Tag Archives: Family Life

The Price of Exercise

11 Oct

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

In previous musings, I have mentioned that I have been an “exerciser” for most of my life – well, at least most of my adult life. I guess I really became serious about it while we were living in Panama City, Florida in the early 1970’s. We were actually living on Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB).

1

 

I don’t really know what motivated me to start jogging, but that’s what I did. The ground there is pretty flat, so there weren’t any “hills” or even much of any kind of incline to thwart my progress.

And so it was, that I was jogging for about three months before I shamed Fred into getting into the program with me (he says we were actually RUNNING – not jogging!). We would get up quite early and go out together. When we came home, Fred would shower and get ready for his work day while I got the girls up and breakfast on the table. After everyone was gone, then I would go out for another run. I timed myself once, and found that I was running four miles in 28 minutes!! Not bad for an old lady of 40!

And speaking of an “old lady of 40,” perhaps the motivation was that I decided that I did NOT want to be a fat old lady, and was half-way to both! At least, that’s what I told Fred! And so, the exercise program began.

Some form of that exercise continued for many years. We were in Panama City for five years, then in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas for one year (Fred was in school – not the prison!!). And in case you don’t know – it SNOWS a LOT in Kansas! But we bundled up, including ski masks and did our daily run. Then on to Germany from there.

It wasn’t long before I discovered aerobic dancing while in Germany, and realized that I couldn’t do both the jogging and the aerobic dancing, and since I was teaching the aerobic dancing (and getting paid for it), I stopped the jogging. I continued teaching, even for about seven years after we rotated back state-side.

While I enjoyed the results of all that exercise, I can’t honestly say that I enjoyed the exercise itself. The aerobic dancing was by far more fun that jogging, but it was still exercise, and I was still dripping sweat like crazy!!

In any case, I found this cartoon once, and thought it described my attitude toward exercise exactly. I hope you enjoy it, too! Credit to Johnny Hart:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , ,

Showers of Love~Part 2

27 Sep

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

As I mentioned last time, God has blessed me richly with a wonderful husband who has been literally catering to my every whim and need since I’ve had total knee replacement surgery.

2

 

But I am blest with others, as well. We’ve had wonderful friends who have brought meals to us, along with visits to encourage us both. We’ve had phone calls and cards wishing us both well. Our church family is the only support group we need. They supported us when I had cancer back in 2000, and they are just as supportive now.

But there is one other I want to mention. As soon as we called our oldest daughter, Karen, with the news when the surgery was to be, she said she wanted to come and help out. Fred said she didn’t need to, but her reply was “what if I WANT to come?” And we told her to “come on down!” And she did.

3

 

There wasn’t any need for her to be here the four days I was in the hospital, so she arrived the day following my discharge from the hospital, and she stayed five days. It was so good to see her and have her here. She did the cooking (remember, Fred isn’t much of a cook!), and helped me in and out of my chair. She unhooked me from the ice machine that ran across my knee 22 hours a day, and then hooked me back up. She encouraged me to do the exercises to jump-start my healing process.

And we had some great times of just sitting and visiting. We always seem to have something to talk about, and this time was no exception. I did mention to her that there were times that I wanted to just pick up and run to her and her sister, when they were having health issues – just because….. Perhaps just because I’m Mom. Karen had an unknown ulcer issue a few years back that scared us silly. My immediate response was to fly up there to take care of her. Her sister had emergency appendectomy surgery the week before our grandson’s wedding – and I wanted to jump on the plane and be with her. None of which could I do. So I fully understood Karen’s desire to just come be with Mom. Made this old heart glad, too

Karen and her husband, Brian, have been our traveling partners on many adventures, and they are great fun to travel with. Brian is a planner, and he works it out to see as much as possible on each trip. We are always delighted when they ask us to travel with them.

 

 

God has given me the blessings of family and friends that touch my heart in so many ways.

I am blest, indeed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , ,

Growing Up~Part 1

9 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

                                                 

Frequently, when I’m trying to find something to write about, I will go back through my pictures and find something that teases my interest. I did that recently, and discovered that I have some really delightful pictures of myself and my brother as we were growing up. Therefore, I would like to share those wonderful memories with you all. Here’s the first installment.

