As another decade draws to a close, it brings a lot of remembrances.
Tim (husband) was diagnosed with cancer in 2004. He lived approximately 3 1/2 months, after the diagnosis, before he died in 2005. He had taken a few weeks of chemo, to begin with, but that did not help. In that short period of time, before his death, he was able to have all his children visit him and, also, his mother, brother and sisters. During this time he also received his 30 year pin and a clock from the Post Office. He stayed busy enjoying the company of family and friends. Tim was at his best when he was surrounded by others or enjoying the one-on-one company of a friend. He also took the time to enjoy the "quiet" and "peace" of his home.
We had a good life. We were both in the Army, where we met, and traveled a lot while in the service. After we got out, we traveled Europe on a 1st Class Eurailpass. Traveling with Tim was a lot of fun. He was energetic and knowledgeable about the world.
I recall when we were on our way to Pompeii, we took the wrong train and ended up on Mount Vesuvius as rain started to fall. After we had taken a "local train" up the mountain, Tim informed me that for Mount Vesuvius to erupt again, all it would take is one drop of water to make its way down to the lava. We had gotten to the point on the mountain where we had to hike up the rest of the way; I now balked and demanded that we hightail it out of there. (Tim was very pleased with himself!)
During our travels we camped on the island of Sicily. (We had brought a tent and sleeping bags with us.) When we woke in the morning, we found the area was covered with ants. We decided to head back to Stuttgart and ditch the tent and sleeping bags and sleep on the train only. We bought a loaf of bread and a coke before leaving the island and put it in the backpack. When we got on the train, we got out our lunch. We split open the loaf of bread and it was full of ants, so all we had was a Coke for the day.
We saw the Coliseum and Nero's Garden in Rome. It is unbelieveable the cruelty that evil men are capable of! What brave men, women and children were the early Christian!!
We saw beautiful churches, open markets, and the gentle countryside of the "old country" was everywhere. We saw the fjords of Norway, and the windmills, tulips and The Minature Village in the Netherlands. We went through many museums. We sat on the beaches of Venice, Barcelona and Nice. In Paris we saw the world from atop the Eiffel Tower. We went to shows there, visited the museums and then found ourselves discovering the Arch of Triumph. When we took the wrong direction and ended up on the other side of the Bahnhoff (train station) we discovered another small "Arch of Triumph". Here, as we walked on, we found ourselves in the "red light" district of Paris.
While in Germany we visited many castles and wine and beer fests. There was always something to do. We danced on a riverboat that was a disco. There were many "gasthouses" where we enjoyed the German cuisine. We skiied the Alps for our honeymoon and spent a romantic get-away weekend riding the Rhine-River cruise, enjoying the castles and the shopping at the stops.
As we returned to the United States our adventures turned domestic. We got jobs and bought a house. We completely remodeled the house. Tim took on college, the Guard, working full-time and also managing a tri-plex we bought. It is amazing, when you are young, that you have the endurance to be able to manage. Through the years we raised four children. One child died from a congenital heart defect. How great the songs of joy from the angels must have been, when our little one went to heaven!
There is no way to condense into a short essay, life with the children. No treasures in the world or amazing wonders can take the place of watching a little child play. To be given the privilege of raising a child is the greatest blessing known. I had never really learned to "care for" or "love" children when I was young. Now, I am so thankful for my children AND I can also see children, other than my own, through a mother's eye. God's greatest gift of love, is the family! Money was a problem. Time was a problem. We endured many influences that come into one's life, but through it all--we survived. It took the Hand of God, and the help of family and friends...but we made it.
It was a good life. Now Tim is gone. The children are grown and making it on their own. It is time for me to find a new road. Whatever path the Lord will give me, I will be honored to go.
When my Mom and Dad got married, back in 1949, they, too, had stars in their eyes! My Mom LOVED big gardens. She came over from Norway and stayed with my Great Uncle Pete. 
He had a wood stove for cooking and used kerosene lanterns for light. The front porch, which was as big as the kitchen-dining room, had an oil burning stove, although I don't know at what point that was put in. There was also a root cellar that went under the house, with its entry right outside the kitchen window. Out the front door and perhaps half a football field away, was a big building that was used for storing grain. And, a short distance after that was the chicken coop, barn, pig pen and hay storage, all built in an L shape, with corrals on the inside of the "L". It was a place that, as kids, my brothers, sisters and I loved to explore!
