The Quietness . . . "Be Still and Know . . . ."

Wednesday - February 8, 2012

As we all have done at one time or another when we have lost a loved one, we tend to think about the quietness that surrounds us. During the past few days that quietness seems to have gotten "louder!" But this quietness was one that brought me back to a passage from Psalms that had been the theme of a Ladies Retreat I had attended several years ago.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalm 46:9-11

So as our world seems to be changing, I felt this verse telling me to remember that God is always there . . . "Be still," and we shall feel His presence. We must be still because of what we know about God, and that He is the one who will guide us through this quiet time - this time of sorrow, just the way we knew He always would.

I have many devotionals that I read from, but this verse kept coming to me . . . I need to be still and know that God is here, and that Mom is now in His Heavenly Home.


“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth do change”
Psalm 46:1-2a

A Simple Lady, A Caring Lady, An Elegant Lady

Wednesday - February 1, 2012

Our precious mother joined her Heavenly family on Saturday, January 28, 2012. She was 91 and lived a long life as a Christian lady, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She will be greatly missed by us all. The Pastor who was to oversee her service had pneumonia. Therefore we asked the Pastor from my nephew and niece's church if he would do the service. Mom had attended his church on occasion, and he came to visit while she was at the Hospice House. He was more than willing to do this for the family. He asked that we put together some thoughts, stories, or anything that would help him get a "feel" of who Mom was. Huh - oh . . . ask an English teacher to write a paper, and you may get a book ( or so some of the family thought!) :)

The following is what I put together to help him to know who we thought Mom was! He actually read it during the service. We love this simple, caring, and elegant lady with all our heart and will miss her everyday of our lives!!! One day, we will all be able to hug once again!! Love you Mom!!



Let's all stand and give five cheers for Mom. Why??? Because she was what motherhood was all about. She brought her family up praising God and thanking Him for what we had, and not what we didn't have. She lost her mother when she was only a day old, but she was brought up and nurtured by many who taught her what being a wife and mother was all about. She taught her children right from wrong; how to share, and why we should; how to be caring and compassionate towards others; to take responsibility, and to do the best we could; to never give up, and to keep trying regardless of the obstacles we may face; but most importantly, she taught us we were never alone!. Not only were she and Dad always there with us, supporting us all the way, but our Heavenly Father was always there too. She never lost her faith even when things were tough. She knew God was always there!

She was a simple woman, one who never wanted to be in the limelight. She was set in her ways, and as her family, we knew which way to go, and how fast we needed to move. Mike, the youngest, learned that at a very young age. He was "running" from Mom so that he wouldn't get "spanked", when all of a sudden, he fell into a "hole" (it was actually a footer our neighbor had dug), and Mom caught him!! He always thought she had dug the hole just so she could catch him! :)

She loved doing for other. If there was a luncheon at church, a party at school, or a Sunday School get-together at some one's home, she was more than willing to make something from scratch to take. She loved to crochet and had crocheted more than four hundred afghans. She never asked for anything in return. She delighted in seeing the joy on the faces of those who received the afghans. That was her pay . . . . making others happy.

She bowled for many years, but when the league she was bowling with folder up and were going to join the Senior Citizen's League, she was not thrilled about the move. She was about 83, and said, "I don't think I want to bowl with all those "old" people!" She was more than likely the oldest bowler. She never felt as if she was old! :)

Several years ago she was interviewed by an newly formed group - "Thanks! Plain and Simple" - who were trying to interview and recognize all the "Rosie the Riveters" from WV. They came to the house and taped the interview they did with her. She also went to Charleston to be recognized for having been a Rosie!! She was really worried about participating and doing the interviews. She kept saying she was afraid she would get into trouble for talking about her time as a Rosie! She was assured she would not get into trouble. She was still going by the guidelines for when she was working on the B-24's, and the fact that she was never to divulge ANY information about her job at the Ford Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, MI. 60 years later, she was still not giving out any "secrets!" When in Charleston, she realized "she" was going to have to speak to a group about her time as a Rosie. She did not want to do the speaking; she wanted me to speak for her, and when she realized I couldn't/wouldn't, she leaned over to her grand-daughter and asked, "where's the exit?" She was going to make a fast retreat!!! :):)

To sum her up, she was a true Christian lady. She loved her entire family with all her being; making sacrifices through the years so that they could have what they needed. She cared for all who were sick, not just her husband and children, but for anyone who needed her help. She was caring but firm; tender and loving; unselfish with her love; and tanked God everyday for all the blessings He had bestowed upon her.

