Happy Birthday Aileen!!

Today is Aileen's 75th birthday!! I think that's a cause for celebration. For most of the birthdays so far, I think I've just included videos to sing "Happy Birthday!" I tried to do a little something special for Aileen, that we can all enjoy.

You know they say that laughter is the best medicine. Hopefully, if that's the case, you'll be cured of any ill by the time you're done watching the videos I attached for you!!

Happy birthday and may you have a laughing /side-splitting good day!! Make sure your volume is up before you start viewing!

Hello Monday!!

Well, a new week is here. Another opportunity to begin again has arrived. I have a love / hate relationship with Mondays sometimes. I usually don't "work" at my nursing job on Mondays, but the mess left behind at my house by busy weekends, is enough work for DAYS!! I like the calm of Monday mornings because I usually get to start off at a slow pace, but it's like the cycle starts over again. It's weird!!

Anyway, hope everyone is well today. I'm actually hoping that a few of you will check in with me and "greet the folks" to say hello to everyone in our little blogging world.

Looking forward to another week ahead of us and hopefully we'll have some fun and interesting posts this week.

Amy, are you out there? I know you've been a busy little bee lately, but we'd love to hear from you!!

I'll close this post out to get the next one posted. Just wanted to say hello!!

Memories

Since today is my mom and dad's anniversary, this is a small tribute to them. I didn't want to include it in the other post I wrote about them. I needed to separate the two post.

I have been thinking about all the good and bad seasons of our lives and what they (we) lived through. There's one memory that particularly comes to mind. I think it would be considered in each of our minds as a bad season. It's one that we talk about VERY often as a family and laugh at how bad it was and how close we became in living through it together.

Dad was pastoring a particular church in South Carolina and it had more cons than pros. While we were there, we had a theme song. It became our theme song during the Christmas holidays. But as a family we're all extremely fond of it. Every time any of us hear it, we are taken back to the time it meant so much. To be frankly honest, probably all of us would live through it again just to create the memories that we created there. It was a building block of our lives that made us all stronger and gave us all a sense what a true family is all about! So, for that, we are all thankful for the "bad season" of our lives.

It just might become the theme song for the Prince family shortly!

Here it is.....

It's Been 34 Years!!

Well, today is an extremely busy day in the blogging world. Today is Zach's birthday and today is also Mom and Dad's anniversary. Seem like a coincidence??.....well it's not! Laura got the opportunity to choose Zach's birth date. She had the option of any day in the week he was born. She chose Mom and Dad's anniversary instead of her birthday, if you recall was 3 days ago, so that she wouldn't have to share her birthday with him. She said she was afraid she would never get another present!! LOL!! Just couldn't resist telling that! We give her a hard time about it! I have to say, though, their first grandchild being born was probably one of their favorite anniversaries to remember. I'm sure they didn't mind!

So, this post is dedicated to my parents. 34 years ago today they said, "I do." Been alot of ground covered in that time. Figuratively and literally! 34 years of marriage is almost an oddity in the current society we live in, but definitely a cause for celebration. Both of them have been extremely successful in life and I for one am very proud of them.

To quote Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, his definition of success goes like this:

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch...to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!

Life in the ministry, away from family, is not always an easy position to be in. You often times depend on the friendship of people you've never known before. I think being in that position of not having the support system of family has a tendency to strengthen a marriage to levels that might not be recognized or possible with it. Although I know for a fact that had they been able to do what they do with the presence of family, that's what they would have chosen.

Regardless of what the situation has been, they've come through it with grace and with a good name. I have no reason to be ashamed of who my parents are.

So, to them today, I say "Happy Anniversary." I love you. I'm just tickled pink that you're my parents! Wouldn't trade either one of you for anything in the world!!

Happy Anniversary!!!

Love, Anita

Happy Birthday Zach!

Well, today is Zachary Don Long's 6th birthday. That's SOO hard to believe. Wow, how time flies! I'm enclosing a new photo of him, so that you know what he's looking like these days. He's such a little man!!

5th Sunday Fellowship

Well, Mom, you asked in your comment about food ideas for the 5th Sunday Fellowship. Thought I'd offer a little bit of advice. This suggestion might be beneficial in more than one way! LOL!!

I actually found this strip yesterday when I found the Garfield one. When I read your comment, I went on the search to find it again. Couldn't resist!!

I'm Changing Professions

Aunt Linda and I have decided we are going to change professions. We're going to start a lawn mowing business. Why? I was hoping you'd ask! Here's why......

Researchers have discovered that a chemical released by a mown lawn makes people feel happy and relaxed, and could prevent mental decline in old age.

Now scientists say they have developed a perfume which 'smells like a freshly-cut lawn' which relieves stress and help boost memory.

After seven years of research, Australian scientists say 'eau de mow' works directly on the brain, in particular the emotional and memory parts.

Dr Nick Lavidis, a neuroscientist at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, came up with the idea for the perfume, named Serenascent, after going on a forest trek in the US twenty years ago.

'Three days in Yosemite National Park felt like a three-month holiday,' he said.

'I didn't realize at the time that it was the actual combination of feel-good chemicals released by the pine trees, the lush vegetation and the cut grass that made me feel so relaxed.

'Years later my neighbor commented on the wonderful smell of cut grass after I had mowed the lawn and it all started to click into place.'

Dr Lavidis said the aroma worked on the emotional and memory parts of the brain known as the amygdala and the hippocampus.

'These two areas are responsible for the flight or fight response and the endocrine system, which controls the releasing of stress hormones like corticosteroids. The new spray appears to regulate these areas.

