Today is my birthday…

 

Today I turned 71. It was a wonderful day. I celebrated with my daughters, my hubby, and three grands. Cammy cooked us breakfast, lunch at Stones Deli (Michelle).  Michelle made a shrimp dinner (delicious).  Tiramisu for my cake.  A beautiful Pearl and silver necklace from Papa, t-shirt from Kelley, lavender bath bombshell and cough drops from Cammy. Linen tropical top from Michelle. Jeanne dropped off a bear wind chime and Dog Mom coffee cup. Joanie a gift certificate to Stone’s Deli. Marci sent me a cute blouse. Kelley drove all the way from Texas and picked up Michelle at the airport in Appleton. Michelle and my special surprise, Azalea, flew in from Florida. Tomorrow morning they leave at 4:15 to get back to the airport and Texas. Having our three daughters here for Papa and for my 71st birthday was so heartwarming. It was such a loving thing for them to give to their parents. We have a special family. 

Birthday’s Eve…

Tomorrow I will be 71🎂🎂🎂🥳🥳 hence birthday’s eve. I am having a hard time getting my head around my age. I have enjoyed my girls being here. They are the loves of my life. Their children. So much love. They gave us the experience of children one more time. The unconditional love. The joy of children. The angst of teenagers. Kindergarten. Middle school. High School. Six of our ten graduate from high school this year. 
 Our oldest will be a Junior in college.  The babies are 15, 14, and 12. My love of 54 years. I met him August 30, 1968. Married 53 years this June 14. It is a good life we have. 

Hope is the last thing we as humans let go of. We hold on to hope. 

Visitors on the porch…

Our three daughters surprised us with a visit for my birthday and to spend time with Papa.

                    Friends and family dropped in.   

Two more days until 71. It was a very good day. Our three daughters surprised us. Texas and Florida and Escanaba girls got together and made us so happy. Our youngest grand also made the trip. Our Esky grand girls were also in on the surprise. My heart is warmed by the love of our dear daughters and their families. These are the people who make our life so good. Maya Angelou said,”I sustain myself with the love of family.”  Yes, we do. We know they will be here for us when we need them. This a busy time for our girls and their  families. Graduations. School activities. Moving houses. Moving states. Still they make the time to be here. To show us love and comfort. We appreciate so much all they do. Our wonderful grands bring us so much joy. Our daughters and son-in-laws have raised great kids. It is good to be your parents and grandparents. Thanks and love  to you all. ❤️ Mom and Dad 

Spring has not sprung on this old porch…

 

Three days til 71. Last night I attended Haven’s  award ceremony for Fine Arts. She was one of only two freshmen to receive a Fine Arts Letter. Orchestra, Musical, Marching Band, Pep Band, Choral and Solo and Ensemble.  

 My 70th year has been a tough one. We have lived a charmed life. This year all the charm has wafted away. Where it has gone, I don’t know. My husband’s MRI results showed that his pancreatic carcinoma is in his brain as well as a new liver mass. Radiation therapy. He wants us to enjoy each day he has left. He likes life simple. We can do this. We have only told a few close family and friends about his illness. He has not been well enough to travel or receive visitors. It was Stage 4 already when it was diagnosed during preop for shoulder surgery. May 28, 2021, a day that will live on in pain and fear. I keep a private cancer journal but I finally must share our journey through this relentless disease. 

Monday morning coming down…

 

                                           Cousins

                                    First cousin. 

                                   Sunny Sunday

Four days until seventy-one. Or four days left of seventy. Our nephew, my brother Mike’s son and his dear family visited yesterday from Green Bay. Cammy and girls spent the day with us. It was so much fun They are so young and energetic! The kids are the center of their family. They are so loved. Sunny day but chilly. I made my almost famous spahgetti sauce, pasta and garlic bread. And a Texas sheet cake. They enjoyed everything. It was fun to be so appreciated.  

Today Ivan has an MRI.We do not know what to expect. Hoping for good news. 

How did you meet your spouse?  I was working in Bay City, Michigan at Ritchie’s Drive Inn as a car hop. I stayed with my sister Marci for the summer between my Junior and Senior year of high school. I became friends with some girls from the Upper Peninsula. Garden. MI. Shirley, Suzanne, Linda. I was invited to Shirley’s August wedding in Garden. I stayed with Suzanne, We went for a ride and picked up Ivan and Pat. Fun. The wedding was the next night. Ivan was very flirty. He knocked out my contact then found it on the ground. Later in the evening he announced that, “This is the girl I’m going to marry!” He called me and we started dating long distance. Gladwin (me) Kalamazoo (Ivan). By Christmas we were engaged. Married the following June. It will be 53 year on June14. Three daughters and ten grandchildren!

Senior prom…

 

                                   Isn’t she lovely?    

Six days until 71. Esky Senior prom. I love these pictures of sweet memories. Papa and the M! So stylish! 

Some questions to ask your grandmother:

What is a recipe you would like to stay in the family?

Candy cane cookies. They are a little difficult to make but they mean Christmas to our family. 

