My sister has started the daunting task of writing her memoirs....why, you say....does she have some racey or mysterious things in her past to reveal. No, I don't believe that would be the reason.....I believe it's because of our mother....and our dad, who is gone, and his sister...who was the family historian...who knew everything about every family member, is also gone..before we realized that she was the last, taking all those details, all that history, all that knowledge that validated who we are and just how we came into this family....how did we fit into the puzzle?

So, I'm assuming that she wants to leave this to her family, her children, her grandchildren....so that one day , when they ask, and perhaps sister is no longer there to answer, they will find the answer in her memoirs.....fancy name isn't it....a name to describe our life, our own personal history.

With this in mind, sister asked me about my remembrances in regards to an adventure I had as a child.

Those of you that regularly read this blog....all ten of you...know that I was born with a physical disability....a nice phrase that covers up the one they used when I was born...crippled...it is interesting to follow the evolution of the phrases used for different things over the years....in this case...crippled, to handicapped to physical disability...I'm sure there were others. All very politically correct....but I digress.

My parents had no fore knowledge that I was to be born with any problems...no ultra sounds in those days...and after a difficult, concerning labour I was born with the muscles missing from the upper parts of my arms, ...the biceps completely missing and the deltoid muscles across my shoulders were also lacking...they were there, but not all there....anyways, you can understand why this would have distressed my parents....the lack of biceps meant that I couldn't bend my arms, try it sometimes.....a little tricky to accomplish things....

When I was about three years old, which meant that sister was round six, my mother and father took me on a very long trip....just the three of us....sister went and stayed with our grandparents. We went all the way to Detroit.....it would be about a four hour drive...doesn't seem long now but in the early 1950's it seemed far. They were taking me to a healing crusade....an Oral Roberts healing crusade. I don't have a lot of recollections of this time but I have some....some that sister wanted to know....so, it got me thinking.....a lot of my childhood memories that involved my arms, I try not to dwell on....I guess it's how I got thru the four surgeries, the countless physical therapies, the doctors, and more doctors....

So, I've spent some time these days just thinking on it all....maybe this is good...maybe, somebody will want to know when I'm gone...maybe, maybe not.

I remember that we stayed in a hotel....I remember not having much to do and my mom giving me the hotel stationary,...yes, they actually had stationary back then....telling me to write a letter to my sister, back home...so, I did...as any three year old might....if you saw it today, it would look like a lot of wavy lines but to me they were my words....I knew exactly what that letter said.

I remember a huge tent that apparently Oral Roberts used, it held 3000 people.....I don't know how long we were there but it must have been over a weekend, for a few days. That's why we had to stay in the hotel. I know my mom and dad and I stood in a long line, waiting for Oral Roberts to come down the line to see us. I remember my dad holding me in his arms...I remember him coming, I remember he had a loud voice, I remember him putting his hands on my forehead....praying...saying that I was healed....but I wasn't.

The last few days have caused me to think about my mom and dad....they were pretty young...in their late twenties....they didn't have much money...my dad worked as a welder for a factory....it was called the coke ovens...not the coke the kids are so fond of...to drink or sniff...in fact, about four years earlier my dad had fallen off a bridge at work, thirty feet and broke his back in three places, my mom and dad were hard workers, money was always tight...never enough to go around....so, for them to take me to Detroit, hoping I'd be healed was a big deal...no, it was huge! They willing sacrificed.

My mom and dad wanted their little girl to be healed,....they were looking for a miracle......it would be interesting to know what their feelings were on that long ride home....they must have been disappointed....they must have been sad....did they watch me carefully the next few days...hoping that it had worked? I don't know....my dad is gone...cant ask him, my mom, probably can't remember...although maybe I'll try asking her....they certainly weren't bitter, they didn't walk away from God....

The apostle Paul asked many times for his affliction to be removed but it never was.....did he walk away from God...no, he accepted that God had different plans....I think my mom and dad did too...oh, they didn't stop looking for help for me....like I said , four surgeries.....the first two didn't work either...the second two were just to fuse my wrist bones to stop the hands from turning under....

My parents were pretty special people, people of faith....strong faith....and I think that's a pretty good heritage...pretty good thing to remember...hope my kids remember it too.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:The Healer

Many things.....

Hello Company Girls!

Sooooo many things have been going on but I'll try to give the hilites....

First of all, youngest son, Ben graduated high school...so very proud of him....and he even landed himself a part time job at a local drugstore.....





The bottom pic is daughter Lauren, Sara, Paul's girlfriend, Paul, Ben, myself and hubby , Don.

Then while we were on holiday, son Paul got a new puppy...an 8 week old yellow lab...ever so cute.....


Chevy

And I thot I'd show you some pics of the trailer....all fixed up....we've been enjoying the changes for the last two weeks....





This is the deck...lots of comfy chairs and lounges to relax in....


This is the the dressing room tent....where all the girls have kept all their girl stuff....when you have a little trailer there isn't room for all their paraphernalia!


The new fire pit....beside the old one that my dad built 30 years ago....didn't get to use either one cause it's been so hot and dry, there was a fire ban!


As you walk in the door of our trailer, you face the chesterfield...it folds down into a 'not very comfortable bed'....it's an old trailer!


The one casual chair with the white stool that we can use as a side table when it's not used as a sitting stool for the dining table....


The dining table....with the one bench that we saved.....


Ooops...this slipped in out of order....Megan made these in craft class...the first day she came home with the yellow container, filled with muddy water....she said she had planted a seed...needless to say, we had to dump it out and start over...she's very thrilled that it grew!....I think it's a bean plant...have absolutely no idea what we'll do with it!


The wee kitchen area...to the left, out of camera range is a fridge...then the stove, above the pic, out of camera shot is a microwave....a little double sink...


Our bedroom....very compact....


A shot of the new wall covering that son Ryan put up, and I put a white wash on at the start of the holiday...


The table can be turned the other way to accommodate more people....we still have to figure out some seating adjustments for the area under the window....

So....there were more pics but you get the general idea....not the biggest trailer and when there are more than three people in it, it could seem crowded...but it's served our purpose for about fifteen years , and now with the changes, hopefully a few more...til we retire at least.

So, I'm real late in posting this blog...but I hope some of you drop by! Have a good weekend!