Opponent or Enemy?

There is always risk when I sit down, stare at the blank page, and begin to type. I feel a bit more angst than usual because the subject I want to write about is touchy at best and  disgusting at worst! If there was some way to make this eight letter word smaller here, I would do it. But since there isn't, I'll just get it out there.  Politics! I'm gonna write about politics. There it is. You can choose to quit reading if you want, and I will not take offense. The good Lord knows there has been a lot written and said about the 2016 Election. If you care to read further, I hope you find something new to think about...and pray about.

In the mid 1980's, I had the privilege of helping coach the Kimberly High School girls varsity basketball team. The head coach at the time was Lee Levknecht. His first year as the girls coach, 1978-1979, had been my senior year of high school. The formation I received from Coach Levknecht, both when I  played for him and when I coached next to him, stays with me to this day.

Several years after he finished coaching in Kimberly, I saw him at an alumni basketball tournament. We started talking and catching up. As often happens with the important people in my life, our conversation did not remain just surface small talk. Coach and I were chatting about kids and competition. I don't recall his exact words, but I won't forget the essence of what he said. "I don't know when it happened Mary, but at some point it seems, we went from seeing the other team as our opponent to seeing them as our enemy. Kids want to beat the competition because they hate them. We need to get back to a healthy sense of competition." Coach Levknecht seemed puzzled by this realization and I heard concern in his voice, for good reason.

Fast forward to 2016. We find ourselves nearing the end of what seems like one of the longest election seasons in recent memory. I don't think I'm risking my good name by stating that the two presidential candidates have long ago abandoned the idea of seeing the other as a worthy opponent, and instead, have approached each other as enemies. There has been so much anger, vitriol, character assassination, and lack of proper decorum between the two, that the prospect of voting for either one of them seems ridiculous. There is no turning back, though. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, one or the other will soon become the 45 President of these United States of America. And then what? I wonder what will happen on November 9 when the votes are counted?

I hope and pray we wake up and realize that we are all on the same team, in the same boat; that while we may have opposing views about how to solve the big problems in this country, we are not enemies.

I believe the vast majority of people live in the middle. And what do I mean by 'live in the middle?' Most of us have much more in common than our political party platforms would ever allow us to believe. I am guessing most of us want clean water, clean air, a clean planet for generations to come. We just may differ in our ideas about how to achieve it. Most Americans want quality education, state of the art medical care, adequate employment opportunities, fair wages, safe streets, religious freedom; a chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Again, the means to achieve these standards may be different, but the desire for them is strong, true, and dare I say, unifying? Let's get behind that, shall we? Let's get behind the idea that with a little give and take, some compromise, and civil conversation, unity is not only achievable, but it is sustainable. Let's applaud healthy competition among opponents and let's stop viewing people who want what we want, folks who live in the middle where we live, as our enemies.

"Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"  
    ~ Abraham Lincoln

"Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love."
    ~Mahatma Gandhi

Memorial Day

I watched the National Memorial Day Concert on public television last evening. It has become a tradition for me. My dad happened upon it several years ago and I remember watching it with him over the years. The broadcast moves me. It is a combination of patriotic music, stories of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice across all wars, and it is a salute to the men and women who have served and continue to serve our great country. It takes place on the lawn of the White House.

Last night's program aired in spite of rainy conditions. Because of the weather, the crowd on the lawn was quite a bit smaller than in years past, but the stories and sounds were no less poignant. Gary Sinise narrated the story of one Jack Farley. Jack is a Vietnam veteran who lost his left leg above the knee. You can read more about him at this link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_J._Farley,_III

Today especially, and most any other day I stop to really think about the young men and women who fought and died to preserve our way of life, I thank God for their self-sacrifice.

It is with a grateful heart that I will go about my day, remembering those who served, remembering those who gave their lives to preserve our freedom, and remembering those who continue to serve. I pray God bless our world; that His truth may indeed, march on!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSiVjlknuSw
Happy Memorial Day!

