Pierce Park in the simple days

July 16, 2023

Sitting here at Pierce Park, July 16 Memories come flooding in as I sit here watching the kids play on the playground at this time it would be the Fourth of July carnivals here at Pierce and the fairgrounds the games the people in the days to come sitting in grandma and grandpa‘s front yard waiting for the fireworks. It’s amazing how many generations that this part has affected and has no so many memories this park is one of the grandkids, favorite, my mom and her siblings how many memories they have here growing up me my cousins from grandma side they’ve had memories here and now, my grandchildren and my kids, it’s just amazing how it piece one can feel being in a park were you know all your family have been at at one point in time of your life making memories I hope my kids grandkids are building memories of a lifetime that when they come back here, when their grandkids are playing on the playground, it’ll come flooding back to them as it is me right now

God’s beauty

Each and every time I look out one of the windows at the hospital I am in an awe at God‘s beauty. The color palette of greens in the summer and the vibrant colors in the fall. Absolutely amazing! It gives me peace. This afternoon, looking out the window from the sixth floor on a jury Dally afternoon, I am still at the same time. The trees were telling me something survive on what God provides that is telling me to continue to have faith that God does provide trees tend to withstand the strongest of storms. If we lean on God and have faith that will help us get through our storms, strong or minimal. When the sun shines down on us, the trees like us flourish in the love around us.

Doesn’t the sun make you feel warm and fuzzy sitting under a tree and a warm summer day give you the internal peace. Isn’t it amazing how enjoying the little things like the trees and the sun a make you feel. 

Difficult Day

"Today was a Difficult Day," said Pooh.

There was a pause.

"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Piglet.

"No," said Pooh after a bit. "No, I don't think I do."

"That's okay," said Piglet, and he came and sat beside his friend.

"What are you doing?" asked Pooh.

"Nothing, really," said Piglet. "Only, I know what Difficult Days are like. I quite often don't feel like talking about it on my Difficult Days either.

"But goodness," continued Piglet, "Difficult Days are so much easier when you know you've got someone there for you. And I'll always be here for you, Pooh."

And as Pooh sat there, working through in his head his Difficult Day, while the solid, reliable Piglet sat next to him quietly, swinging his little legs...he thought that his best friend had never been more right."

A.A.

Easier as time goes by

People say as time  goes by, life gets a little easier after a loved one has died. I am finding that the second year is harder than the first. Is because the numbness has worn off? Is it because there was so much loss in such a short time? I find myself wanting to share so much with you as the kids/grandkids get older. I find myself needing you. Needing your thoughts or your opinions. The other two people I’d go to are also gone. One died months before you and one years before you. Three people I could trust, be me, open up to, be loved unconditionally, and no be judged on my thoughts and actions. Maybe I put myself into projects to deal with that grief during the first year and now I don’t have anything to do to “avoid” dealing with the loss. Now it’s “real”. I’ll have patience this next year and have faith my grief will ease up and maybe even open myself up to another like I did you three. Until then, I will lean on my faith and pray for strength. 

Summer grief

This past summer and currently the fall is throwing grief at me in a way I wouldn’t have expected. Maybe that is why it hits so hard at times. 

During one of the hot spirts this summer I was out looking for a new pool for the grandkids. Came across a “splash pad”. Thought it would be cool and the kids would like it, which they loved. As I was watching the kids enjoy it,  mom came rushing to mind as well as the flood of tears. I was thinking that that pad would be something she would have purchased. She would have loved to be sitting out there watching them. I had many moments like that throughout the summer knowing mom would have been enjoying those kids right along side me. 

RIP Mitch

Last week Wednesday the City of Appleton lost a firefighter while he was responding to a medical call. He was murdered by the man that he was helping. This man also lost his life.  1933 has been the last time a fireman has died in the line of duty.

This fireman was in his late 30s and left a wife and three young boys behind.  Every time I see something on social media about the incident it makes me feel sad and even tear up thinking about it.  

During this past week I have witnessed the depth of an amazing community. 