'There are two types of stress. The first is when you are about to perform something or you know you are going to have to do something well. That's acute stress and can be a good form of stress.

'Bad stress is chronic stress and is associated with an increase in blood pressure, forgetfulness and a weakening of the immune system.'

Chronic stress has been shown to damage the hippocampus by reducing the number of connections between communicating cells, leading to memory loss.

Students working on the Australian project found that animals exposed to Serenascent – which combines three chemicals released when green leaves are cut – escaped damage to the hippocampus.

The scent is said to have the 'pleasant aroma of a freshly-cut lawn or a walk through a lush forest'.

It will go into production next month and sell for around £4 a bottle.

Dr Lavidis, who worked with pharmacologist Professor Rosemary Einstein, said: 'It can be used as a room spray or a personal spray on bed linen, a handkerchief or clothing. Down the track we will look at incorporating the feel good chemicals into other products.'

Inspiration

This is how the inspiration for blogging comes..........It's just little LIFE moments!! But then again, who's scared of a little mouse, right Mom?

We have stories.....broomsticks, broken legs, bruises that take years to heal, damaged vocal cords..... All because of a tiny, little harmless mouse!!!

Seasons

I'm sure if you were asked the question, "what is your favorite season of the year?" you'd have a quick answer. Right? If I'd ask my dad that right now, he'd probably be a little torn in his decision because his favorite time of the year is Christmas. He also is very fond of mowing the grass and planting things, so he might say spring, also. Alabama summers are intolerably hot, so I have a feeling that summer would definitely not be his favorite season.

As for my favorite season /seasons, I love the late winter, early spring, and late fall. I can't make up my mind which one I like the best. If I lived in the north, I might have a different opinion.

That also means I have some seasons I don't like very well. One of the things I hate about the south are the excruciatingly hot summers. At times it's so unbearable that you can't stand to step your foot outside because the heat and humidity wrap you up so quickly, within seconds you look as though you just stepped out of the shower - being drenched with sweat. On the other hand, there's not a day my dad or my husband have ever had to shovel snow off the sidewalk or driveway either.....and I promise you they are not complaining about that.

We're not rich enough to be drifters in seasons.....so we have to take the heat to get the good winters. On the other hand, you in the north have to take the icy winters to have a decent summer.

That leads me to the point of my entire post. Seasons! Fortunately for us, summer doesn't last all year long. Thank GOD!! Someone very wise once told me, "the good thing or the bad thing about seasons is that they end. Some seasons you wish would stay forever while others you pray will end sooner than they are meant to."

You know life consists of seasons......all kinds! Life has always been this way, and always will be. That's a fact we just have to accept. Changes in seasons of life are the reason why the age old question exists..."Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people?" Maybe later I'll write just about that question, but for now, I'm focused on seasons and I have a bit more to say about it.

It's on my mind because I would say that our lives as a family are in, and hopefully on the way out of, a season that we would like to see come to a close. A season of frustration, tears, anxiety, and helplessness. There are seasons that I don't like in life and would really prefer not to have to go through them, personally, but it's been determined since the beginning of time that these times would be building blocks to establish us and we know they're coming. If we had warning, the anxiety for what is to come might be too much for us, so we are not privileged to see beyond the veil of today. And as much as we might like to believe it's not, it IS for our benefit.

See, in THE manual for life, also known as the Bible, we were equipped with a knowledge of what to expect from daily life.....It goes like this.....

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

Ecclesiates 3: 1-11.

It would be really nice to just take all the seasons that are positive and forget about the bad. But attitudes, relationships, and personalities are sometimes molded into better things in the bad times. So, it would not be to my benefit to take out the bad times.

I really like the New Living Translation of the 11th verse of the passage I just typed. It goes like this:
"God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."

Several years ago, my mom and I attended a concert and we were talking to Janet Paschal afterwards. I asked her what the inspiration for a song was that she had written, which was one of my favorites of her writings. The name of it was, "If I'd Had My Way." She began to tell us that the inspiration came from an event in her life where she had a broken engagement. She said it had broken her heart so badly and one day as she boarded a plane she began to list the things to God that she would have done differently had she been in charge of the situation. She said, "I began to tell God, if I'd have had my way...I'd have done this, this, and this." She said, "as I began listing God all these things, He quietly reminded me that His thoughts are not my thoughts and His ways are MUCH higher than mine." She said, "I became a broken vessel before him realizing how selfish I was in my own ways that it never occurred to me that His plan for me was better than what I ever wanted for myself."

After that, she penned the words that said, "If I'd had my way, I might have been wading through the rivers, when you wanted me to walk upon the sea....If I'd had my way, and all of my wants, and whims, and wishes, you knew how weak, how shallow I would be.....I trust Your wisdom over mine. Cause You've proven over time, that in my narrow way of seeing things, I leave the BEST behind sometimes... I might not have stayed as close if I'd had my way."

I've never forgotten that conversation we had that day. It's helped me in my life more than once....because believe me, there's been more than one time in my life that I did NOT see things the same way God saw them. And I assure you, when you like to FIX things the way I do, it's not always easy to keep your opinion to yourself about the matter. Learning to trust has been an ordeal in and of itself.

So, painfully, I've learned.....I'll take the good seasons with the bad seasons. The whole picture has not been painted yet of my life. Since His ways are perfect, and his abilities are flawless, at times when seasons are good, I'll thank Him. When they are not so good, I'll trust Him, still. After all, it's just a season......and the good thing about seasons is that they end!!

Machans

Here's some new pics of Ethan and Mikayla. The one of them together is their first day of school at Summit Christian Academy. Too cute!!