What was a favorite childhood toy? I have always been an avid reader. So most of my favorite toys were my books. Robin Hood, Black Beauty, Mrs. Mike, The Long White Month, Nancy Drew, Cherry Ames. I could go on and on. My Barbie doll with a black pony tail and pin curled bangs was another favorite. 

Where were you born? I was born in Holland, Michigan. My mothers name was Stephanie Josephine Piontek Aman. My fathers name was Philip Francis Aman. I had seven siblings. Marcella Maria, Margaret Mary, (twins) Me, Lillian Veronica, Phyllis Anne, Michael Francis, Stephanie Mae, Suzanne, (twins) Joseph Patrick. 

Getting the porch ready for spring …

                             Porch pics from years past.

 April 22, 2022, seven days til seventy-one. Time flies when you are stressed to beyond your endurance. Two days spent in ER. My dear hubby’s illness is progressing. It is painful for us both. Different kinds of pain but still nearly unbearable.             I started putting cushions on the porch furniture. I’ll finish tomorrow. I really want to sit out there. My Florida daughter is coming to visit on Tuesday. I am so looking forward to her being here. My Esky granddaughter has Senior Prom tomorrow. Sunday my brother’s son and family are visiting from Green Bay. I’ll be making my almost famous spahgetti. It will be good for us to have a little excitement. Today we went to Hong Kong Buffet with Ivan’s sister, her treat. He really wanted to go. It has been a long time since he has gone out to eat. He had a good day today after a rough week. He is working on the yard when he can. He loves it. Remember that question from yesterday? What would a good day look like for him? I know the answer. Anyone that knows him knows this. Spending the day in Isabella mowing the lawn on his new rider. Eating a boiled bologna and peanut butter sandwhich. Seeing a few deer. His dog by his side. That would be a good day. 

Blue Spruce…

 

Eight days til 71. A new age to live with. I surprised Ivan with a blue spruce to replace the huge old cedar tree that was in our backyard when we moved in. It was lost to a windstorm last summer. Haven rode up to Papa in the alley with her permit to start driving. He looks so happy for her. He is still smiling. Violet ran in a track meet in Menominee for the Eskymos. Kelley put ernest money down on a house in Carthage Texas. Michelle is sending Papa an Azalea Bonsai tree and encouragement. Cammy watched Bella for us while we spent another day in the ER. Today I took my dear hubby for more care for his symptoms of Stage 4 Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas. The cancer is becoming more difficult. He had a better evening, though. It is getting harder to stay as upbeat as we have been able to most of this past year. We really have enjoyed our very ordinary days. One at a time. He has not felt up to travel or visits. But he has been able to enjoy his walks. The new puppy and our family. It is still hard for us to really believe this disease will take his life. To imagine life without him. This is going to hurt. I want to ask him this question so I know how to make a good day happen for him. 

What would a good day look like to you? 

I’ll get back to you all with the answer to this question. 

Class of 2022 on the porch…

               Nine days and counting down to seventy-one. 

My Senior class of 2022. 

Clay will graduate from Waskom High School in Texas. Ivy graduates from Satellite Beach High School in Florida. Violet graduates from Escanaba High School in Michigan. Iris will be a graduate of Satellite Beach High School in Florida. 

They are an illustrious group of grands Clay-LouisianaTech 

Ivy-Glasgow University, Scotland  Violet-University of Michigan  Iris-Florida State University 

Do you know how you got your name? Yes. My first name, Lillian was my Dad’s mothers name. Lillian Georgiana Huff. My middle name, Veronica was my mother’s mom’s name. 

 

Tears on the old front porch…

 10 days til B-Day 71. 

Yesterday Ivan and I went to ER. He was in great pain. CT scans. Tests. IVs. The works. Today we saw his oncologist for results. The news we received was as bad as it could be. His Neuroendocrine carcinoma has further metastasized to his liver. The oncologist said maybe six months. My poor man. He loves life. The simple things are the big things for him. He is the most sentimental man. His grand kids give him such great joy. His beloved dogs. He has made me feel loved and cared for-for all of our 53 years. I can’t imagine life with out him. He motivates me to get out and enjoy life. He is a good neighbor and a good friend. A good Dad. A good Papa. A good husband. A good man. 

What are his favorite clothing choices? Packer t-shirt in summer Packer sweatshirt in winter. He also wore Michigan shirts and Escanaba Eskymo shirts. 

What is his favorite color? Blue

His signature vehicle? White Chevy truck with all the chrome. He kept a clean paint brush to dust the air vents in the clean truck.

His hobby? Favorite thing to do? He mowed the lawn in Isabella. Sometimes twice in one day. He mowed all the front yards in our neighborhood. He snowblowed most of the sidewalks on our block. He brushed snow off cars. 

Easter Sunday on the porch…

 12 days til my 71st birthday. I am making these days count. Easter Sunday brunch menu: baked ham, eggs. French toast, mashed potatoes, potato wedges, fruit plate and dip, chocolate covered strawberries (Cammy), and bacon. Coffee. Served on my wedding china with my Mother’s wedding silver. All the fuss is worth it for the pictures. Florida, Texas and Michigan.