Billy and I were both born in Dallas, Texas.

Billy Lites
Judy Lites (later Wills) bBeing held by her Mother

And by-the-way – we called him “Billy” until he was about 14 years old when he decided he wanted to be called “Bill.” But for this purpose, he will be Billy.   He is about 3½ years older than I am, and while we had our ups and downs that most siblings have, we are overjoyed to be living within an hour of each other now. We really like each other much more now that we are adults!

Since we have Google and other browsers at our fingertips now, I looked up our old house in Dallas, and was pleased to see that the latest owners have really kept up the house – including adding an in-ground swimming pool in the back yard! So I guess the neighborhood has not gone downhill as I feared it might! Here’s a picture of our Mother with Billy and me in front of our house. Billy is 4½ years old, and I am one year old.

4

You can see by this picture of the neighborhood that Billy, by the age of about six months or so, was already into trucks and such.

5

Those of you who enjoy really old cars, will get a kick out of the cars in this photo and others to follow. These pictures were taken in the late 1930’s-to-early 1940’s. Enjoy! Here are a few other pictures of him….with a model airplane – see, he really DID start at an early age loving airplanes.

6

Remember his post about having that toy parachute (August 27, 2014)? Here is a picture of him with it.

7

And do you remember my post about the furniture that our grandfather made out of empty spools of thread (October 26, 2012)?   Here is a good picture of Billy with the child’s chair Grandpa made.

8

We don’t have those chairs anymore, but we do have other furniture he made for the family. Our mother had some, and her sister, our Aunt Jessie, had some, and now Bill and I each have some of that furniture, to remember a man who was so creative.

Here’s a picture of Billy and a second cousin, Jimmy Mac. Billy was only two years old.

9

And here’s another picture of the two of them – with me in the mix – when they were three years older.

10

And here’s a good picture of our Mother and Father, with Billy, when he was two years old.

11

And this one is of the four generations – Billy, our Mother, her Mother (our Granny), and Granny’s father.

12

Neat, neat, neat. I just LOVE these old pictures!

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Tags: ,

Granny~Part 4

2 Aug

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

                                                    

 

In my previous musing, I spoke about my Granny’s gift of sewing. She was a master at it. And all on her old Singer treadle sewing machine.

 

Back in those days, we girls wore either hoops under our full skirts, or lots and LOTS of crinolines, to make our skirts “stand out.” Some of the things that Granny made for me fell in the category of very full – probably a full circle – skirt made from heavy felt. I loved them all. I remember a fuschia skirt,

2

a turquoise skirt,

3

and especially a red skirt that was made for a 1955 Christmas parade in which I took part. I was in Junior High School then (equivalent to Middle School these days). It was named Jefferson Junior High School, and our colors were red and white. Here’s a picture of a bunch of us girls in our red and white, spelling out “Jefferson.”

4

Granny also made a taffeta dress for me for Easter in 1955. My, I was such a young thing then!

5

Granny had a bit of a green thumb – which she did NOT pass along to me! Her favorite was the African Violet, and she had many small pots of them in the kitchen corner window. She had a real knack of caring for them, and enjoyed all the different colors of the plants she had.

6

Occasionally Granny would travel back to Texas for a visit with her sisters (Loa and Lillie).

7

 

Since Aunt Jessie was the working one in the family, Granny went alone. Here is a picture of her at the original Albuquerque airport.

8

 

Notice the Pueblo Indian architecture (adobe) as well as the vigas protruding from the building (horizontal roof beams made of logs, usually protruding from the side of the house). We had those on our house, as well, although I think ours were more decorative than useful. When we were children-into-teens, we would go out to the airport, sit on the stone wall and watch the airplanes come and go. The original landing strip was also used by Kirtland AFB, so we got to see quite a few airplanes. And it was spectacular at night! That was also a great place to watch the July 4th fireworks!

I also mentioned Granny’s great sense of humor. Here is an example from DiVoran – my wonderful sister-in-law (love), and published author:

I recall one thing Granny said that tickled my funny bone. We were all in the kitchen washing and drying dishes, except Jessie. I had just put a plate I had dried quickly in the cupboard and Granny reached up and touched it, then she said, “Hmm, feels like it sweated during the night.”