I'm Still Alive!

It's been six months since last I published here, give or take a few days, so I thought I'd get back to it. I'm rusty and have avoided sitting down to this blank screen because I'm a little afraid that I won't be able to write well enough to actually hit the 'publish' button when I'm finished. My fingers are crossed, figuratively, and here I go!

To say a lot has happened since last September would be an understatement. I never intended this blog to be a diary of my life, but since it's been quite awhile since my last post, I'll list a few highlights and perhaps you'll understand why my fear of being too rusty isn't the only reason I've been away.

~Luke and Bailey came to live with us in mid-July. They started new jobs here in the Valley and purchased a home in Kimberly. It was a fixer-upper. Mark and I helped them with lots of the 'fixer-uppering'--painting, plumbing, cleaning, etc. A professional sanded and refinished beautiful hardwood which had been hiding under the living room carpet. Luke and Bailey moved into their first home in mid-October.

~It wasn't long after the move that Luke and Bailey announced they were expecting a baby, scheduled to arrive on April 12, 2016! We were over the moon for them, as they had suffered the loss of their first baby due to a miscarriage last spring. On December 7, they brought over the ultrasound pictures. Watch the video below to see our reaction to the pictures!

 

At 22 weeks, that was the last news we expected to hear since an earlier ultrasound only showed one baby. But "two babies" equals TWINS, and that's a "wow" any time!

~We began a complete kitchen renovation in late August of 2015 and our new granite counter-top was put in on September 30. We lived five and a half weeks without a kitchen--no sink, no stove/oven, no cabinets...no kitchen! I never thought I'd hear myself say, "I'm really sick of eating out," but after about two weeks of no kitchen, that is exactly what I said! Luke and Bailey were living with us throughout the renovation and they were troopers. We couldn't be more pleased with the outcome! Check it out...I feel like I'm living in a HGTV kitchen every day!

Kitchen work area--before

Before

Refrigerator wall before

Peninsula before

One more before photo

New island with pendant lights

New island with seating for five

No more peninsula-I love my new kitchen!

Refrigerator wall with seed glass cupboard

A larger look-through to the family room!

~Then came Thanksgiving and Christmas!

~At the end of January, Mark and I flew to New Bern, North Carolina for what is probably the last time. Our son-in-law, Nick, finished his four year active duty commitment to the United States Marine Corps, and he elected to close the book on his military service. Nick will remain in the inactive reserves for the the next four years. Leah, Miriam, Lyla and I flew home, while Nick and Mark drove the 20 hours from N.C. to Milwaukee; all their earthly possessions in a U-haul truck and the family minivan. We were very relieved to see the boys pull into the neighborhood in Milwaukee!

~Now for more about the babies. Late in January, Bailey experienced signs of early labor. She was hospitalized for two days and placed on bed rest for the remainder of her pregnancy. She was 27 weeks along the day she was discharged from the hospital. In the early morning hours of March 7, I got a text message from Luke. Bailey's water broke and they were heading to the hospital. At 12:23 p.m. and 12:43 p.m. on Monday March 7, our beautiful grandsons were born. Leo and Max have spent the first four weeks of their lives in the NICU. Max came home today, praise the Lord. Leo remains in the hospital. Hopefully, it won't be long and this beautiful family of four can be together at home! Luke and Bailey are already awesome parents!

Leo in blue, Max looking at dad!

~Over the last three months, I've been working with a local assisted living facility to make arrangements for my mom. She turned 88 years old in February, and it is time for her to be in an environment where she can get additional care/help if she needs it. A move is planned for April 23. There will be a period of transition for her, but I think once the dust settles, she will be happy, comfortable, and safe in her new home.

My life has been busy these past several months, and I am a blessed woman. In spite of the busyness (is that a word?), I hope to write more often here. No promises, but I've got some ideas running around my head that I need to give voice to. Oh yes, I'm still alive! :)