28 Years Ago Today.......

Laura was Born!!

Happy Birthday Kiddo! Here's a special song just for U!!

A Note From Barb

Hey, everybody. It's good to be home - even though my thoughts are continually on the Ohio situation. This whole event seems like a bad dream, doesn't it?

I'm just now getting access to my computer again, so I'll try to catch you up on the past few days. We brought Dad home Friday. Didn't get home until about 7 - Dad needed his medication for that night. We thought they were going to provide 2 weeks worth but that didn't happen. He took his medication well the whole week-end. (Depakote 2000 mg is 4 horse pills every night!)

Near panic attack after our arrival back at the house Friday. I was in the kitchen fixing supper and I saw Dad go to the TV cabinet and look on top behind some picture frames. Of course, in my "Curious Barb" state of mind, I waited until he went downstairs then went to check it out. I moved the frames aside and much to my HORROR, I saw 2 Smith and Wesson 357 pistols up there. I nearly died. I knew I couldn't get them - I was afraid he would hurt me, honestly! I didn't mention them - but the next day while Nic was there, I casually said, "Oh, yeah, Nic, there are 2 more revolvers on top of the TV that need to be secured. We overlooked them." He said, "Oh, OK - got up and got them, then unloaded them." We later secured them in the gun safe. To be honest, I really think Dad has guns that he has access to - that we were unable to locate. But he's going to have a gun . . . even if he has to go buy more. And the thing is, he has the money to go do it. We just did our part by securing what guns we could find. You kids would have died laughing at Linda and me. Had no clue how to unload those automatics - so all the guns are secured . . . fully loaded. (Except for the ones Nic put away!)

My eyes are screaming for sleep. I averaged about 3 hours/night since Dad came home. All 3 of us slept in the living room. They in their recliners; I had the couch. Every time Dad's chair squeaked, I knew it. The first 2 nights he was awake til after 2:30 am. Saturday night was a scream! He had a flashlight trying to find a gun that had been hidden way back beside the TV. I had found it Friday morning and secured it in the safe. Mother also found one while she was dusting. He was digging everywhere trying to find those guns. I wanted to just howl with laughter!!!

His appointment with the therapist went fine, I guess. Same one that he had seen when initially taken to Firelands. He'll see the Psychiatrist 9/2 @ 3:15 and a Psych nurse @ 3:45. After that he will be scheduled for appointment with a different therapist. Mother will be attending the sessions with Dad when seeing the therapist. Will only see the doctor if he requests to talk to her.

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for Abby. They were here this evening when I got in. She stays on the run. I'll have her the next few days . . . pray for ME! I'll be a nervous wreck trying to keep her from finishing her head cracking job!!

Thanks for supporting sister (Joan) and me while we were in Ohio. Couldn't have survived as well as we did without your faithful support. That's a 2-week vacation I don't want to repeat anytime soon!!! The Lord was our ultimate strength. No doubt in my mind about that. It's been a very emotional experience. Still having my "moments" - if you know what I mean. I had to sacrifice several meals/snacks and potty stops cause my face was a mess from crying - but I made it home safe and sound.

Sorry this has been so long - had to catch up. Love you all more than you'll ever know!

******Abby-licious

Well, the Long household has had a rather eventful past 24 hours. Yesterday evening, Abby was attempting to climb into one of the chairs in our breakfast nook and took a very hard tumble. She landed directly on her back with all of the impact being on her head...I watched it all as I ran from the living room but could not reach her in time. I was probably 4 feet from here when she hit, and she hit HARD. She was unable to move or cry and was totally limp when I got her into my arms. Her little eyes rolled back in her head and all color drained from her face. She was unable to control her body/head. Needless to say, I hit panic mode. I am not a nurse when it comes to my children...I am a spased out Mommy. I threw her to Don (yes, I know not the greatest thing to do), and called 911. I pray fervently that the 911 tape never makes it out of the Choctaw County E-911 building. The ambulance arrived within 8-10 minutes and headed out quickly. After a few minutes in the ambulance, she began to cry a little and was actually able to drink some of her bottle (which suprisingly I had thought to fill up and bring). We literally flew to the hospital - lights and sirens, the whole 9-yards. By the time we got there (45 minutes after the accident), she was more alert and responding well. The doc ordered a CT scan which showed a skull fracture but no bleeding/swelling, etc. Thankfully, the doctor thought that we were safe enough to go home as long as I did frequent "neuro-checks" to make sure that she was responding well - she responded as well as any normal 1 year old would being awakened every few minutes! Today, we took her to her regular pediatrician's office and did a very thorough neuro assessment and feels that she will be okay in a few days. He wants us to watch her very closely due to the risk of a slow bleed, but we are trusting God for complete healing of her little head.

Love,
Laura

The Difference Is In ME!!

Aunt Linda wrote a post earlier about inner joy. It was excellent and OH SO TRUE! The reason why our happiness comes and fades is because it is revolving around temporal things. Knowing THE reason we HOPE, changes happiness into joy - which at times, as she so well explained, continues even when there's not a reason to have "happiness" or joy, necessarily.

After I read her post, this song came to my heart / mind and has been in my head ever since. I decided to put it in your head, too. There's no video, just audio. But from the first time I ever heard this song, it moved high onto the list of favorites. It kinda helps put that spring back in your step. So, while you listen, just let it kinda bathe your heart in a little balm of "feel good."

Boots and Trust

Mother called earlier and said Dad said he MAY have found the boots Jerry stole!

She asked where he found them and Dad said, “he hid them in a good place.”

