Catching Up - Great News

Saturday - November 13, 2010

On October 29 I received a phone call from David. It was a short conversation in that he wanted his Dad and me to check our email! Hmmmm . . . .I thought that was strange in that why didn't he just tell me whatever it was in the email over the phone.


So, I turned on the computer to check my email, and this is what I found . . . the cutest picture of Cora Ann . . . but wait . . . what does it say on her shirt????


That's right . . . there is going to be another little one in our family . . . with a due date around the end of June! We can't wait!!!!


Cora Ann will be a great big sister and wonderful protector of her little brother/sister!!!! We are so excited for another bundle of joy to enter this world and be part of our family. Grand babies - there's nothing like them!

Catching Up - Cora's Broken Leg :(

Friday - November 12, 2010

It was about the middle of October when our precious Cora Ann had an unfortunate accident. Her Mommy and Daddy took her to a park close to their new home in Bedford, Ohio. As with most parks and playgrounds they had the usual equipment that kids love to play on when available. We all remember the fun times we had on the swings, merry-go-rounds, monkey bars, and slides. Wheeeeeee!

But alas . . . . on her last ride down the slide, Cora's leg was underneath her causing it to twist the right way which resulted in a small break in her leg above her ankle and below her knee. Apparently she cried when reaching the bottom of the slide, but was able to walk and run with no indication her leg was broken. Because of the discomfort she was displaying, she was taken to the ER where they found she had a small break after looking at the xray. Oh how bad everyone felt - especially her Mommy and Daddy. The doctor said this was a common type of break for children when sliding down the slide. Her bones are more pliable which is why it was not as bad as it could have been. However, it still is classified as a break, and she had to be fitted with a cast!

The cast is to stay on for at least four weeks and she has adapted to it. It took her several days before she managed to figure out how to scoot, crawl, and eventually walk with it on her leg. You can't keep her down for long. It was rough for the first few days for Jeni because she had to carry her! Cora weighs around 30 pounds! She has a few days left before she goes back to have her leg checked - my how quickly those days have passed us by!

I have had a lot going on or I would have had this posting earlier. Hopefully during the next few days I will have everyone who reads the blog caught up with us, and what we have been doing!

They put a splint on Cora in the ER to help support brace her leg before she was taken to the pediatric orthopedic doctor.

Cora was so good when they put the "real" cast on her leg. She chose the color of the cast she wanted - blue matching her eyes!!!!!

Ahhh . . . she was worn out after getting the cast . . . sleepy time on the way home . . . something she does not do when in the car!!!

Cora is growing, thriving, loving her new home, and loving her family!!!! We love you Cora Ann!

All Have Now Gone Home

Friday - November 5, 2010

It was a sad day for the Whitman family. The last of the "Whitman Girls" has now gone Home to meet her rewards and to have a reunion with her parents, and ten siblings. Aunt Ruby was the last of the "girls" to leave her earthly home. But . . . there is "one" more still here. You might ask how? why? when I had just stated they were all gone.

The "One" is my mother, and she became that when she was at least three months old. Her biological mother died the day after giving birth to her youngest child. My grandfather asked one of his brother's daughters if she would take over the responsibility of caring for his youngest daughter, Irene. She needed to ask her parents, Holly and Polly Whitman. The daughter, Keller Whitman was 21 years old and apparently quite capable at caring for an infant.

Aunt Keller took the main responsibility for caring for my mother, but the other girls, especially the older ones also helped. Granny Polly and her husband Holly were considered "Mom" and "Dad" to my mother. She was part of their family. She became their eleventh daughter! That's right, they already had ten girls and one boy, thus Mom became their twelfth child!!!

They loved and cared for my mother as is she were a biological child. She was their sister!!!! Today we said good-bye to Aunt Ruby! We know she is no longer in pain and that she is back in the folds of her family she had here on earth along with all of her Heavenly family. Mom was sadden (as we all were) at the passing of Aunt Ruby, Mom said, "I am the only one left!" However she knows that she will be able to see them all again someday - all of her siblings, biological and foster sisters and brothers!!!!!

The following are pictures of Mom with her "foster" family; a family that gave her unconditional love, and she in return gave it back to them!

There was only four years between Mom and Aunt Ruby!

Aunt Ruby now had a younger sister!

Polly and Holly Whitman

They were actually Mom's Aunt and Uncle, but she called them Mom and Dad

Mom with Aunt Keller who was the cousin who took on the responsibility of caring for Mom as an infant.

Donald Whitman - the only son of Holly and Polly Whitman. He died at an early age due to a mining accident.

These beautiful ladies were instrumental in raising Mom to adulthood. They were all great role models and true Christian ladies.

Seated: Vivian Hall, Polly Whitman, Lillie Brumfield

Standing: Frankie Whitman, Lucy Whitman, Florence Hainor, Junia Layne, Ruby Whitman, Ella Whitman, and Keller Butcher. There are only nine daughters in the picture . . . a daughter, Nancy Whitman, died of complications from appendicitis.

These ladies were all loved by the family, the community, and the church. They will be and are truly missed!

Getting Older

Thursday - October 14, 2010

Saturday, I took my mother to her "cousin's reunion at her home church on Crooked Creek. She is 90 and was one of the oldest (if not the oldest)who was in attendance. She knew most of the relatives there, but she said she remembered them when they were little! The majority of those there had lost their parents, which was sad when they starting talking about things from the past. This year it seemed to affect Mom just a little more.