She was my mother; She was the mother of my three brother - Dink, John, and Mike; the wife of our father - Elmer (Buck) Layne; the grandmother and great-grandmother to our children and grandchildren; but she was the one we always depended upon; the one who loved us regardless; the one to support is in all that we tried; she was our mother whom we loved so very much. She is with Dad and John now; she has been able to meet her mother for the first time! We are sad, but we are happy for her. We love you Mom - always will!

Home Made Gifts!

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Creativity seems to be in my nature. I will take a pattern and put a spin on it that is my own. I love doing crafts - crocheting, sewing, beading, cross-stitch, plastic crafts, and even quilling. Some of which I have more practice in doing, but I will attempt all. I may get frustrated with a pattern, but I will set it off to the side, go back to it later and most times the light comes on, and I am able to complete the project. What I love the most is that when I give away these home made projects that the recipient is appreciative of the gift, and knows that it was made with love! These projects have flaws, because I am not perfect, but they are filtered with a lot of love!

I give Mom, Dad, and my grandparents the credit for my love of working with my hands and trying to be creative. Their generations made many of their items they needed because that was the cheapest and best way to get them. It today's society, they would be classified as antiques. For me they are precious memories that once belonged to those I love.

I also give God my thanks for giving me the ability to work with my hands and to be as creative as I can. Some people say they can't do anything . . . you never know until you try! God has blessed us all with a talent, we just need to find it and put it to use! :)

Someday when I am gone, it would be nice to think that something I made and gave to a loved one will pull it out of storage and say that it was made by me with love!!! Mom has many people who will tell her that they have the baby blanket she made them when they were born. It tickles her to death that they kept it!

I don't make these things for compliments; I make them because I love doing it and hope it will be please the person receiving the gift knowing they are loved!

The following are some of the things I've made since October. I started making things for Mom to contribute to her Christmas Bazaar at church. Others are things I made for some very special "little ones!"

Crocheted Santa's which were turned into pins. I used a different type of thread to help Santa have a fluffier beard!

This plastic container is full of goodies I made for Mom to take to the Christmas Bazaar!

I used #3,#5, and # 10 thread to make a variety of coaster sets!

I didn't make coaster sets in just Christmas colors, but I used a variety of colors and a variety of cotton thread!
Mom and I put the "makings" for chicken noodle soup in a jar! I decorated the top with a Christmas theme! After all, they were going to be part of the Christmas Bazaar! :)

A first for me this year was putting a topper on kitchen towels! I have to admit that in the beginning it almost got the best of me! Again, I did not stay with just a Christmas theme!

With the aide of iron- ons, I made a couple of things for Cora and Ben. Ben got a t-shirt with a tie; Cora got her "red" shirt with sparkles, and she also got an apron with her name in red! I was a little disappointed that all of the "iron-on" pattern did not attach to the material!

I know a couple of precious girls who are huge MU fans!!! So the received a shirt to show their support for their favorite college team!

I also made them a hat and scarf. Their MU monkey also received a matching set!

Working with my hands is therapy to me. I do much of the crocheting while staying with Mom. It helps keep me focused on the positive, and not worry about things I have no control over. mom loves watching me work on a project, and loves when I have to pull out the mistakes and start all over again! she loves looking at all the finished pieces. She is a major part of why I make what I make!

"My Kids" - Then and Now

Monday - December 26, 2011

Those who know me, know how much I love my nieces and nephews. As each one joined the "Layne" family, it was my responsibility to spoil them rotten!! Isn't that what aunts are to do??? As I got older, I realized that my "biological" clock was running out and that "my children" would be the children of my brothers and sisters-in-law! I also counted the students I had in the classroom as "my kids!" I did end up with a step-son whom I love, as well as his family, very much!

These seven were the seven I could never have!! No I wasn't always there when they were sick, going through the growing pains, or even on all their celebration - but I loved them and worried about them as much as if I were there! (Still do!) I pray that they would go through life the way God would have them to, and that they will always be happy and thankful for all they had!

I came across these pictures - the older ones - several weeks ago and thought it would be great to have an updated version!!! But getting all of them together is not an easy task. Their work schedules, family obligations, and the distances they live away from me always seemed to keep a gathering difficult to plan. But, on Saturday, December 17, they ALL managed to come in and see their Mammaw at the same time! Ahhhh, Aunt Sue was going to be ready with the camera!!! Here in the last six or seven years, the only time the cousins were together was when someone close to them all passed away. I really wanted them to get together at least once not because of the passing of another family member. I wanted it to be about all of them enjoying one another as they did when they were younger!! I also wanted Mom to be able to see them all and enjoy it as well!!!