Mother said, “I remember you saying if you found them you would call and apologize.” Dad said nothing. I few seconds later he said, “I’ll go out and check again, those may not be the right boots.”

We’re hoping he’s leveling out chemically . . . but if he is not, we still trust our all-the-time-good God. Here’s today’s verse:

"Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the Lord will be joyful." Proverbs 16:20, NLT

Barb and I talked this am that everyone keeps expecting us to keel over w/all this mess, and we would have keeled over long ago if we trusted in ourselves. But we are trusting and entrusting it all to God, moment by moment sometimes.

We are not jump up and down happy, but we are not cast down, and have JOY because of trust. Join us, lay your cares down in obedience and see God pour in JOY. Joy comes up from within; happiness depends on external circumstance. The world will marvel at God when they see us walk in joy in spite of yucky stuff!

Check your heart. Is your joy gone? then you are NOT trusting. He said there would be a test . . . will you trust the all-wise God?

Linda

Update on Abby

Abby is doing pretty good this morning. I'm sure if she could talk, she'd say she had a "splitting headache" - pardon the pun. She's actually headed to the pediatrician to make sure all is still well. There have been no mental changes over the last few hours, so our hearts are truly grateful.

You know it's an amazing thing just how fast life as you know it can change! In the blink of an eye....life might never again be as you know it. Thankfully for our family, it was just a temporary thing, but it kinda gives you a nervous feeling to know that it could have been different. May our hearts never forget to be grateful and remember how blessed we really are.

Developing....

We'll see who the night owls or the early birds are of the family. (I actually know who the early bird is) I'm posting this at 10:15 pm Eastern time. I just talked to my Dad, who received a bit of traumatic news while I was on the phone with him.

About 30 minutes ago, Abby, Laura's little girl, was playing and fell off the kitchen chair backwards onto the tile floor. According to my brother-in-law, Don, it apparently knocked her slightly unconscious.

While I was on the phone with my Dad, Don called to say they (Laura and Abby) were in the ambulance headed to the hospital with her. He says that she came back around and looks OK other than the knot in the back of her head. She was sitting in up in the back of the ambulance drinking a bottle en route to the hospital.

I will update you as I hear more............

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Update: Monday 12 am - On the phone with Laura. She, Don, and Abby are on the way back home from the hospital - thank the Lord. CT's were done of Abby's head. No indication of bleeding or bruising of the brain, but she does have a clean skull fracture. That means that there's nothing they can do, and time will allow it fuse back together (kinda like the soft spot does). It's like any other bone, just usually a little thicker and harder. Nothing fancy from here except monitoring her mental status every 2-4 hours to make sure there are no changes or any other symptoms that would indicate a head injury.

Laura is almost back to normal, also. She's still a little giddy from the emotion of it all - trying to wind down. She and Don have come up with plenty of humor after they found out that nothing serious is wrong. If you want to hear her tell the animated story of the year, call her and ask her about how her phone call to the 911 dispatcher went. She says, "Oh, I'm so embarrassed, I didn't handle it very well at all. I went crazy." It's rather hilarious, but the humor in it is having her tell it.....as we all know how dramatic she is.

I don't know about you guys, but I've just about had all the drama I can handle for a year.....unfortunately it's all been crammed into the last 4 weeks!!! Anybody feelin' the same? You think if I change the name of the blog to "our serene lives" that would change anything?? LOL!!

I'll post an update on how she's doing in a few hours.

Little....errr....I mean BIG Ethan!!!

Wouldn't you hate to know you were playing against this tough little fellow. He looks like he could rearrange some teeth!

Thank you Johnna for sharing the pic with us. I'm so tickled to get to post it.

The Papa Man

This is a little song that Uncle Jerry's grandkids sing for / to him. Aunt Linda sent it to me Saturday, but I didn't realize she meant for it to be posted. I apologize I didn't post it sooner.
Here it is......

“Papa man is as the Papa man does

and the Papa man does many, many things

and the Papa man always tries to do the right thing

and the Papa man is a very decent dude!”

My Favorite Song!

Just to make you smile!!

Sunday's Update

I know it's awfully late, but I didn't want today to pass without a little note of some kind. The posts have been pretty slim pickings the last few days because, to be frankly honest, I've had such a severe headache from the flu, I couldn't gather my thoughts well enough to write something sensible. Thankfully, that's much better.

As for the Ohio side of things, there's really not much new. Maybe the fact that there is a follow up appointment in the morning with a therapist is a bit of encouragement. Papa's time at home has been pretty peaceful thus far. Mom plans to take Papa to his appointment in the morning, then head home.........Alas!! I know she's a happy camper 'bout that.

That's about all I know for now. I'll post more hopefully tomorrow night. I'm still checking my email frequently (very frequently, actually) to see who's sent me a bit of inspiration to post.

Later gators!

Not Much New

So far, so good. Each time I've talked to Mom she's been within "spittin' distance" (that's Southern slang for 'real close', just in case you wondered) so there's been no big details of the transition - which is about to drive me bonkers, as I'm addicted to detail!! LOL!! But each time I speak with her, the answer is that things are going good. She says he is treating Mama well and he's taking his medications as ordered. I have to ask questions in "yes" or "no" format for the discretion. So, as you can tell, those were a couple of the questions I've asked. No events worth writing home about, I guess, which no one is complaining about. No news is good news in this case.

I guess he didn't attempt any whip cracking today as he had planned! From what I hear, he learned fairly quickly that Mom's a little firecracker, not to be reckoned with.........WHO KNEW!! LOL!! Now there's "Firecracker Barb" and "Joan of Arc Linda." Uncle Jerry, aren't you so proud of such wonderful sisters??

