Grandpa's Hands ~ A Poem inspired by Bill Withers

Grandpa's hands raised in church on Sunday morning. Grandpa's hands holds another when praying, drops a dollar in red kettles, can hold a tender petal, knows when not to meddle. Grandpa's hands.

Grandpa's hands used to issue out a warning. He'd say, "Baby don't you climb that high, might fall down from the sky". "Might be bad boys at that dance; don't go wearing those tight pants". Grandpa's hands.

Grandpa's hands held a brand new baby. Grandpa's hands get so dry and crackly; get greased up with corn husker's cream. Always smell so soft and clean. Grandpa's hands.

 Grandpa's hands turned the velum page with care, underlined and notes everywhere. Used to whisper in the ear, "I'm your grandpa and I care; put your life in Jesus care, he's the answer anywhere. Grandpa's hands.

Grandpa's hands used to write me letters; drive to see me in any weather; buy me gifts from any store. Life is not like it was before. I don't have Grandpa anymore. 

When I get to Heaven's door, I will look for the one I adore. Grandpa's hands. 


Written by me (Rebecca Howell Gibson) to honor Donal Howell Sr. (Aug. 1928 ~ April 1997)
and Thomas Gibson Sr. (Oct 1928 ~ still alive and kicking)
Inspired by a song written by Bill Withers ~ Grandma's Hands

Making Much From Little

Our children have impressed me. In late July, the movers came and packed up all our house-hold items (including their toys).

The movers left behind many cardboard boxes and rolls of packing tape.

Our Max decided to make masks from the ends of the cardboard boxes.

The others joined in and came up with some unique creations.

They have had fun with their homemade masks.

I couldn't figure out what Grant's was. He told me today that it is, "An Electric Ghost". Okay. I'm not sure what that is exactly but, okay. Cool.

 Boo!  Zap!

I believe that Max is a genius. Maybe it's because I am his Mommy but, that boy has a mind that is impressive. Also, he is good at making much from little. He is also good at inspiring his brothers and sister to join him in the creative process.

Believe me, our children are not suffering from lack of toys. It has had the opposite effect. They are even more creative with what remains in our home. 

I don't miss the days of cleaning the playroom! Now I get to pick up pieces of cardboard and balls of packing tape instead.

Give a child a cardboard box as a gift. The creative ideas are endless.

I am thankful for

the randomness of life. I begin most days preparing breakfast and lunch for our four children. They each have their specific sandwich requests and usually breakfast request too. Some times I feel like a short-order cook. If we are running late, cereal is the only item on the breakfast menu.

The boys usually begin their day in front of our fireplace with their Lego bricks and characters. 

Charlotte and Benjamin love to help me in the kitchen.

Charlotte is the best at arm farts. She has excelled at the practice and it has become an art form. "Da-da-da-da-fart-fart-fart-fart..." You get the idea.  
Recently, I acquired a used washing machine from our children's school vice principal. 

 The vice-principal felt sorry for me and knew of my need for a little  help and randomly blessed me with this well used washing machine. It works well! On warmer days, I'll hang the wash out on our deck. Recently, I've been hanging the clothes on a rack the movers failed to pack when they packed up all our belongings back at the end of July. 

I came home this week to a business card from a detective at our local police department stuck to our side garage door. Of course, I panicked. What had I done wrong? Was my husband in some sort of trouble or dead?! Yikes! I called right away, not noticing the note he'd written on the back of his card, "Please call so we can set up a time to install a dryer". 
Yes, there are still acts of random kindness between strangers. I cried. With four children all under the age of 10, laundry can pile up quickly. They missed the soft bath towels and non-crunchy blue jeans; they didn't say anything about it and maybe I missed it more for them than they did. It also takes a few days to dry a favorite blanket in autumn. I am so thankful for this new/used dryer. Detective Greathead (yes, that's his super-hero name) and his plumbing friend installed it yesterday. I asked him how he found out about our family and our recent challenges and he said, "The school nurse Linda told me." I've done three loads of laundry already. It's a luxury to have fluffy towels again. 

My beloved got his Master's Degree! One perk of unemployment is he was able to have the "extra" time to finish up his degree. He began working on this degree while employed, using the benefit his company offered for educational reimbursement. He was almost done with his degree when his company was purchased by a foreign company and over time all employees were dismissed and the factory here closed. I am thankful for his parents who decided to pay the remaining costs so he could complete what he began a number of years ago. 

I am thankful for our oldest son Grant who is so happy when Daddy comes home from his job in MN to visit us for a while

and feels so sad when Daddy has to leave again.
I love that they have that kind of Father-Son bond.

I am thankful that we can enjoy the times in between.

