Thought for the day!!

Look around you and realize that you have no idea what the other person is going through. I read something like this on a blog recently and it really made me think. All of us have hurts, all of us have problems and concerns. Some of them are heartbreaking. A lot of them no one knows about. But that doesn't make it any less real.

None of us are immune to trouble. No matter how perfect your family may seem outwardly, they still have warts that are hidden. And that doesn't make me think any less of you. Really, it makes me think more because it makes you more real.

God, help me to remember this. As I go through my little troubles, there is someone out there going through the same or worse. Let it make me better, not bitter.

Jay'v quote of the day:
(after seeing a cookie that Carolyn had broken a piece off of)
"C.Shay eat morra" Then he decided to eat it instead!

A SAINT IN HEAVEN

Today marks the second anniversary of the home going of my father-in-law, John Sherron. He made his heavenly landing at 3:30 am on March 30, 2008. I have blogged before about how privileged I felt to be able to take care of him in those last months and I still feel that way. He was a joy to take care of, and we miss him so much, but I wouldn't wish him back to this mess for anything. His eternal reward is so much greater than what we have here.




What has really caught my attention lately is all the ones who post about a loved one who has passed and then put R.I.P. or "rest in peace". That caught my eye the other day and I wondered what do they really mean by that. Do they really know they are resting in peace or is it just wishful thinking. It is such a joy to know that Dad is resting in the peace that we will only know in Heaven. Our earthly bodies will never know that peace until we finally make it there.

Then that brought on a whole new train of thought. What will Heaven be like? What will we see and do there? Who will we see there? WOW! What a thought! It just makes me that much more determined to do all in my power to make it.

I know I will never live up to what my father-in-law did. I know he spent many hours in study and prayer and those are hard shoes to fill. I think some people are called to be prayer warriors and I think he was one of them. Then I think "who is filling those shoes?" Is that why some things have happened since he has been gone? We miss those prayers. God help me to fill even a little bit of the hole left without his prayers.

So, I close with R.I.P. Dad....We really know you are!

SPRING THOUGHTS!

Well, we have made it through a very hard winter. You would all have to agree that it is one of the worst winters we have had in many, many years. It is amazing how the weather has dominated our lives. Weather has always been a conversation starter but this year it has sometimes been the whole conversation. You talk about everything from how many days you were stuck in the house to how many "feet" of snow is on the ground and how many days we have gone without seeing the "ground". No one should be without food for thought or conversation.

I am one of the fortunate ones that did not have to go out and brave the elements to go to work every day. I am thankful for that. The older I get the more of a home body I become. It has now been 2 years since I was a member of the working class. That is actually what the substance of this blog will be about today.

I was a stay at home Mom. My Mom was a stay at home Mom. I believe in women being stay at home Moms. I did not choose to work until my youngest was in school and then for the first five years worked at the school. So I worked when they were in school and had off when they had off. It was a wonderful job. I loved the situation because my kids were still young enough that they would need a sitter or (the dreaded word) "daycare".

I am now a "stay at home Nona". I have chosen this for my life right now and it fits. I love being able to help Courtney since she does not have the option of being a stay at home Mom. But this winter I have had the opportunity to feel stereotyped as I never did when I was home with my kids. I'll say a little more about this after I tell you my story.

The company that Charlie works for now has an appreciation dinner for all it's bosses in January. It was a very nice evening. A nice restaurant and everyone was very "nice". But this "stay at home Nona" felt like a fish out of water. You know how it is at a gathering like that. You are at a table full of people that you don't know and everyone tends to ask questions and find out a little bit about each other. One of the ladies that works in the office for this company asked me if I had to work that day or had I been off. I very politely said I don't work outside the home and immediately felt a hush and about 3 or 4 sets of eyes on me like I was a freak. Charlie had left the table for a moment so I was alone and really felt "alone". Her response was just "Oh!". And for the first time in my life I felt inferior because I choose to not have a "job". I wanted to stand up and shout "I am a certified medical coder. I worked at a hospital for 10 years. If you give me a medical record, I can read it and understand it. I am not a dummy because I do not go to work everyday."

I really had a strange evening after that. I don't remember ever having that feeling when I stayed at home with my kids. I believe there are a couple of reasons for that. The first would be that at that time I did not have a trade. I had office training when I was in school and the only job I had was in classified at the newspaper. Then I started having children and did not work. No problem, that was my life. The second being that I really didn't get out much to places where I would encounter people like that. I really was a different person. More quiet and my kids were my life.

I have now had the the opportunity to live the "other" life. Yes, I did it when my kids were older and able to take care of themselves but I did it non-the-less. I had a job that fulfilled me (at the time). I actually became more confident about myself and able to go out into the world with confidence that I am a person of value. I am a contributing citizen. Lah Te Dah!!

