at that time. With my Dad's strong urging to try something he regretted not doing, I headed to the then WSU - Eau Claire. Now I live about an hour or two from there.
That's it for tonight. Thanks Ruth for getting me started again.
My friend Mary Jo reminded me that I was boy crazy when I was younger (think she may have been too:). My friends were astonished when they thought I was that way since the fourth grade but I think it was since the age of 4. My parents' relationship with each other was not the best and I think I longed for that perfect person to meet my needs.
I will be seeing my extended family this weekend and it is amazing we are all speaking to each other when I think of the drama in our home growing up. It was often a free-for-all when my Dad wasn't there. We would chase each other around the table, throw shoes at each other, taunt each other...I guess some of that is normal?
Steve, the youngest, vividly remembers us threatening to throw him down the laundry shoot. It was a chair-opening type, just big enough for a small kid to slide through if dropped. We never actually did it. We also fought over trying to clean up the house and who had control of the television set. If we girls did get in the mood to clean, we nagged and pestered the boys to start picking up after themselves, which never happened and only further annoyed them.
When I left the house, I seemed like a different person. I remember climbing up our weeping willow tree and asking God to make me normal. The jury is still out on that one:). I usually felt I fit in okay except during those difficult adolescent times. A big turning point for me was when Scott R. decided he liked me better than my popular friend. The relationship, mainly centered on discussing the Batman series, didn't last long, but it gave me confidence.
In high school,I was neither in the popular group nor the left out group. I had to work so I found my first job, after babysitting and snow shoveling, at Grant's dime store. I also enjoyed being in debate, a drama club, math club for awhile (mainly to meet a boy, of course).
My high school counselor felt I had the potential for college. I was third in my family and the first to consider it at that time. With my Dad's strong urging to try something he regretted not doing, I headed to the then WSU - Eau Claire. Now I live about an hour or two from there.
That's it for tonight. Thanks Ruth for getting me started again.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thoughts about Moving
Moving gives you a juxaposition (correct word?) of thoughts. Part of you wants to stay in your now familiar surroundings, with your now familiar and precious friendships and a somewhat predictable schedule. Even though nowhere you live is utopia, it is hard to branch out and start over. We have done it several times and our friend Marjie and her family have done it almost annually.
As she says, there is a cleansing process as we sort through things, find things we never missed and decide what we will really use if we take it along. Each time you see someone, you try to enjoy the time because you don't know if you will see them again in this life, certainly not as often.
In some ways you look forward to a new start. Many people call it a new adventure, but at my age, it still lacks some enthusiasm. In this move, we will be closer to our son Dan, which is first and foremost with us (though we will be further from our daughter Katie). Tom will be continuing on a path he started a few years ago (as a hospital chaplain of course) and using his gifts in new and needed ways. I am still not sure where that will leave me. Thankfully, I have a number o friends in a 100 to 200 mile radius, but that is not as accessible on a daily basis as it sounds. I also grew up in Wisconsin, so I am coming home agin, though neither of my parents are alive to greet me. Piople say I make friends easily, but it still takes time and effort and I know there will be lonely times as there are everywhere. That's just the point. We take our issues wherever we go - some positive, some negative. Thankfully, I will be able to get my favorite soft drink, Tab, again regularly:).
It is always nice to get a fresh start in a nice, clean place. Last night, I dreamt we arrived and had to clean up that place too:). I am sure that is not going to happen.
We really haven't regretted our moves though it seems harder as I get older, even with some of the very positive aspects. I don't look back and regret any of the moves we have made. Each place we have had some very difficult trials but also been enriched by some very marvelous people. And I am thankful that Tom and God go with me.
As she says, there is a cleansing process as we sort through things, find things we never missed and decide what we will really use if we take it along. Each time you see someone, you try to enjoy the time because you don't know if you will see them again in this life, certainly not as often.
In some ways you look forward to a new start. Many people call it a new adventure, but at my age, it still lacks some enthusiasm. In this move, we will be closer to our son Dan, which is first and foremost with us (though we will be further from our daughter Katie). Tom will be continuing on a path he started a few years ago (as a hospital chaplain of course) and using his gifts in new and needed ways. I am still not sure where that will leave me. Thankfully, I have a number o friends in a 100 to 200 mile radius, but that is not as accessible on a daily basis as it sounds. I also grew up in Wisconsin, so I am coming home agin, though neither of my parents are alive to greet me. Piople say I make friends easily, but it still takes time and effort and I know there will be lonely times as there are everywhere. That's just the point. We take our issues wherever we go - some positive, some negative. Thankfully, I will be able to get my favorite soft drink, Tab, again regularly:).