You look at the world today and even the communities around you and see bad things happen to people and done by people. Watching the last 7 days unfold I sit in amazement.  I ask myself how this world can be so cruel but be so kind and giving at the same time. 

Thousands of dollars donated for his family that he left behind, the amount of people that lined the procession route when he was brought back to Appleton from Milwaukee as well as the route to and from the funeral home and church.  Not even mentioning the amount of police vehicles, firetrucks and other fire vehicles. This doesn’t even include the many other fundraisers that people are doing for this family, the meals or other needs that are being met by the community.  The generosity is absolutely amazing!

Besides of the lives of this fireman’s wife and his young boy’s lives changing (which I can’t even begin to imagine how they have been affected), I can’t imagine how this death has affected the firemen that he has worked beside the last 14 years.  That empty void that they are left with.  That empty bed, the empty chair at meal time. That empty fire jacket that once hung above his boots, the helmet that sits on the shelf, and even his spot that he would sit while being on a call. 

I am sure that since Mitch has been with the department for the last 14 years that he knows how strong that bond of brother/sisterhood that lies within the departments is.  I am sure he knew that if something would happen to him his family would be taken care of by this family.  As someone from the outside and not knowing what that brother/sisterhood is like, I can feel it.  I can feel that they are a deep bonded family that will make sure that this now widow and her young boys will forever be taken care of and be under a watchful eye to make sure they are okay.

We will be hearing more in the next few days  about the generosity of the community and beyond, the heroism that Mitch and the others showed that day as Mitch’s family lay him in his final resting spot.  I am sure the stories that will be read will continue to bring tears to my eyes. My heart will be full knowing that there is some hope out there that good will prevail over evil! There is more good than evil!

 

Island of misfit toys

So when my mom and mother in-law passed I collected a few of their shirts to keep in hopes to make memorial items out of them for my children to have.  I located a youtube video on how to make memory bears.  Searched the fabric/craft stores and was unable to locate the pattern this gal was using.  Found it on ebay and purchased it.  Once it arrived I started with my goal of making a "sample" bear.  I had already purchased some fabric to practice on.  I traced the pattern on some plastic like the gal suggested to save the pattern since the plan was to make more than one.  No problem so far! I ironed on the interfacing to the fabric and couldn't understand why it wasn't adhering to the fabric.  After a few tries I learned that I needed my iron set on steam.  Awesome, now it is adhering and away I go. Went to iron it on the ears and went to lift up the ears and the interfacing was ironed onto the ironing board.  Okay, lesson learned.  The little bumps on the interfacing go towards the fabric.  Traced the pattern onto the fabric, cut it out and now I am ready for step one.   Yadda!!  I only got to step 2 and was already lost! I did not understand what I was suppose to do!  I tried multiple things and each time required ripping it out and starting over.  After a whole afternoon of trying I resorted to the youtube video.  WOW!  Within an couple hours I had a bear sewn together.  Well kinda. Once it was finished and I was putting it it inside right I realized the head was sewn on inside out.  Thinking to myself, easy job, just cut off the head and put in the head the right way and resew.  Did this and went to turn it in side right and boom!  Ears fell off.  Forgot when I cut the head off to resew, the wars were no longer sewn on to the head.  Oh well, I have the jest of this.  I now venture to making one for real.  I get the shirt/night shirt of mom's ready, iron on the interfacing, trace the pattern out, cut and sewed along with the gal on the youtube video. Within a couple hours I had my first memory bear completed.  Mom would be so proud!!!  It isn't perfect.  The buttons for the eyes and the ears are from my mother in-laws shirts and the rest of the bear is from my mom's night shirt.  The seam in the front is not lined up with the head seam and his nose is a bit off.  I shared the pictures with a friend and she said it reminded her of the toys on the Island of misfits.  I chuckled and agree.  I also think to myself that if I was able to show mom it, she would love it so much that she would want it because it is my first one and it means something to me.  She was always proud of anything I have accomplished.  Even if everything wasn't lined up just so.  I did it and that was all that mattered to her.  
I think I'm keeping this one and I am going to enjoy it just as my mom would have.  

Just beginning to stuff it

The finished project