Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Moving Update: Painting, Migrane, and the Wooden Bowl

Hey all you blogger friends! We are still in the process of moving. I have to paint the new laundry room tomorrow then we can put down the lanolium ( Be advised: My dictionary is at the new house, and spell check doesn't work in Blogger for me... so, forgive any stupid errors please!) Saturday will be the BIG furniture move (Dave has a few friends from work that are coming to help...PHEW!) We'll do the old Thank You with Pizza for the crew.

Bonnie has been doing an awesome fill-in study at Seek and Ye Shall Find for us. We'll restart our Bible Study of Hebrews after the move is finished.

The past 10 days have been very trying...I've had some kind of virus which triggered a migrane that would not go away. I haven't had a migrane for about 2 years ever since I got put on my blood pressure medicine. For some reason (maybe the stress of the move?) this migrane has been stubborn and a killer. It totally incapacitated me for at least a week. Anyway, it is mostly gone now...just a little pressure at the back of my skull now. But poor Evan caught my flu and I was up all night with the little guy. He does seem to be better now...love how the young ones kick back so easily!

Well, I thought you all might like to read the following e-mail that my Dad sent out a few weeks ago. It is really powerful and it explains a lot about growing older. I'm glad that we are moving in with them...it will be good for all of us. And don't worry, we won't EVER use wooden bowls! (You'll understand after you read the following...)

Hi y'all,

We close escrow on La Foret today and enter into a new lifestyle, living together as a family with Mimi, Dave, and Keegan and Evan. We know we are in the Lord's will and are looking forward to what His plans are for us.

The attached story is very meaningful to us at this time and thought we'd pass it on to y'all.

Love,
John and Syl (Mom and Dad)


The Wooden Bowl

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now...

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess.

"We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There,Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these things: a rainy day, Elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life." I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn!

24 comments:

Bonnie S. Calhoun said...

your parents are really cool looking, and I can't see either of them letting you foist a wooden bowl on them...LOL

I'm glad your getting better, but the paint smell may aggrevate the migraine...be careful!

M. C. Pearson said...

Yeah, my parents are very fun. No, I don't think they'd ever allow the wooden bowl, tin cup, or being sat in the corner!

I've been worried about that (paint smell) too...going to have to ventilate and keep a supply of motrin on hand!

Anonymous said...

Take care of yourself. That migraine might really be a sinus infection.

M. C. Pearson said...

Thanks aurora! I have been taking alegra-d with it too...I've been thinking that a sinus infection might be part of it. Yuck. Pray that it will all go away so the move can be easier! Thanks!

jel said...

hey M. C.
sorry you have been sick, and migranes are no fun, glad you are doing better :)
you look like your mom :) your mom and dad look like they would be fun to be around.

when I first read the wood bowl, I cryed like a baby!

wish was there to help you paint I love to paint :)

you have a great day
God Bless

McMom said...

Moving is a lot of work, but it is exciting too! I am sorry you have been sick, I hope you are better! Make sure you are getting rest while you are feeling bad. That could be hard during the move! I think your new living arrangement will be a blessing to all!

Corry said...

A very powerful story about the wooden bowl!

I am so grateful all is going well with getting ready but I don't like you having migraines. I'll be praying for y'all.

I think your parents are wonderful people. Thanks for the update:-)

God's Grace.

M. C. Pearson said...

Jel~Wish you could come too! ;) I also cried and cried when I read that.

McMom~Thanks! I think it will be great too. I'm so glad your test came out well.

Corry~ It is powerful...we will all be elderly someday and need to treat others as we would wish to be treated...I know I've heard that somewhere before. ;) Yeah, my parents are a riot!

Jean-Luc Picard said...

Good luck on all your moving; great pictures, and so sorry to hear about your migraine. I know I suffer from them.

audrey` said...

Hi Marianne
How are you now?
I hope that you're feeling much better.
Take care :)

Trinity13 said...

I just love that house! It looks so huge!!! I hope the rest of the move goes well for ya girl!

Kimber said...

You really are my friend - I do feel so loved, you stopped packing and came over for a visit and even wrote us an update :) WOW!!!

So sorry to hear about the migrane - those are the worst! I will keep you in my prayers girly!!

Love the picture of your adorable parents! (Are they both Hungarian??) The story was very powerful too!!!

To answer you question - I would love love love to read your story - I would be so honored!!!

You can email me at kimberkutrubs at m s n dot com :) Can't wait!!!

Well, it is off to sweat some extra pounds off!! Thanks for the advice to use the tape measure :)

Happy painting - just remember to get some fresh air once in awhile:)

WannabeMe said...

I've always loved that story. Thanks for sharing it here.

Nick Zegarac said...

How true - that wooden bowl story. We get what we give in this life and often in the realms of North American life we tend to discard the elderly as though they were scraps left behind as burdens that needed to be overcome or placed out of sight. I've seen this sort of cruelty first hand and I can tell you - if ever there is a God he will surely see to it that the fate of some of the elderly in this country is avenged on the young growing older by the second. We will all get to be at that wooden bowl one day if we don't drop dead of our own ambitious stupidities first. Great post, MC.

Anonymous said...

please take care. and hope you'll feel better soon. God bless. =)

jel said...

hey m.c. how are you doing ? did you get your painting done? :)

Anonymous said...

Go and break my heart...hope everyone's feeling better...

Gordon said...

Hope things progress well with your move and that your migraine gets better.

The wooden bowl story is awesome. I can promise you that is going to find its way into one of my sermons.

Paula said...

Is that top picture your new house? How very beautiful!

I loved your story about how your friend in another state shared Soul Scents with you. What a small world. Keep hanging onto that writing destiny . . . The Lord and I had another long talk about my book publication situation and I was reminded that I write first and foremost because it is something He and I love to do together. I need to keep that in perspective. Even if I never sell, if it pleases Him it is worth it.

Let's hang on for this wild ride and help each other through. Praying for you tonight.

chosha said...

Great story.
Hi, I only just realised yesterday that there were a few comments on my sound site. Not sure why you couldn't comment on the main one - weird. But thanks for stopping by. I'm away at the moment and trying to catch up with a hundred different people at once, but when I get home I'll have a proper look at the Fairies story. Sounds like fun.

David Meigs said...

I’ve never had a migraine, but I hear that is nothing's more painful.

Get well (and moved) soon.

Missing ya!

Ciera said...

yikes! Sorry moving has been such stress. Hope it's gotten better since.

We never quit learning, though I wish it was easier.

audrey` said...

How are you, Marianne?

Please have a very blessed day =]
Jesus loves you very much!

Anonymous said...

how are you? i hope everything's well with you. God bless! =)