It is always nice to get a fresh start in a nice, clean place. Last night, I dreamt we arrived and had to clean up that place too:). I am sure that is not going to happen.
We really haven't regretted our moves though it seems harder as I get older, even with some of the very positive aspects. I don't look back and regret any of the moves we have made. Each place we have had some very difficult trials but also been enriched by some very marvelous people. And I am thankful that Tom and God go with me.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tom and Pat: Embarrassing Moves
I don't know how to change the main topic of interesting people, so we will leave it there for now.
Tom and I are not what you call slobs but we are also not in the category of the meticulous. As we get ready to move now, there is some excitement in starting again without clutter, dirt...There are also aspects of moving that can haunt us:).
We try to leave wherever we have been or are in the best shape possible. I just shampooed the living room today though I am sure it will need another going over.
Before we left our house in San Bernardino, California, we had a friend of my brother's spray paint the inside of the house(with us following up with the touch up) to give it the best appearance possible. We had to pay someone to tear down a plywood add on to the garage(from previous owners) that had housed some wild cats at one point. Fortunately the new owners didn't mind the big hole in the far back of the yard that used to house an above ground pool. We pulled it out after a county wide fire damaged the liner with debris and we decided it was not real safe for our kids. It also was expensive to maintain.
Anyway, with a friend Jerry Parker from Wichita helping us drive to Wichita, we were on our way. Daniel, about 3 and 1/2 at the time, loved riding with him even though he couldn't yet pronounce his name. When we left Wichita, friends from the church helped us get out. It can be humiliating when people help you clear out your junk drawers, etc. Tom reminded me that one of our other friends from church hauled a load to the dump for us on our way out.
We left quite a load of trash out on the curb for pickup when we moved out of our favorite house in Howards Grove, Wisconsin.
When we left Chilton, Wisconsin after 6 and 1/2 years, we decided to downsize and rented a dumpster - yes right in front of our house. I don't know whether to be proud or embarrassed to say we filled the thing to capacity. I was trying to get everything ready for the (17) people who helped us put our stuff into the rental truck in record time. I put laundry in early in the morning to finish up. I put some new sheets in for my friend Joanie who was coming along. After two hous or so, they were ready to load the dryer and the clothes was still wet. I finished at our neighbor's next door, but realized that I had left the cardboard in with the sheets -from the new package - and it had clogged up the dryer. Meanwhile, other friends came and helped clean the floors, refrigerator, ceiling fans. One friend tried to steam clean the blinds. Oh well. We were out.
Leaving Saginaw, Michigan after only 15 months, we still needed friends to help us move and to get the tub and other things in better shape. You have to let people see the real you in these circumstances somewhat unfortunately. After loading everything possible in the truck and cars, we still had a few things left over - a nice commode and walker we had intended to pass on from one relative to another and a not so great bar stool. Two of the workers, one the pastor, actually seemed to want them, so away we went.
Who knows what will show up this time? It's doubtful we will get out of here without some red-faced moments. Thankfully, all the people who helped are still on friendly terms with us. They know we have issues.
One other thing I have found helpful: I buy cheap toasters. I just throw the old one out rather than let people see how dirty it has gotten.
Well, we will be on our way again in a few weeks. Hopefully, we will still be able to face the people who help us move when we meet again:).
Tom and I are not what you call slobs but we are also not in the category of the meticulous. As we get ready to move now, there is some excitement in starting again without clutter, dirt...There are also aspects of moving that can haunt us:).
We try to leave wherever we have been or are in the best shape possible. I just shampooed the living room today though I am sure it will need another going over.
Before we left our house in San Bernardino, California, we had a friend of my brother's spray paint the inside of the house(with us following up with the touch up) to give it the best appearance possible. We had to pay someone to tear down a plywood add on to the garage(from previous owners) that had housed some wild cats at one point. Fortunately the new owners didn't mind the big hole in the far back of the yard that used to house an above ground pool. We pulled it out after a county wide fire damaged the liner with debris and we decided it was not real safe for our kids. It also was expensive to maintain.
Anyway, with a friend Jerry Parker from Wichita helping us drive to Wichita, we were on our way. Daniel, about 3 and 1/2 at the time, loved riding with him even though he couldn't yet pronounce his name. When we left Wichita, friends from the church helped us get out. It can be humiliating when people help you clear out your junk drawers, etc. Tom reminded me that one of our other friends from church hauled a load to the dump for us on our way out.