Since that night in January I have had a lot of time to think about this situation. Do you want to know what I have decided? No, I have not decided to send out my resume and get back into the work force. Actually I really don't care if I never have to enter that rat race again. I have decided that I am contributing MORE to society than someone sitting at a desk punching numbers all day. I am training up a child to be an upright citizen who can go out into the world and face the day to day challenges of life. I am training a little mind to get him ready to learn what he will need to do that. What I am doing is as important as that doctor, or lawyer, or even medical coder because one day they were one of those little minds that needed training.

I know this is not always an option. It wouldn't be in Courtney's case if I were not doing this. So if you are a Mom that has to work please don't think I think less of you. I know that is necessary sometimes. I am just saying if you do choose to stay at home with your children you should remember you are as valuable to society as the person who doesn't. As a matter of fact I would go so far as to say maybe more so then some. The training these little minds and hearts are getting right now will shape what kind of person they will be when they grow up and what more important job can you have.

Looking back I am sorry I didn't react differently to the situation. I should not have let it bother me as I did. It was just so new to me at the time. I might react differently now that I have had time to think about it. I should have told her "No I didn't have today off. My job is 24 hours a day. I don't get days off, I have to be on my toes all the time. You mean you actually get days off, WOW!" Of course I am being sarcastic but I think you get the message.

I know if I ever have the opportunity to join the workforce again I will react differently to women choosing to stay at home. I will applaud them and try to uplift them. I would never do anything that would make them feel less then the investor that they are. The entrepreneur might be investing money but they are investing lives and that is so valuable.

2009 IN REVIEW!!

WOW!! It is already January 12, 2010. Already in the second week of 2010 and I am just starting to review 2009. Just shows you how much I am behind. I never did send out Christmas cards or letters or whatever I usually decide to do. I guess that happens when you have a 2 year old to keep you busy.

I just want to look back on 2009 a little and reminisce. We had a lot of things going on and yet it was a rather ordinary year.

Last spring got us through all those "firsts" after the death of a loved one. Marking that first anniversary is so hard yet so freeing. You realize that you will never have to go through that first year again with uncertainty of not knowing how you will feel or react. There are still emotions and sometimes things hit you like you don't expect but it is totally different then the first time. We do miss Charlie's Dad tremendously and life will never be the same without his wisdom and sense of humor but we have many memories to help us through the days until we meet him again in heaven.

Another highlight of spring was our trip to NYC in April. I went very unwillingly but looking back now I really did enjoy it and am glad I went. It was great (all but the subway) and nothing like I expected (all but the subway), and I really think I would probably do it again (all but the subway). Do you get the message that I DID NOT like the subway. I really thought the thing was either going to fly apart as we were moving or hit something and we were going to die a tragic, painful death. I am not exaggerating at all. It was awful! But the city is beautiful with so much history. I just loved Greenwich Village with all the little shops. You can read all about it in my April 20, 2009 post.

Charlie and I in Times Square.


My beautiful daughters in Times Square.

Carolyn and George


Carolyn and George by a stoop in Greenwich village.

We have all had a great year. Charlie and Chuck and Courtney all made changes in their employment (Charlie's little, Chuck's big and Court's obvious).

Charlie has taken a job with a little more responsibility with a company out of PA. They really seem like a good company to work for and at this point at least have been keeping him busy. They are branching out into WV, but the last job he has been on he had to drive to Pittsburgh. He should finish up there in a day or so and hopefully will be closer to home again.

Chuck decided that although he liked carpentry work it really was not what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. He has gotten a job with a medical supply company delivering supplies to hospice patients. There are a lot of perks to the job with the biggest being the feeling of fulfillment that you are doing something to help someone in their last days. He does not say he will never go back to carpenter work but for now feels this is what he should do.

Courtney graduated in June from LPN school. She had to have a hernia repair in July so did not go to work until August. She got a job with a company in Clarksburg that does home health. She works midnight shift taking care of a little boy with CP. She has also gone back to school to work on her RN. Right now she has been working on some prerequisites and hopes to actually start RN school in June. She works at night and goes to school during the day, so we have had to be creative with Jay'von's care. I have him from Sunday evening until Friday evening when she gets him for a couple days at "Mama house" (as he calls it).


Court with her flowers after graduation in May 2009.


Court and Jay'von celebrating her birthday.

As you might understand my days are full but fun. We have had to do some adjusting to what is important to accomplish in a day but have developed a routine that works for both Jay'v and myself. I have said this will either make me old or keep me young and have decided it changes from day to day. Some days I feel young and others very old. I am so glad that I have the opportunity to be able to do this. He is such a joy to take care of and most days keeps me laughing.


Chuck and Danielle, Breanna, C.J. and Charlie when we went to French Creek Game Farm for Charlie's birthday.