Another thing, I asked my mother why she thought Jessie didn’t help with the dishes like all the other women did. I don’t think Mother’s answer held much water. She said it was because Jessie worked every day just like the men did and that exempted her. At the time, I bought it, but thinking back, who else worked their forty a week? Your mom and mine.

I loved my Granny, and memories of her still delight me.

 

~~~~~~~~~~The End~~~~~~~~~~

9

 

 

 

9

Tags: , ,

Washing Dishes

27 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistI have almost always washed dishes, sometimes I had help, sometimes not. When I was a child, Mother called on me when the restaurant got too busy for her, Dad, and a waitress, if we had one, to handle. My brother washed dishes with me. Usually I washed and he dried. To amuse ourselves we bickered or stacked the dishes in the drainer as high as possible stopping just before they began to topple. We called it making castles. Our parents paid us 25¢ an hour. One day I was at my friend, Patricia Franklin’s house for supper. I loved the Franklins, a big catholic family with five boys and one girl. The girl, Patricia, was my best friend, and I had a crush on one of her brothers. He didn’t have a crush on me.

Usually, Patricia and I washed the dishes after supper when I was there. The Franklins 1obviously had other arrangements when I wasn’t. On this summer evening, when I went into the kitchen to start on the dishes, I figured somebody would follow. To my surprise, no one came. I washed all the dishes by myself and left them to dry piled majestically into a fine castle. I got a lot out of the experience. For one thing I was pleased that my skills were such that someone besides my own family needed me. For another, being so responsible make me feel like a grown-up. The third thing was that I felt I was expressing my regard for the family and they would all pleased with me. I don’t know whether that ever happened, because I’m not sure they knew they had a martyr in their midst. Of course, their being Catholic, I wouldn’t be even a minor martyr compared to the ones the had read about. But I felt good about myself, anyhow.

A restaurant customer once said I was the chief cook and bottle-washer. I couldn’t claim the first part-but the second part was true. I have been washing dishes for 70 years. Every country on this globe has people who can make the same claim (if they have dishes, and more to the point, if they have food).

Now there’s only Bill and me. Together we keep the kitchen moderately clean. I’m glad I have things like that to do. I heard a story once from a friend who visited a rehab center. She gave a talk and after refreshments, one of the elderly women took her plastic cup over to a sink where she slowly and lovingly washed and dried it. You see, she had no home to care for anymore. I’m glad I have jobs to do even now. I thank God for dishes and for everything that goes with them. Also I thank him for my electric dishwasher, even though one of us has to wash them by hand before we put them in or they won’t come out clean.

Tags: , ,

The missing rings~Part 1

20 Jul

My Take

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistIf you’ve ever had anything stolen, you have probably experienced the emotions and imaginations that plague victims everywhere. I always kept my engagement and wedding ring (which had been fused together by a jeweler fifty-seven years ago) on the top of my dresser on a solid glass ring holder along with a dinner ring left to me by Bill’s mother. The rings had a history together. Bill’s aunt gave him the diamonds for my rings when he wanted to get engaged. Later Bill’s mother wanted new rings and asked if I’d mind if she had hers made like mine, only in yellow gold. I didn’t mind. We didn’t even live in the same town any more. After Bill’s dad died, his mother again changed rings, only this time, she took the diamonds from her engagement and wedding rings and had them made into a beautiful dinner ring. When she went home to Heaven she left them to me. I’d been wearing both for many years, but only wore them when I went out so that they didn’t get in my way when I cooked, typed, or washed my hands.

One day, I was rushing to go somewhere on time and because the rings were always the last thing I put on, I reached for them. They weren’t there, but Bill’s wedding ring, which I sometimes wear was. I thought I recalled hearing something fall down behind the dresser, so I knew they were safe. I put Bill’s ring on and left. I figured I would find them later. Better yet, I would wait until somebody big, strong, and younger than us came over and could move the dresser. Bill has shoulder issues and my chiropractor doesn’t want me scooting heavy things.

That day I was having lunch with my daughter, but I decided not to tell her about the rings because I’d soon have them in hand and there was no need to worry her. It took several days before I even told Bill. The next morning while I was out for my walk he moved the dresser to look for them. They weren’t there. I moved the dresser myself to look for them, which was not too smart.