We left quite a load of trash out on the curb for pickup when we moved out of our favorite house in Howards Grove, Wisconsin.
When we left Chilton, Wisconsin after 6 and 1/2 years, we decided to downsize and rented a dumpster - yes right in front of our house. I don't know whether to be proud or embarrassed to say we filled the thing to capacity. I was trying to get everything ready for the (17) people who helped us put our stuff into the rental truck in record time. I put laundry in early in the morning to finish up. I put some new sheets in for my friend Joanie who was coming along. After two hous or so, they were ready to load the dryer and the clothes was still wet. I finished at our neighbor's next door, but realized that I had left the cardboard in with the sheets -from the new package - and it had clogged up the dryer. Meanwhile, other friends came and helped clean the floors, refrigerator, ceiling fans. One friend tried to steam clean the blinds. Oh well. We were out.
Leaving Saginaw, Michigan after only 15 months, we still needed friends to help us move and to get the tub and other things in better shape. You have to let people see the real you in these circumstances somewhat unfortunately. After loading everything possible in the truck and cars, we still had a few things left over - a nice commode and walker we had intended to pass on from one relative to another and a not so great bar stool. Two of the workers, one the pastor, actually seemed to want them, so away we went.
Who knows what will show up this time? It's doubtful we will get out of here without some red-faced moments. Thankfully, all the people who helped are still on friendly terms with us. They know we have issues.
One other thing I have found helpful: I buy cheap toasters. I just throw the old one out rather than let people see how dirty it has gotten.
Well, we will be on our way again in a few weeks. Hopefully, we will still be able to face the people who help us move when we meet again:).
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Harry and Nellie Himes: The Cutest Couple (Bar None:))
Harry and Nellie will be married for 68 years on May 27th. We just had apple pie and ice cream with them this afternoon and they are still going strong. Harry is 91 and Nellie is 86. They have children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren stopping by regularly. Besides apple pie, they serve steak, spaghetti-os, pancakes..whatever the need calls for:). They are often busy with the reunions, wedding and baby showers..and everyone stopped in on Mother's Day of course.
If you plan to have a quiet visit with them, call ahead. They might be shopping, painting, canning, cutting the grass or a variety of other things.
They get along very well. Nellie speaks her mind (a fellow Judge Judy fan:), but is not an argumentative person. She had the spunk to follow Harry to Army bases in Virginia and Illinois (from Pennsylvania) in World War II. In one of these cases, their son Harry Jr. slept in our forefather Patrick Henry's cradle, later restored and placed in his own home/museum?. She lives with one partially operating kidney (somewhere between 12 and 21% operational) because she refused dialysis about 20 years ago. She is cute when she takes Harry, me or anyone by the arm to escort her in a crowded room.
Harry is a true gentleman. You can tell that as soon as you meet him. He has great stories of their early travels to California and about the time they almost bought a farm in my home state of Wisconsin. He, Nellie and the kids built the home they live in when he was working 6 days a week. A couple of weeks ago, he and a man about half his age mowed the church lawn. He still mows his 2 and 1/2 acres and fills up their wood furnace in the winter regularly. Harry takes good care of Nellie and she takes good care of him.
They are more likely to be at church than anyone. Once this past winter, Tom sent them back home from the parking lot because he felt it was unsafe for them to come out. Very few people even attempted it. One of the last to wear a tie regularly on a Sunday morning, he is always kind and respectful. I love his chuckle and sense of humor.
They have been faithful friends and a very big encouragement to us. Everyone who knows them would agree that they are the "cutest couple" they know.
If you plan to have a quiet visit with them, call ahead. They might be shopping, painting, canning, cutting the grass or a variety of other things.
They get along very well. Nellie speaks her mind (a fellow Judge Judy fan:), but is not an argumentative person. She had the spunk to follow Harry to Army bases in Virginia and Illinois (from Pennsylvania) in World War II. In one of these cases, their son Harry Jr. slept in our forefather Patrick Henry's cradle, later restored and placed in his own home/museum?. She lives with one partially operating kidney (somewhere between 12 and 21% operational) because she refused dialysis about 20 years ago. She is cute when she takes Harry, me or anyone by the arm to escort her in a crowded room.
Harry is a true gentleman. You can tell that as soon as you meet him. He has great stories of their early travels to California and about the time they almost bought a farm in my home state of Wisconsin. He, Nellie and the kids built the home they live in when he was working 6 days a week. A couple of weeks ago, he and a man about half his age mowed the church lawn. He still mows his 2 and 1/2 acres and fills up their wood furnace in the winter regularly. Harry takes good care of Nellie and she takes good care of him.