I am thankful that our children are healthy and happy.

I am thankful that eventually our home will sell here so we can buy one in Minnesota and all be together as a family again. 

I am thankful for you.

Apples and more apples

A few weeks ago, dear friends of ours invited me and our kids to their home to make apple butter, apple crisps, or anything to do with apples. 

Their home was filled with the delicious aroma of apples and one baking pumpkin. Derrick is an ace at cooking and whipped up a meat, bread and pumpkin stuffing and baked it in the pumpkin.

While the children played with their three children, the ladies peeled and sliced and stirred and cooked apples. 

It was a special afternoon and a good way to use up the almost peck of apples our children had brought home from a recent field trip to a local farm.

The pumpkin meal was unique and delicious.  We came home with apple butter, apple crisps and apple sauce to enjoy.

Derrick and Irene have become dear friends of ours. They are intelligent, live as green as they can and always reach out to others in need. 

We are enjoying the last of autumn here in New England. The snow has melted and the last of the leaves are falling. Soon winter will come.

Mama Said There'd Be Days Like This...

I've had this song running through my head this week. Some of my days are so sweet. I end the day not having regrets, not wishing I'd done something different or said something nicer. Today was one of those days.

Our children still wake up early. Someone wakes up before the rooster every day. They don't pay attention to the clock or the recent time change. A few days ago Max was up at 4:40! I had to tell him to go back to sleep. He was ready for the day. I wasn't.

Charlotte is usually the last one up (good girl). Grant is usually our first riser. He has always been an early riser. He is also the one who could probably use a nap in the afternoon. I can tell when he starts crying about the simplest things. I know he misses Daddy. I do too. I give him a hug and he's better.

Ben starts sucking his thumb when he's tired or hungry. He still carries around a white cloth that is shredded and knotted. It's his comfort. He likes it when I call him "my sugar bunny bear". 

It's a wonderful thing being a Mommy. I feel like I am living a miracle each and every day.  It was dark by 4:30 today and they were ready for sleep early. I'm sure tomorrow one of them will be up before the rooster!
~ enjoy the rest of your weekend,  rebecca

Autumn Festivities

Due to the freakish storm that hit us last Saturday and the heavy snow that shut down power to over 70% of our town for a week, Trick-or-Treating was wisely postponed until this past Saturday and even then it was only allowed from 4 to 6 PM. 
This was a smart decision because there are still downed wires and tree limbs across many roads. 
Thankfully, we never lost power and had minor tree damage.

Our kids were excited to be able to dress up and knock on doors for candy. Our neighborhood is full of kids and for two hours late Saturday afternoon, there were ninjas, Darth Vaders, pilots, and Cleopatras on the run. 

We walked the mile and a half stopping to chat with neighbors,

let little ones greet our Pup-Pup, take a few photos, and collect more  treats.

They sorted their goodies and were allowed one treat before having a late supper. I made sure they all brushed their teeth really well before bedtime!

Three favorite childhood memories: 
1. dressing up
2. having candy to eat
3. getting to be with friends doing the same thing


I'm glad it's over. Now, what to do with four bags of candy?

First Snow

Just last week we were enjoying our autumn weather and the peak of foliage here in New England. It was getting cooler and we enjoyed evenings and mornings in front of our fireplace.

Then, a dusting of snow greeted us a few nights ago. Our children loved being in the dark of the night watching the snow lightly fall on their faces. That light snow melted by the next midday.

This past Saturday afternoon it began snowing and snowed all night and by yesterday morning it had stopped. The weight of the wet snow broke many tree limbs and caused power outages throughout our state. We were fortunate to have power but, three large tree limbs were broken from two of our trees and one of our pine trees bent down to the ground. Thankfully, I still have my pink rain boots and so I doubled my socks, left on my fleece pajama bottoms and pulled on flared jeans over those and went out to start moving the branches to our back bog. Then I began to shovel the wet snow from our driveway. I was listening to our neighbors snow blow their driveways and was hoping one would be a good neighbor and help me out (I am without a husband or snow blower and no winter gear right now) but, none did.

I was about a quarter of the way through and family friends of ours from church showed up with snow shovels and mittens for the kids. Grant and Max had been wearing socks over their hands and they were so happy to now have warm, dry mittens to wear. The four of us shoveled our driveway in no time and the boys carried the heaviest limb out to the back pile of wood.
The Thompson's are wonderful, quirky people. They have hearts of gold and were our true neighbors yesterday. We thank God for them.
It's nice to know that I have help when I need it and help even when I didn't ask for it.
I was willing to clear the snow and clean up the yard on my own but, it was sure nice to have help!