After a wonderful time of great fellowship and food, Mom decided she wanted to go see one of her foster sisters (cousin) who is a resident of a local nursing home. Aunt Ruby is 94 and has been a resident of the facility for two year. It was so heart breaking seeing all of the residents, but especially Aunt Ruby. She acted as if she knew Mom and called me "Suzy-bell" which she would always call me when I would first go in to see her at home.

She talked nonstop mainly about things that took place in the past. Mom was affected by this. She wanted to see her "sister" as she was years ago. But alas, that was not meant to be. To hear her rattle on talking to no one in particular was so sad. Aunt Ruby, seemed to be happy as well as we could tell with where she is, even though she is living in the past. She would laugh and talk and laugh some more.

Left to right: Mom, Aunt Frankie, and Aunt Ruby

There were many patients there who were moaning and groaning, which really made me stop and thank God that Mom has the health she does, and that Aunt Ruby's state of mind did not allow her to be upset with the sounds that echoed through those hallways.

Aunt Ruby had no children and was the youngest of the Whitman Aunts. Through the years, she and her sisters would take care of a sister that may have been ailing. Aunt Keller was bed fast for over a year and possibly it was closer to ten years; Aunt Lucy had cancer; Aunt Ella had heart problems; and Aunt Frankie also had problems with her heart. They loved one another and vowed to take care of each other. But Aunt Ruby outlived all her sisters, and even though they are not here on earth taking care of her, they are watching over her. She has many visitors - nieces, nephews, and her church family.

This is a picture of Mom's foster mother and sisters - yes, there are nine foster sisters with only one who had passed away - Nancy, as a young woman. She also had a foster brother, Donald, who was killed in a mining accident. Mom talks about them all with such fond memories.

The Whitman Aunts with their mother - Granny Polly

Seated; Vivian, Granny Polly, Lillie

Standing: Aunt Frankie, Aunt Lucy, Florence, Aunt Junia, Aunt Ruby, Aunt Ella, and Aunt Keller

These ladies took care of their mother and one another. They were all instrumental in helping raise their 11th sister - Irene - my mother! We always called those who lived at the home place "Aunt", why we didn't refer to the others as Aunt - I'm not sure!! Aunt Junia was married to my Dad's oldest brother, Uncle Son - so she was an Aunt! Aunt Ruby was closer in age to Mom, so she was a companion; Aunt Keller took a lot of the responsibility for caring for Mom - she was just like a grandmother to us, and a mother to Mom. Mom loved each and every one of these ladies. They made sure she knew her "real" father and siblings, and she became as close to them as she was her "foster" family.

Mom knows how fortunate she is that she is not in a nursing home. That is not an option as long as we (my brothers and me) are able to care for her. Many question why we don't hire someone to come in and stay with her. If for no other reason, my aunts would be an example as to why we don't. We promised Dad he would not have to worry about Mom - we would be there for her. We also helped Dad to take care of his parents. Mammaw and Pappaw lived in a house behind ours. after apaw died, Mammaw fell and broke her hip. She then stayed with us, but on occasion go and visit with her other children!

Life has had a way of taking the children off in many direction with so many activities that keep them busy, busy, busy. Many times they are too busy to visit or think about the older generation. All this older generation would like is to receive a call, a card, or a visit from their loved ones. Some day we all will get older and then maybe we will understand what it means - not just the aches and pain, but the loneliness and solitude that is experienced each day.

I came across a Bible verse that may sum up to many as to why we do what we do for Mom, and why we sacrifice much of our life to help her. The main reason we do it is because we love her! But this verse makes you think!

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
I Timothy 5:8 NIV

There are times when it isn't possible to care for the aging parents, and that is why we have the assisted living accommodations as well as the nursing home. If you and your parents have to go that route -we all understand - you don't forget them, but there are so many who are forgotten!!! Just like Mom, who wants to hear from her grandchildren, family, and friends even though one of us is always there with her this older generation loves to hear from all from her past. You might be surprised at how much she lights up when she gets a call, a visit, or a card from those she thinks has forgotten her. It wears her out when she travels a long distance - even the trip to Logan County wore her out, so it is nice when she gets visits, cards, and the phone calls!

As I get older, I pray that I will not put a burden on my family, and that I will be able to take care of myself until it is time for me to go Home!

All I Can Do Pray

Monday - October 11, 2010

All I Can Do Pray

. . . do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34 NKJ

"An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up." Proverbs 12:25 NIV

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Have you ever felt anxious; worried about what tomorrow might bring for you or your loved ones? Even though we as Christians know what the Bible tells us, it is a human trait we sometimes have trouble letting go! We become anxious when waiting to hear word about a loved one or close friend who may be ill; or when waiting to hear news about a business or educational decision. Our stomach churns; we become anxious; can't sleep or eat; and we pray!!

I admit – I tend to worry about family, friends, the economy, and oh so many other things. I pray daily that all will be well and trouble free. I KNOW GOD is in control. I try to knock those worries out of my mind – sometimes I can, other times I can’t. What I want may not be in God’s Plan; therefore I really need to accept that, which I do after much praying, crying, and praying some more. Many have told me that to worry is a sin! I know they mean well to try and get me not to worry. I know they pray about their concerns, but I’m sure there is that churning in the pit of their stomach wondering and praying for a resolution for those things weighing heavy on their hearts.

I do know what I need to be doing! . . . And I do it daily – actually, many times a day! I am who I am – I am and have always been a person who tries to make it right for all I love, but I know I can’t always make that possible. I will always try - many times it will not be enough - and many time I will be hurt because all I did wasn't enough. I am a "silly goose" as Bill calls me, but I will continue trying to do my best to make those around me happy, at peace, comfortable, and healthy.

All I can do is pray