I then started looking in earnest. I looked all through the house, went through the dresser drawers. They needed to be organized, anyway. I looked through my few purses, checked every pocket of every garment I own, and thoroughly searched the car. No rings anywhere.

wedding-ring on satin jpg

Tags: , , ,

Are electronic devices the doom of family time?

2 Jul

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

FrienI'm a winner

The heat wave here in the hills last week, kept me inside chilling with the A/C. This week is much more pleasant, weather wise and fun wise.  We have been enjoying a visit from a Florida forever friend and have taken some short but scenic drives. When we haven’t been out enjoying the sights, we seem to gravitate to a comfy space and spend time on our “devices” At first thought, this seemed a bit anti-social. But today I realized, it is very much like the “olden days” when people would grab a section of the newspaper to read, then share a laugh or tidbit of news with everyone else.

Last evening our daughter Rebekah flew up  to spend the holiday with us. We always have a good time when we are together here in the hills. There was a lot of excitement going on this morning. We could hear a mowing/chopping machine moving through the neighborhood. Our roads are communtiy owned and we hadn’t paid for any maintenance. Those machines are impressive! The saplings that were crowding the road were no match for this beast. I watched, fascinated as it’s arm reached out and leaned the tree over then began chopping and grinding. By the time  the machine moved on, the road looked like a tornado had been through. Can you tell it doesn’t take much to entertain me? Meanwhile, our friend from Florida was so excited about the cool temperature that she insisted on dead heading our rose bushes.I made the barest of protests before handing her the pruning shears. We now have tidy rose plants and clean (sort of ) road sides. What a day!  But wait, there’s more. Our son and his family came for dinner and even though it was raining, the husband set up a large umbrella and grilled chicken. I had brined it that morning and it was so juicy, we all enjoyed it. After dinner we played some rounds of Would You Rather and Apples to Apples with the grandchildren, who like everyone’s grandchildren, are the most beautiful, adorable and smart grands around.

To finish the evening after our son went home  we spent time on our back porch, listening to the drip-drip of the rain and enjoying the fireflies. Rebekah reminisced about the fun she had chasing them each summer and I smirked remembering the blessed relief of not having to entertain her! Then we all retired to our comfy spots and picked up our electronic devices, kind of like the times when cities had a morning and evening edition of the newspaper.

Tags: , , ,

Snow

21 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

Growing up in New Mexico, we had our share of winter snow. As a matter of fact, the mountains just outside the city, to the East, were and still are, some of the best snow skiing in the country.

2

 

It’s one of those “best-kept-secrets.”

3

 

Of course, some winter storms dropped more snowfall than other years (18″ one year in one night), but it seems like we always had snow.

4

 

I was all but surprised to find that Fort Worth, Texas had snow as well! I guess I had always thought of Texas as hot and dry. But there was one winter when we were literally snowed-in for a couple of days. We were in an apartment building, with parking in the back, and we couldn’t get out of the driveway. Yea!!! We couldn’t get to work!

 

 

 

And, of course, when we moved to northern Maine for that one year, we had plenty of snow! More than we ever wanted.

7

 

Karen was not quite four-years-old when we left there, and her impression of snow was that we were snowed in – because she could look out her second-story window, down on the roof of the stoop below and see the snow stacked high.

 

But for the five years we lived in Panama City, Florida, we didn’t have snow. Well, once it snowed about half-an-inch, but that was it. It was funny, actually: I happened to be driving by the elementary school at the time it was snowing, and one child was in the stereotypical stance of standing-spread-eagle, tongue hanging out, trying to catch snowflakes on their tongue! Our girls did a lot of their growing up years there, so they were unaccustomed to snow.

So it was, that when we went to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, they had their first real taste of snow. It happened overnight, and we awoke to snow on the ground. Those of you reading this who are old enough to remember, many years ago Toyota had a little jingle that went: “You asked for it….you got it…..Toyota.” Well, I did a bit of improvising to that jingle, and woke each daughter up singing that tune: “You asked for it…you got it…it snowed last night!” They were up and out of their beds in a flash and dash to the window!

I don’t remember how much they played in it – probably more than I remember. There were other children in our little cul-de-sac, and I’m sure someone had a sled. But after wading through it to school every morning for months, they weren’t so thrilled with it. But that’s part of life, right?