Chuck and Danielle made some other changes in their household this fall when they decided to send Breanna and C.J. to school. She has homeschooled them up to this point. They have both adapted well and seem to be making new friends and loving it.




Carolyn and George continue to live in Grandpa's house next door to us. She has just completed a semester of student teaching full time. She has one more semester of school then will graduate in May with her Masters in Spanish Education. It has been a long 5 years but will be worth it when she is done. George's citizenship battle is almost done. He should have his papers by the middle of March, so if you know of a job opening in Computer Engineering give him a call. Right now he has been playing househusband and supporting Carolyn in her endeavors.






Breanna, C.J. and Jay'von continue to be the joy of my life (that is the job description of a grandchild, isn't it). They have each passed major milestones this year. Breanna and C.J. going to school for the fist time, Jay'von getting potty trained then un-potty trained and now starting over, and all three of them just getting more "cute" by the day. I am prejudiced I know, but they are the best grandchildren ever.

God has blessed us with a great year of health and prosperity in 2009 and I am looking for more in 2010.

I have a few things I have decided to do in 2010 (not resolutions, just decisions) and one of them is to try to keep up my blog better. It is so much more personal then facebook. So look for more from the Sherrons.

Happy New Year, friends. Please click on comments and let me know you are out there. I am going to write whether you comment or not but it is so much nicer to know you are being read. Thanks!

MckMama Giveaway!!

You all know I have posted before about Stellan and MckMama and how much I admire her blog. Well, she is now what is known as a "professional blogger" otherwise known as "compensated blogger". I know she has gotten much criticism for it. Not from me, I wish I was a "compensated blogger". I think if you can do it and stay home with the little ones, then do it. God gave her this talent and she is using it. It's a good thing she wasn't working outside the home with all that "went" on with Stellan (past tense, he is SVT free now, Thank God) what would she have done, probably lost her job.

Anyway, on to the reason for this post (hey, it got me back on here, more to come, I promise). She is having a HUGE giveaway from now until Christmas Eve for an HP Touchsmart computer. I know my chances are slim (last night after only a few hours she had over 10,000 comments. You get entered for commenting, facebooking, blogging or tweeting. So you can get 4 chances total. (well, I get 3 since I don't tweet) So here goes nothing. If you are reading this and you need a new Cadillac computer go on over to MckMama@www.MckGiveaways.blogspot.com and read all about it. And if you don't need a new computer go ahead and try anyway and you can give it to me. HaHa!! or should I say HoHo!!Best of Luck (if we believed in luck) and may the best man (or woman) win!!

Jay'v had a Birthday, too!!

I'm sorry it has taken so long to post about Jay'von's birthday. I wanted to have the time to do a good post, but that will never happen, so here goes.


Jay'von turned 2 years old on September 29. We had a party for him and C.J. together at Castle Creek Park in Grafton. The kids love it because there is so much for them to do. The adults love it because we don't have to worry about them. Everything is safe and within sight of where we are. (And you don't have the mess at home.)


Jay'von after blowing out his candle. He wanted that cake.




Jay'v loves to swing and this is the perfect place to do it. How do you like that swing.



Jay'von and C.J. with all their little friends.

Jay'v is 2 going on 12. He is such a little man. We are having so much fun with him. He is with us Sunday evening through Friday afternoon because Courtney goes to school during the day and works at night. She has to sleep in between, so this works for now.

He has changed so much in the last few weeks. It is like he knew he was 2 and had to act the part. He loves to do anything Papa (or Pop Pop as he has started calling him) does and Uncle George and Uncle Chuck are his favorite people. He will go to them from anyone. He also loves his Aunties very much. He is just a loving little guy. He has started to bring me to the chair and say rock when he gets tired. He is a real cuddle bug.


He had one of his bags of goodies, he was ready to go! This is how he carries his little bag into church. He is such a cutie

We love you Jay'von and hope you have a wonder year. You keep our life cheerful and funny every day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, C.J.!!

C.J. had a birthday on Friday, September 25. He was 7 years old. We had a party for him and Jay'von together at the local park.




C.J. at his 7th birthday party.


As you can see, C.J. is kind of shy and backward until he get comfortable around you. But don't mistake that shyness for not being all boy. C.J. is definitely all boy. The messier the mess he loves it. He likes playing outside, riding his bike, hunting with Daddy and he loves playing tennis with Daddy and Uncle George. I guess I should say he loves to do anything with Uncle George.

He still says he is going to grow up to fly a "yellow Cabella's plane". Mom and Neena both don't fly. He has asked Mommy if she will fly with him and she said if he becomes a pilot she will trust him to fly her. He hasn't asked me yet. I'm not sure how I will answer.



C.J. with his best friend Breanna.


C.J. teaching Jay'v how to slide.

We hope you had a Happy Birthday, C.J. We love you bunches. We enjoyed celebrating with you.