They all converged in on the small house on Virginia Avenue! Mom had no clue they were coming in! My two brothers (Dink and Mike), three sisters-in-law (Rhonda, Laurie, and Debbie), along with my nieces and nephews and their families surprised Mom and gave her the best Christmas present ever! It was a great day - so many stories of things they had done in the past; so many stories that made us all laugh; and so many stories that included Dad and John! All happy memories that bond us together as a family forever.

The following pictures are my "Then and Now" pictures. The then pictures were taken approximately 25 years ago . . . my, my, where has the time gone! I love these "kids" so much!! The last picture is one of my great nieces and nephews - all who live up North in the state of Ohio!!! I wish I were closer so I could spoil them too!!!

This picture was actually taken on January 22, 1989 - mine and John's 39th birthday!

left - right: Meghan, Dawn, Lindsay, JD, Billy, Todd, and Bobby.

December 17, 2011 at Mom's

back to front: Billy, Lindsay, Bobby, Meghan, Mom, JD, Dawn, and Todd; Dink is sitting in the chair on the left.

"My" boys in the front yard at Mom and Dad's - the line-up left to right: Billy, JD, Bobby, and Todd

Billy, JD, Bobby, and Todd

"My girls" sitting on my bed at Mom's - left to right: Meghan, Dawn, and Lindsay.

Meghan, Dawn, Lindsay

Oh they were not happy with Aunt Sue on this day! I stopped their playing to take a picture - just love how they cooperated! :)

back row - left to right: JD, Bobby, Todd, and Lindsay

front row - left to right: Dawn, Meghan, and Billy

(in their defense, the sun was shining brightly that day - thus the looking down and shielding their eyes)

Standing - left to right: JD, Bobby, Meghan, Todd, Lindsay, and Billy;

Sitting - Dawn

Love the smiles!

This is a picture of the great-nieces and nephews sitting with Mom!

left to right: Courtney, Gavin, Alex, Aaron, Emily, Caleb, Mom, Brooke, Jenna, and Allie G

I love "my kids" so much!!!! Even though I am only "Aunt Sue," "Aunt Soup," and "Suebee," I feel as if they are like my own!!!!!

Crafts With Cora Ann

Friday - October 28, 2011

I love crafts! Some of my interest and love for crafts may come from my early years of teaching! We had no art teacher, so as an elementary teacher, I was responsible for the art activities my students did! I wanted it to be fun, easy, and something they would be proud of!!!! I haven't lost that love for helping younger ones work on a craft.

I have taken a big interest in a site on the web in which ideas are available for us to see and use. The site is called Pinterest! While browsing through their many pictures, I came across and idea that I thought Cora Ann would enjoy. All that was needed included pinwheel macaroni, tacky glue, paint brush, and glitter. Using the glue, you will start forming a snowflake by gluing the pieces together. Using the glitter, you would be putting the "shimmer" on each snowflake.

I also had parchment paper, small paper doilies, and paint brushes. I used the parchment paper as a way to protect the table. The paper doilies were used as a means for Cora to see where she could place the pinwheels! And since I bought glitter glue, we used the brushes to spread the glitter all around!

Cora was a very willing and capable "student!" She grasped the idea quickly and was following my directions swiftly. She even got her Granddad to help with the snowflakes! She was watching closely what I said and did, and when it was her turn to do the work, she made sure she put the pinwheels in the right spot!!!!! You will see some of the finished products in the following pictures!

Concentrating on the placement of each shell!!!

She was looking at Mammaw to make sure she was doing it correctly!

Back to work . . . . She was putting the glue on the shell so she could attach it to another one on the doilie

She was very meticulous as to where each shell belonged! You can see one of the flakes drying in the lower left hand side in the following picture!

Deep concentration when putting the glitter in the snowflake!One thing we did discover was that Cora did not like getting the glue on her fingers!


Once we were finished with the snowflakes . . . . Cora want to play with her play dough!Rolling the dough up into a ball

We ended up making purple snowmen!

We both enjoyed doing crafts with Cora ANN! It won't be long before Ben will be at the table with us! :):) Cora Ann was a very good and attentive student!