It’s nice to have those kinds of memories, however. Adds a little spice to our life.

 

 

 

Tags: , , ,

I’m so messy

11 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I need to just come out and say this. I… am…messy. I have been a messy from my earliest memories of childhood playing with sweet Ruthie who had bouncy white blonde curls and never got her hands dirty, while we played in the dirt.

Even today, if you are brave enough to have lunch or dinner with me, be prepared to watch food fall from my fork and onto my clothes. I just can’t help it. Another fun place to be near me is in the kitchen. I can’t seem to cook without making the kitchen look like a FEMA claim. The floor get so littered I keep this handy battery powered broom to scoop up the debris. A disclaimer here, in case I bring a covered dish to your house, I am messy in the kitchen but I make sure that everything starts out clean and as germ free as I can make it.

I have struggled with this in my housewifely skills as well. Clutter, clutter everywhere. If anyone can tell me how to keep a house with no “secret” sitting room look permanently tidy, please share your wisdom! I am to the point where I am tired of losing the clutter battle and ready to wave the white flag of surrender.

As I finished typing the previous paragraph, Jeremiah 31:3 was running through my brain.

God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.

    Expect love, love, and more love!

 That is The Message version. I know being messy doesn’t equate to being brought out of the wilderness as the verse is referring to, but it delights my heart anyway. And to add a divine touch, as I looked out the upper window in my messy living room, I saw a beautiful, brilliant red cardinal on a tree limb; more magnificent than any I have seen in my yard.

Tags: , , , ,

Lost and Found

20 May

A Slice of Life

Bill Lites

Bill Small Red Plane

This morning I was getting ready for a busy day making a list of things to do. I was heading to Merritt Island for my monthly Chiropractor appointment and had several things to do along the way. DiVoran wanted me to pick up some special cat treats at the animal pharmacy that the Vet had recommended. Then there was a small paper bag of empty supplement bottles she wanted me to drop off at another doctor’s office, and the Chiropractor appointment at 9:30. After my chiropractor appointment, I was going to stop at Penney’s to by some new undies for myself. All of this needed to take place before I made my way to Viera to meet my daughter Charlene for lunch at 12:00.

I have my daily prescription pills and vitamin supplements divided up into three groups. I take one group at each meal so they are not overwhelming all at once. When I go out for a meal I place that group’s pills in a small plastic bag that I can slip into my pocket, so I’ll have them to take after that meal. I also had a map I had marked up showing the route I planned to take on my next trip to show to my daughter at lunch.

1

 With all that done, I started taking things out to the car in preparation for my short little trip of the day. I got everything stowed in the car, but was missing the small bag of pills. I must have left them on the dining room table when I put them in the bag. But, they weren’t there. So, I started in the bedroom, and looked in every room in the house. They were nowhere to be found. I went to the car and looked through everything I was taking for the day. Not there either. I searched my pockets again. Nothing. Any of this sound familiar?

Well, about that time DiVoran came in and asked me what was wrong? I told her, and she casually said, “Have you asked your Friend where they are?” Duh. Why does it seem that this is the last thing I do, instead of the first thing? So, a little sheepishly, I thanked the Lord that I had misplaced the bag of pills, ask Him to forgive me for not putting Him first, and ask Him to please show me where I had left it.

I had been standing looking out of my bedroom window as I prayed. I turned around and walked across the room to my dresser. I opened the drawer where I keep the small empty plastic pill bags, and there was the bag with my lunch pills lying on top. What in the world would have prompted me to put that bag of pills back in the drawer? I just couldn’t figure out why I would have done that. Then it came to me. “I need to trust the Lord in all things, not just the big things, but the little things too.” I know He cares for us, and is always there to hear when we call out to Him to help us, but I tend to forget about that and try to do things myself. It’s not that I don’t trust Him. I guess it’s just that sometimes it’s such a small thing, and I’m sure I can handle it, that I don’t even think to ask Him first for the help I need.

But, each time something like this happens, it brings me a little closer to remembering to go to the Lord first, instead of muddling around in frustration on my own.

 

I Thessalonians 5:16-18(NIV)

Tags: , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →