For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey: A Servant always

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Servant always

Here is a picture of Gail hanging clothes. I am sure she was helping her mother. I don't know how old she is but my guess would be 8 or 9. If you look at the picture on the right she has that same famous smile.
Not much happening today. I worked a bit on my 2010 calendar this morning. John stopped over for a chat and I cleaned up the dishes, there were not many.
I do know that 4 years ago today Gail and I were traveling back from the family outing and I was thinking of a special dinner I would be making tomorrow for her 60TH birthday. I remember that it actually turned out well and it was like 5 courses starting with homemade squash soup and ending with a ice cream and orange dessert. I had given Gail her present earlier which was a Wintergreen wool coat with a coyote fur collar. I will put a picture of Gail with that tomorrow. Cynthia is now enjoying the coat. Gail only wore it a few times because she thought it was too nice. I am sure as time went on it would have become her only winter coat but that was our Gail.
I am looking forward to Al and Deb's 3rd annual ping pong and cribbage tournament this Saturday. I am not sure what I will bring as making food to bring places is a bit chancey for me at this point. I think Gail usually brought her hot artichoke dip with bread but that is too fancy for me to make. Maybe next year.
I probably said this dozens of time in the past but as I look around and think of what I would like to do it is almost mind boggling. Gail did so much and I did so much but much of what I did Gail never did and much of what she did I never did. An example would be I did all the car things so Gail probably had not put gas in the car for many many years. I actually don't think she ever thought to look at the gas gauge. On the other had I never did the clothes, they always just showed up folded in the dresser. So life changes, it becomes a bit more complicated and actually more time consuming but I, like anyone, need to change with the times, rely on the Lord and move forward with what God has for me.
Time to sign off.

1 comment:

Mr. Adkins said...: I like the picture, Dad. It is appropriate you posted that one because Mom always was saying how hanging clothes out on the line was her favorite chore. She loved to be outside doing work and she loved how fresh, clean and white clothes got hanging outside. She always hung clothes outside instead of using a dryer - even jeans! which meant we had to break them in! -cynthia; December 29, 2009 at 2:23 PM

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The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

I know of no one who fit this better than Gail

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm.
all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously:
her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her;
Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Well done good and faithful servant, your praise is much and your reward is to be with God forever.

Our Story

Our story begin in 1951, when Carmen was 4 and Gail was 5! We met as our parents were at a camera club. Fast forward--Carmen begin to attend grade school in town in 1957, the same school that Gail went to. Fast forward--We had our first date in the winter of 1964 in Gail's senior year of high school. Again--we were married June 1st of 1968. We moved to St. Paul in October of 1977 and lived at 2094 Niles Ave until Gail's death September 14 of 2009.
Gail first breast cancer was found in October of 2003. After surgery, chemo, radiation and infusions for a year she felt well and we lived life in our normal mode. Carmen retired in June of 2007 and shortly after that we quit doing the paper route as well. In the fall of 2007 we went on our dream vacation. We camped for 7 weeks in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia and in the New England states. Sleeping in our truck and eating over an open fire we felt that we had experienced heaven. Then in January of 2008 we spent 3 weeks in Hawaii with friends and again had so much fun. In the fall of 2008 we did much work on the outside of the house and we were so excited to enter 2009 with big plans and dreams. In January Gail was diagnosed with new cancer. For the next 7 1/2 months we prayed, changed our life style, laughed and cried often. As the end of Gail's life drew near she was peaceful and family cared for her at home until she met Jesus. It was a journey that was wonderful, exciting, blessed, full of life and full of love but of course it was too short. Gail is so missed but I know she is in a better place so my journey must continue on without my true love.
I enter a new decade as the "I" that I never wanted to be but I have hope. Hope of things not experienced and hope that life will again, in 2010, become something that I look forward to each morning. My hope is based on our Lord who gives all, who is all and who gives love to all who believe. I enter this new decade with so many questions and so few answers but with faith that all will be well.

For Carmen--A new beginning--A new journey

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

A Servant always

1 comment:

The first reading at Gail's funeral September 18, 2009

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