Heat, Part Two

I have written before about how much I love it when it is HOT outside.  I just love to bask in it.  I spend far too much time being cold.  I totally love sitting on my front porch in my rocking chair and soaking the heat in.  Sometimes I don't stay out there very long, but even spending a short time out there seems to revive me.

Dennis says that I'm expensive in the winter because I need heat, but I save him a lot in the summer.  It doesn't take too much air conditioning to keep me happy.  I know you'll die when I tell you this, but I sit around with my fleece shawl on in our house so that it can be cool enough for Dennis.  Sad, but true.

So forgive me the next time you are fed up with the heat.  It must be all my fault, because God is sending it down for people like me, and I'm thanking Him for it!  

Doctors I Have Known, Part Three

My personal care physician is Dr. James R. Garner.  He has been with me through all eight years of my liver illness.  I saw him for the first time in January of ’03.  I was seriously ill and went to see him.  I remember being so weak that I had to lie down in his examining room and was impressed by how kind he was to me.  My other doctor was sick himself so I took a chance on Dr. Garner.  He is another of my doctors who is young enough to be my son.

I liked him immediately.  I knew him a little because his family attended our church, and I had his precious little daughter in school.  He has stood with me through this whole battle.  Even when Dr. Gurakar released me, Dr. Garner insisted that I have blood tests until my enzyme levels were normal.  I really appreciated that and felt that he had my best interests at heart.

In spite of my liver illness I am blessed with pretty good health so I don’t see him too often, especially since he is in Woodward now.  He still wants me to have copies of my other doctors’ reports sent to him so that he can keep up to date on me, and I do try to see him at least once a year so that we can catch up on my condition.  It is always a treat for me to see him, his wife, and precious daughter.  By the way, his daughter now towers over me in height!

Dr. Garner has an easy smile and a sense of humor.  That is just the kind of doctor I need.  I also feel that he cares about me.  Sometimes I have to scold him because he doesn't have a picture of his daughter for me to see.  Occasionally, though, he surprises me with having her there in person.  It makes my day!  

I feel special when I have an appointment because he and his wife both seem genuinely happy to see me.  They are wonderful people.  I finally got my picture made with him when he attended his niece’s graduation here at Fairview.  I took a camera to my last appointment but he sneaked away before I thought to have a picture made.  This is a terrible picture of me, but really good of him.  I think you can tell by looking at him why I like him so much.  His kindness shows on his face.

If you need a PCP, I highly recommend him.  Obviously, I think the world of him.    

Fathers' Day

Last year I did a tribute to my dad, Dennis, & Aaron.  This year I just want to focus on Dennis.  I have had the privilege of watching him father our two darling children, Hayley and Nicholas.  I know that he would say he did a terrible job of it, but I know the truth.

Anyone who knows Dennis knows that he cares very deeply about things.  His children have been deeply in his heart since the day he heard they were on their way.  Dennis is a quiet man who leads by example.  I am positive both Hayley and Nicholas would agree with me on these next things I am going to list.

1. He is a man of his word.
2. He is a Christian and tries very hard to live a life pleasing to God.
3. He has shown them his tender side.  (It makes me tear up to think of all the things he has stood by and helped me through.)
4. He is a hard worker and good provider.
5. He doesn't show his emotions too often, but he has an emotional side.  If you know him well you can see that heart on his sleeve.  :)
6. No man has ever been prouder of his children.
7. He has shown them love for their mother and an example of a strong marriage and family life.
8. He is humble and patient.
9. He was an example to them of taking care of the elderly.  The way he took care of his mom was very sweet.
10. He loves his family and would do anything in this world to protect them.

I thank God every day for giving me this man to go through life with.  He is truly a blessing.  Oh, yes, I should say that I could have made a much longer list!

Miss Oklahoma Pageant

I don't know why but I have always loved beauty pageants.  When we were little girls we would pick one of the contestants and pretend we were them.  We did that with movies on television, too, but that's another story.  I'm sure you are all shocked to find out that I never competed in one.  :)  That might have taken some of the glow out of it for me.  That's my story, and I'm sticking to it!

These past few years, though, I have been attending the Miss Oklahoma pageant.  It is so much fun.  The talent, of course, is my favorite part.  Evening gown runs a close second.  I don't really like the swimsuit part too much.  I feel nervous for them.  It has to be the hardest thing to walk out in a bikini like that.

I attend now because of this beautiful young lady, Brittany Jo Bisel.  She is our daughter-in-law, Brooke's sister.  Let me tell you my sister-Joyce, niece-Kourtney, and I are quite a cheering section for her.  Yes, you'd probably say we are obnoxious.  The first picture was on the posters on sticks that we were waving.  So pretty!  Kristin is a red coat for the pageant so she is backstage with the contestants.  She's always cheering for Brittany, too.

Brittany sings like an angel, the kind of voice I only dreamed of having.  I'm not prejudiced either.  The whole crowd roars when she is finished.  She actually gave me chills.

I enjoy all of the talent, but have to say I have realized that I am totally nervous for all of the pianists.  I know how it is when your nerves take over, and you start to lose control of your fingers.  I can feel the vibrations coming from them.




I just had to include this picture of my beautiful daughter-in-law, Brooke, and Nicholas.  I don't get to see them this dressed up very often.  Such a cute couple!  I know I'm prejudiced and proud of it!  :)







The picture of Nicholas alone was taken after it was all over.  It is Nicholas to a T!  :D  He said he'd had enough of that tie!

Motherhood!

I love this picture for so many different reasons.  First of all, Joyce is sitting in a nice chair, and I'm sitting on a crate!  :)  Second, Joyce's doll is almost as big as she is!  And third, somehow I must  have known at a very early age I would have two children.  I wonder which one is Hayley, and which one is Nicholas!

I mentioned in an earlier post that good mothering runs in our family.
I absolutely love it that I am holding one of my babies upside down, and they are naked!  I also have such a serious expression on my face! Mothering isn't for sissies!  :)

My fourth reason for loving this picture is that we have on our footed pajamas.  I remember hating those things.  Now I think they are adorable!

Reason # 5:  Joyce is sitting there like such a lady.  Then look at me.  I wonder if that was an indication of our futures.  :D  Also take a good look at our hair!  Neither one is too great, but I think I look like Eddie Munster!  :)