They are more likely to be at church than anyone. Once this past winter, Tom sent them back home from the parking lot because he felt it was unsafe for them to come out. Very few people even attempted it. One of the last to wear a tie regularly on a Sunday morning, he is always kind and respectful. I love his chuckle and sense of humor.
They have been faithful friends and a very big encouragement to us. Everyone who knows them would agree that they are the "cutest couple" they know.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Art and Nora Schreurs: Simply Generous
"The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like stars in heaven and the lilies of the field, perfectly simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold us." (My Utmost for His Highest)
Art was part owner of a fairly successful coal business before he retired. You wouldn't have known it by the way he and Nora lived. Their house was clean and functional - sturdy:) - but nothing extravagant. Nora often wore a plain shift and walked regularly to the West Side bakery to pick up day old bread for themselves and a struggling family in the church. She still used a wringer washer in the 80's and prided herself in making her own secret recipe lye soap and she hung out the wash regularly. When Art was in the nursing home, the summer we lived with her, the wasted food was abhorring to her. When we stayed with them, we felt wasteful giving our toddlers baths each night and even hid our Big Boy bucket from our take out order of fish.
You wouldn't have known right away that hey had lost one of their two daughters, her husband and three children in a landslide, while they were serving as missionaries in New Guinea - a heartbreak that stays forever wih any and all parents.
Yet, they continued to have the young people in their home Sunday nights for Bible study. I don't drink tea but I always sipped on a cup when Nora offered one to me. Art always had a twinkle in his eye for Nora and as he shared his Bible maps and wisdom with us.
When I needed to raise $800 for my training time with Campus Crusade, he told me to come over when the time was close. I know he had decided to give me whatever monies were still needed. I had most of it but he made up the rest. When I hadn't received a paycheck yet - and had been asked to cosign on a loan to pay it - I asked for his wisdom. He gave me a check for $100 , calling it a loan that didn't need to be repaid. I learned a lot from that and was actually able to pay him back before I needed to cash it. My parents didn't have much money towards my wedding, which didn't bother me because I knew they didn't have it. He and Nora gave us $100 towards our simple reception. I heard from someone else hat they matched a 1/3 or 2/3's of a building fund, though I never heard that from them.
Nora had a little weathered newspaper clipping tacked up on a bulletn board about how much we could give if we each saved all of our paper clips, rubber bands,... That's how they lived. Their love for God, us and each other were the most valued treasures they gave.
Art was part owner of a fairly successful coal business before he retired. You wouldn't have known it by the way he and Nora lived. Their house was clean and functional - sturdy:) - but nothing extravagant. Nora often wore a plain shift and walked regularly to the West Side bakery to pick up day old bread for themselves and a struggling family in the church. She still used a wringer washer in the 80's and prided herself in making her own secret recipe lye soap and she hung out the wash regularly. When Art was in the nursing home, the summer we lived with her, the wasted food was abhorring to her. When we stayed with them, we felt wasteful giving our toddlers baths each night and even hid our Big Boy bucket from our take out order of fish.
You wouldn't have known right away that hey had lost one of their two daughters, her husband and three children in a landslide, while they were serving as missionaries in New Guinea - a heartbreak that stays forever wih any and all parents.
Yet, they continued to have the young people in their home Sunday nights for Bible study. I don't drink tea but I always sipped on a cup when Nora offered one to me. Art always had a twinkle in his eye for Nora and as he shared his Bible maps and wisdom with us.
When I needed to raise $800 for my training time with Campus Crusade, he told me to come over when the time was close. I know he had decided to give me whatever monies were still needed. I had most of it but he made up the rest. When I hadn't received a paycheck yet - and had been asked to cosign on a loan to pay it - I asked for his wisdom. He gave me a check for $100 , calling it a loan that didn't need to be repaid. I learned a lot from that and was actually able to pay him back before I needed to cash it. My parents didn't have much money towards my wedding, which didn't bother me because I knew they didn't have it. He and Nora gave us $100 towards our simple reception. I heard from someone else hat they matched a 1/3 or 2/3's of a building fund, though I never heard that from them.
Nora had a little weathered newspaper clipping tacked up on a bulletn board about how much we could give if we each saved all of our paper clips, rubber bands,... That's how they lived. Their love for God, us and each other were the most valued treasures they gave.
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