LOL!! LOL!!!

To say that I have laughed my head off at the irony of this comic strip, is just insufficient. I found it looking through the daily news and I simply could not resist putting it on the blog. I hope that at least someone finds it half as funny as I did. I think I know at least 2 people who will find it ridiculously hilarious! Namely.......Mark......Aunt Linda...being that they have a great appreciation for good humor! LOL!!


Just a note - for those of you who may not see the humor in this strip, it may help to know that Papa (Ray) raises bees. It's a hobby for him....an expensive hobby, I might add!

Papa is Home

I spoke with Mom and Papa a few minutes ago. They arrived home earlier today. Mom says that so far it's been a pretty peaceful process. They were eating supper when I talked to Mom. He was in a joking mood the whole time she talked to me. He told Mom to tell me hello and she asked if he wanted to talk to me. He did. He was jolly and told me that he's being easy on Mama and Mom for tonight and he's gonna start cracking the whip on them in the morning. I told him he better be careful, they might crack it back. LOL! He laughed.

He was insistent on stopping on the way home to have his prescriptions filled from the hospital because he had to have them to take tonight. That was a bit of encouragement, I think.

From this point, I guess we just have to wait and see what happens. It is my understanding that there are a couple of follow-up appointments that he has agreed to go to. Maybe it will all work out! I must trust that it will.

Update

Plans are still underway for Papa to be discharged from the hospital today.

Aunt Linda had to return to Lexington today for work related issues. It's been extremely hard to try to juggle the responsibilities of Papa and her work for the last two weeks.

Mom and Mama will be picking him up from the hospital today and then the adventure begins......

He has agreed to continue the therapy that was started in the hospital, but that was to the social worker, so we all know how quickly that can change.

Please, please pray that God moves His hand to make a difference in the situation.

Breaking News!!

I spoke with Mom, Mama, and Aunt Linda a bit ago. There seems to be a bit of breaking news in the current situation. They learned an hour and a half before I spoke with them that the hospital plans to discharge Papa in the morning.

There are some major mixed reactions to this news. On one hand, I feel sure that they feel some sense of relief that they are not going to have to make the journey to Toledo back and forth daily! On the other hand, there is some anxiety and fear mixed in with not knowing what to expect out of him once he's home. I think it's a huge understatement to say that things have changed at home in his absence. The measures that were required to be taken to make sure the house was safe of weapons and unused medications was like combing a haystack looking for a flea. (I think a needle would be a little easier to find than a flea, personally.) That's how they felt about their task at hand while he was hospitalized, and the last I checked, I'm not sure they really think they got it all covered.

I haven't spoken to her myself about the matter, but I have a "gut feeling" that Mama is more than a little uncertain as to what to expect from him upon his return. She knows that it will be just a few days that the girls will get to pack their things and head home and she gets to stay and wait to see what happens. Maybe by then he will be so happy on his medications that it won't matter what they did while he was away. Right now, that's the best they could hope for, I do believe.

This is a matter that definitely has our undivided attention and we must pray that God turns this situation around for the better.

A Word From Mark

Hey Family and Friends -

WOW! What a couple of weeks we’ve had. It’s been a roller coaster experience – emotional expression on every level. I wanted to share something I’ve read many times and found it comforting today. Though the entire chapter of Psalm 103 is a graphic picture of the Redemptive power of God for our lives, verse 13-17 stuck out to me today....

“The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 – For He understands how weak we are; he knows we are only dust. 15 – Our days on earth are like grass; like wildflowers, we bloom and die. 16 – The wind blows, and we are gone-as though we had never been here. 17 - But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him.

I found myself taking this passage to heart with Papa’s news of his illness. Not just realizing the frailty of his situation but for myself Honestly – I was having a hard time staying here in Oklahoma while his children are punished for trying to help. However, this reading seemed to bring a peace – “God understands, He knows how weak we are”. That’s hard to remember when you’re walking thru a mine field of emotions. His love continues even when we forget ourselves and fall prey to the winds of life blowing us around. What amazing grace He shows...

I’m glad that Papa is getting help with this disease. It will be a journey for sure – but let’s all encourage one another in the fact that God knows!

See ya -

Wednesday Update

We met w/the social worker (sw) at 1:30, then all of us met w/Dad at 2. She discussed medication, seeing psychiatrist for follow-up, guns being secured with detective having key to gun safe.

He appeared to be feeling the effects of the increased dosage of new medications, some dizziness, etc. With direct questioning from sw, he replied that he would not hurt anyone, including Mother and Jerry and agreed to all of the above.

The doctor had asked sw call to give him report of meeting. I walked out w/her to sign in Dad’s laundry so she had me talk w/the doctor after she spoke with him. Our primary question was “what is your perception of Dad?” as Dad has led us to believe that the doctor thinks we’re awful for “turning him in” and he would have done what Dad has done, etc. As the week progressed, Dad said the doctor counseled him to go legal route, but that he understood Dad’s anger. (so did we, but it was unwarranted!)

Dr. Chahal said Dad is bipolar, classic manic depressive.

1) Extreme highs or lows, little middle of the road moods (asked if this was Dad’s case, and I said “yes, as I don’t hear from Dad unless he’s elated or mad)

2) Spending money issues (asked if this were the case and I said “we have farm equipment and trucks to prove it”)

3) Master Manipulator (he asked for confirmation and I said “yes”, and he said “give me a for instance” I said, “Mother.” He said, “enough said.”)

Dad should have NEVER taken anti-depressants as when he is in manic mode, it “drives him “up” and the chemical imbalance begins. Then in the depressive state he has to have more anti-depressant. Dr. thinks he has calmed since some meds were eliminated and new regimen began. They dropped the Haldol when he calmed. They are monitoring his blood levels every day, per his nurse.

Dr. said this is hereditary and we are all inclined, and Dad is not to be blamed for this behavior. Can live a normal life if he takes his meds. He may never take his medication to level out, and that is his choice. They will do EVERYTHING to educate him before he leaves the hospital.

Read more about the disorder www.webmd.com and www.bipolarcentral.com

Mother, Barb and I are like limp dishrags, no kidding, but we are relieved there’s a diagnosis and hope. Thank you for praying. We felt strength and were able to speak up when needed. Mother says little but steps up, folks! Please pray for Dad with renewed fervor.

Linda

Just For Mama

I know that Mama is going to be seeing the blog today, so I have tried to come up with a few things for her on here that she might like....Aileen's note, her famous recipe, etc.... After I had all this stuff posted, I realized I had received something from a friend that she would REALLY like. To Mom and Aunt Linda, just make sure she gets to see it.

Cash for Clunkers.......I Qualify
If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I've got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish, and my paint job is getting a little dull.

But that's not the worst of it.
My headlights are out of focus, and it's especially hard to see things up close.

My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather.

My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently.

But here's the worst of it -- Almost every time I sneeze, cough or laugh, either my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires.

CASH FOR CLUNKERS..........I QUALIFY - How about You?

The Famous Punch

Remember I said I was open for recipes for comfort foods?? We'll start with Mama's Famous Red Punch. A trip to her house wouldn't be normal is she didn't have this - along with some crushed ice. Ever wanted to make it and wonder what all she puts in it? Here's the recipe:

Mama's Famous Red Punch
- 2 packets of cherry kool-aid powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 large can of pineapple juice

Mix all these ingredients into a gallon jug mix well. Fill the container the rest of the way to the top with water. And.....there you have it.

Just a note....Make sure you stir or shake the jug before you pour you a cup to mix the pineapple juice up. It tends to settle on the bottom.

Aileen

I received a note in my email a little bit ago. Here it is:

"FROM AILEEN- I'M PRAYING FOR THE FAMILY."

Thanks a bunch, Aileen. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and your friendship to Mama. You are definitely a part of the family. Thank you for sending the note.

Here They Go AGAIN!!

The 3 stooges are preparing, as I write, to pull back out onto the beaten path to Toledo. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY for them. Today will be the day that some important decisions might be made. They need our support more than ever. The longer this "saga" continues, the more emotionally and physically exhausted they become. I personally wish there was some way I could remove this from them, but being that I can't, I'll lend my support in any way possible - which isn't much. Maybe they will be able to catch a little bit of fresh air soon. They deserve a vacation after this. I'm sure they prefer the every day grind of life as opposed to this.

Abby Beth

There is a new addition in the Daugherty family that hasn't gotten much attention. She's missing from all the photos. She's Laura's little girl, Abby Beth Long. She just turned 1 in May, so she hasn't had a very sociable life yet. I'm putting a couple of pictures of her on here so everyone can see how much she looks like Laura.

Thanksgiving 2005

This is a couple family photos from Thanksgiving 2005 when we had the reunion in Savannah. That was the day that Uncle Jerry caught the Greyhound in Louisville and came for a few hours then had to go back. It was such an enjoyable day. The very fact that he sacrificed in such a way to be with the family was something we will always remember. That was also the first time that my husband, Jeremy, had ever met Uncle Jerry. I think he would consider it an VERY interesting but fond memory. He'd never had man kiss him on the cheek like that! LOL!!

Memories

I have gone back in the archives of photo memories that I possess from my digital camera (which isn't dated too far back) but I came up with some photos that may bring a smile to someone's face. I may not be able to post many pictures. If not, I'll attach a link to a photo bucket album for more viewings. I'm open for more pics if someone would like to send some.

Wednesday's Request

We need prayer for 1:30 family meeting with Dad today.

"For with God NOTHING shall be impossible."

Love, Linda

Websites

Here are a couple websites that the family should be interested in.

The first is to Trinity Life Center - this is Uncle Eddie and Aunt Linda's church in Lexington. There are recent photos of them there.

The second is: The Assembly at Broken Arrow - if you look hard enough on the "Meet the Pastor" page under Ministry Staff, you'll find a recent picture of Mark - who is the Worship Pastor there.

Just thought I'd share......

A Small Update

There is but a bit of news from the "farm" today. Linda, the social worker has called, and Mama, Mom, and Aunt Linda will be meeting with her tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. They will present their questions to her in a written form for her to present to the physician. They will all then (including Linda, the social worker) meet with Papa. Maybe tomorrow, we will have a much better idea of the path this road is going to take us down.

A Word From Linda

In an automated verse of the day email Aunt Linda received today, was this scripture. She wanted me to share it with you all. The nugget of wisdom she tucked into the email that she asked me to put this on the blog, was the request for this quote from her:

"We CAN do what God requires!"

Verse of the Day for 8/18/09:

"No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

Micah 6:8 NLT

About Dad.....and our Family

This morning in my email, I had a note that everyone probably received from Aunt Linda at some time yesterday or this morning. I am going to post the 2 updates in her words so you can get a glimpse into her feelings in the matter.

Update #1:

We see Dad at 7:30 tonight; Uncle Roy is coming down too. The Social Worker has not called back, but we wait, not so patiently.

Update #2:

Spoke to social worker Linda, attorney Mary, Detective Nick today. Pray for them as well.

A Note From "the Girls"

Hello everybody! This has been one week that the 3 stooges don't want to repeat. :)

Anita, the blog idea is wonderful. I'm glad Dad educated you so well on the computer. Yeah, right. Love you, Larry!

Tonight's update is fine except for the fact that we've not been officially told when our meeting with MD or social worker is. Dad said, "Wednesday, Thursday or Friday."

This has definitely been a week of stress. Our bodies and our minds are totally exhausted. Mother has been a trooper - bless her heart. I can see why her memory has been faltering. Linda and I feel like ours has gone on a cruise and ran into the direct path of Claudette!

Seriously, thanks to each of you for your prayers and support. We couldn't have survived this without it. God's strength has been our ultimate survival!! Please continue to present our need to the only one who's able to make a difference in this matter. Just knowing that nothing takes God by surprise helps us keep going.

Love to each of you. Yes, we WILL get through this. Together.

Mama/Marlene, Mom/Linda, Mom/Barb

A Word of Encouragement

"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away.""

~ Abraham Lincoln

Monday's Update

Spoke with Mom tonight at around 9:15 p.m. They just visited Papa and were able to talk with the nurses as well as learn a bit of info about some medication changes taking place. Uncle Roy, Ginger, and MacKenzie came down to visit again tonight. I'm very thankful for their support. (BTW, Ginger, let me know if I'm spelling her name wrong. I'll correct it, if so.)

Medically, as of today, there are some blood levels for a certain seizure medication that he is taking that are lower than they should be. They have increased the amount of medicine to help increase that level. They have also stopped one of the medications that he has been taking since he was admitted to the hospital. In place of that medication, they are replacing it with another medication that will hopefully help with some of the personality changes. With all the changes in medications, according to Papa, he will probably be there another week.

Mom says that they are probably going to meet with the doctor on Wednesday. As far as personality changes, not sure there's much improvement there. Hopefully the new medication will help with that some.

Not much else to report medically. Aunt Linda, Mom, and Mama will be reading this post in the next little bit and will be able to comment if needed for anything that I missed.

To the adults, I'm trying to be extremely careful to pick my words in describing the situation. I am aware that there may be younger readers who may not understand exactly the whole situation but want access so they may lend support to the ones they care about. I'm perfectly fine with that. I want that to happen.

I will await word from Mom or Aunt Linda for additions to this particular post and will edit or post another blog to accommodate the changes.

Love to each of you. We will get through this. That's why families are so important. No one need walk this road alone.

Contact Info

I mentioned in "Just for Starters" that if you wanted to correspond by sending pictures and letters to be posted, I would love for that to happen. Even if you want to post a full blog, that's fine too. I forgot to mention my email address, though. I don't have everyone's email address, so you may get this blog through another source than myself. If that's the case, unless you're name is in your email address, make sure you tell me who you are.

My email address is: boomerrn@yahoo.com

Thanks a bundle!

"It Ain't Over"

On July 1st, Laura had a hysterectomy and I got the opportunity to stay with her at the hospital that night. As most of you know, you get woke up all ungodly hours of the night in the hospital. So it was around 5 a.m. after we had a nurse visit and I just COULD NOT go back to sleep. Laura and her little sedated self dropped right on back off to sleep and there I sat wide eyed in the middle of the dark. At that time, I had a few moments of meditation and lay there silently praying for some issues that were important to me and heavy on my mind. After those moments were over, I decided I would try to go back to sleep, to no avail. I began flipping through the channels and ran across a station playing music videos. I got in on the last part of this video and had it turned so low I could barely hear it. All I heard, really, was the last few sentences of the song and I was captivated by it. I scrambled up to grab a piece of paper to write down the name of the song and the singer so I could find it online as soon as we got back home. It just got stuck in my head. I couldn't wait to get home.

Within minutes of arriving home, I went back to the computer room at Mom's house and hurriedly typed in the info into youtube that I had written down and I sat down to see what parts of the song I missed.

After I watched it, I called Don, my brother-in-law, and Mom in to watch it with me. We were all just kinda taken with it. It actually hit the spot in a moment where we needed it. All of us.

I returned home from that trip and a little over a week after I left is when the events that led up to what is going on now were getting good and started. I called Mom late one night and she sounded sick / congested. I asked her what was wrong and she told me she had been sitting at her computer listening to this song. Multiple times. She was attempting to draw some strength and inspiration from it. Her "sound of being sick" was coming from the fact that she was crying.

That is the reason I am posting this video. It's for her, but I'm hoping the rest of you find some strength in it. Thankfully the final chapter has not been written. I firmly believe "It's Not Over." It's the not being able to look above the trees to see what lies beyond that is so frightening and unnerving. That's where faith comes in to the picture. Thankfully my faith is placed in a hand that's much bigger and much more capable than my own. I can't imagine the hopelessness that might overtake me if that were not the case.

Enjoy......

The Roundup of Info

This is the beginning of posts to update you on the Papa / Ray Sue situation.

Today marks 1 week ago that the "saga" of sorts began! On Monday of last week, Papa was admitted to the hospital in Toledo at the advice of the law enforcement for some threats made against Uncle Jerry that began some time ago. Being that the threats continued to happen and were a very unnerving event for everybody involved, Papa was admitted for evaluation of his mental status. As we all have come to know, there still are no real answers in the situation. Mama (Marlene), Aunt Linda, and my mom (Barb) have sat down with the social worker and given her the gorey details of why Papa was admitted. The social worker (Linda) has been the go between for the family and the doctor. Since Linda has been out of work for the past few days with a stomach bug, the information that has been passed to the family and to the doctor has been very limited, resulting in some huge frustrations.

Today will mark the 6th day that the 3 Stooges have trekked all the way over to Toledo to observe the curious ways of Mr. Ray Sue! Each day has been different. Not one day has been remotely the same....adding more fuel to the frustration.

Therefore, the update today is that Linda is back to work! Hallelujah! Aunt Linda spoke with her earlier and she was planning to talk with "Mr. Curious Ways" and get back later today to let us all know what her thoughts on the matter are. If Linda only knew how much this family needed her and missed her! She's such a vital player here, I sure hope nothing else happens.

I will wait on a word from Aunt Linda to post the report of the day.

Are you getting the feeling that you spend your entire day sitting on the edge of your chair eagerly anticipating what's going to happen next?

Just to help your feelings of relaxation (yeah, right) so you can get something done today (as I have not) - visiting hours with "Curious Papa" are from 7:30-8:30. By that time, Aunt Linda and Linda (as if we needed more complication in this matter, lol!) should have spoken and the personality changes should be noted for the day.

I will post an update as soon as I get it. Please feel free to comment at any time on any of the posts. I am looking forward to being in touch.

I also plan to post a few other things between now and then.

Until then......So long, Farewell.........

P.S. I put the names of the 3 ladies in parenthesis because I'm not sure exactly who all will access this blog - so there's no confusion as to which "vein" the info is coming from. I just don't need anyone thinking that I'm assuming you don't know who your own family is!! LOL!!

The Request

I have spoken to my mom and Aunt Linda about this blog. I did that to have their approval before I posted the first post. They expressed the appreciation for the show of support through phone calls. At the present, they are currently working on securing "stuff" that could pose a threat, therefore, they are suggesting that Aunt Linda post an update as she can or through emails to me to post to say how things are so that they aren't trying to juggle tasks that have to be done with giving details of the happenings multiple times a day....not that they mind. This will just make it easier for them to get what needs to be accomplished, done before Papa comes back home. I think that overwhelmed would be a good word to describe their feelings right now. I'm not asking you to quit calling, I'm just asking that you get the majority of details from the blog and allow the phone calls to be for support measures.

Just for Starters

As we all know, the last few weeks have been the most trying that the Prince family has known in quite some time. According to Mom, this is definitely the most stressful event she's ever experienced in her lifetime. I have a feeling that Aunt Linda and Uncle Jerry would probably have to agree. Then there's Mama who is having to take all the changes in and the fact that action had to be taken. These types of events and/or changes are not easy at all on someone her age, to say the least. Uncle Jerry, Mark, Amy, Laura, and myself have felt extremely helpless in being any support because of our absence. Then there's Uncle Eddie and my dad who really have felt speechless and helpless as well. They are not exactly sure what role they should fall into at such a time. Then there's Uncle Jerry's devastation through it all and the torment he and his family have experienced. I guess it would be safe to say that this is an event that none of us are interested in ever repeating....that is, if it ever ends!!

Personally, I'm past ready for this emotional roller coaster to end. And I'm sure that Mom, Mama, Uncle Jerry, and Aunt Linda want it a whole lot worse than me.

Now, that I have the preface said, I would like to take a moment to let you know what my ambitions for this particular website are. I got the idea from my brother-in-law who is an excellent teacher (public school and Sunday school) and always has bright ideas. He has a blog that he keeps for his Sunday school students (of which there are approx 15 between the ages of 18 and 25). They all are faithful followers of his blog to keep in touch with plans for the week along with encouragement. The transformation in the class with the form of unity that has been established has been amazing. Therefore, I figured we could have something similar where each of the family members could get on and leave their words of encouragement as they catch up on the news of the day. I will hopefully establish a general roundup of details that have occurred and then as changes happen, post them. I have attempted to stay informed, probably too much, but at least they couldn't say I haven't tried to be supportive.

At the end of every post, you will have the option to post a comment and if you would like to write a letter or submit a post of your own, all you have to do is email whatever you want posted and I'll put it on. I have a setting for this particular blog that will only allow comments to posts be added if I agree to put them on there. I decided to fix that so that no outside posts from unknowns could come out of the blue. It is for all of our benefit. I wouldn't want anything hurtful posted. I ask that you please post a comment if you feel inclined. I want this to be as positive of a blog as possible. You will probably never know how much a word of encouragement or just the mere presence of your support will be to Mom, Aunt Linda, and Uncle Jerry.....and to Mama for that matter if they tell her what it says, as I kinda doubt she will read it. I will attempt to update daily until the dust kinda settles.

If you are interested in continuing after that, I would be thrilled to keep going for the contact. This will be our family blog. I think that chaos kinda describes it pretty well, don't you think? LOL!! That's the reason I named it "Our Chaotic Lives." I'll be happy to post recent pictures of your families. Actually that would be great if you could send them to me so everyone could be up to speed on the happenings.

I love to blog and I love to hear from family, so I would love to make this a big happening thing for us. I'm open for anything.......recipes for comfort food, etc.....LOL!!

Right now, some Doritos and butter cheese are sounding pretty comforting...huh, Amy and Laura???

On a last note, I would like to express some special thanks to Uncle Roy and Ginger. Your trip to the hospital to support the 3 stooges was extremely appreciated by us. We have felt terrible that we couldn't have our bodies in Ohio although our minds dwell there. The fact that you went just to sit with them meant more than words can say. Please accept a HUGE THANK YOU from us!

To Uncle Roy, Aunt Mit, and Uncle Randy, thank you for the strength you are to Mama.