A Legacy of Fun

"Aunt Nola," I asked one day on a visit to a dear great aunt, "Why is your hair so black and your sister, Aunt Minnie, has such white hair?" Great Aunt Minnie was several years older than Nola, but by this time in their lives, I didn't see much difference between mid 80's, and early 90's, as far as hair was concerned. "Don't you know?" answered Aunt Nola, with a glimmer of fun in her eye. "Minnie is the much older sister!"

This is a line I have used ever since then when I am asked a question by my own nieces and nephews for something regarding my older sister and I. Recently, on a visit to the church of our childhood where my sister and I were both attending, we were re-introducing ourselves to some of the dear saints that we had not seen for a period of years.

"Are you Teresa or Betty?" I was frequently asked. Not that I thought we ever looked that much alike. "Oh, I am Betty," I would say with a smile, and Great Aunt Nola's glimmer in my eye. "Teresa is my much older sister!" But this time, the joke was on me! Teresa (now going by "Tess") had gotten to them all first. They already knew I was Betty, and she had coaxed them on what she was sure I was going to be saying to them! When they all started laughing, and saying,"Teresa, you were right!" I knew I had been had! I live eight hours away from my "much older sister" and however could she have known what I would say?! But the joke was on me, and my secret line from Great Aunt Nola was out!

Laughter among sisters and dear friends is precious. Oh, and Great Aunt Nola finally confessed that she did touch up her beautiful coal black hair with a little help from a bottle of hair dye from time to time. And Great Aunt Minnie, with her faded yellow hair, would just smile with the love of a "much older sister."

Happy 4th of July

"Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write."

A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law, John Adams - 1765

Happy 4th of July!



love



Betty

Ruby Susan (Fyffe) Salyer, Birth: 15 March 1935 - Moved to Heaven: May 10, 2008

"Come and hear my story," Aunt Ruby said. "God has given me a miracle!"

Ruby Fyffe Salyer passed away this morning. She suffered a massive stroke on Wednesday, May 7, and died this morning, May 10, 2008 at the hospital in Paintsville, Kentucky. She will be greatly missed by family, friends, and all that knew her. It doesn't seem real.

A breast cancer survivor, she overcame a knee replacement surgery, and worked very hard to overcome a paralyzing stroke. Ruby had a miracle healing that helped her walk with her cane. God spoke to her and told her to move her leg. "Not in an audible voice, or vision," she said, but yet that still small voice in her heart was directly from God, and Ruby knew it. And move her leg she did!

Ruby was so excited she called everyone she knew to share her story of God giving her such a special miracle. With the combined physical therapy and continued hard work, she pushed until she could walk again with the aid of a cane. God had released her paralyzed leg, and Aunt Ruby learned to walk again! "Come and see," she said. "Come and let me tell about what God has done for me!" Her speech was still a little slurred, but even that had greatly improved.

The breast cancer returned on the other side, and she resolved to fight that too. She had surgery for the new cancer on Monday, May 5th. They were going to take a small slice out of the breast for where the new cancer was, and if need be, remove that side as well. But the cancer that was confirmed by the pre-tests, was not found in the breast tissues or lymph nodes. Another miracle! "Come and hear my story" Aunt Ruby would say, "Come and hear what God has done!"

Jessica and I responded to her call to come. We made plans. We sent notes, and called. We set our date for May 22 - 2008. Jessica has a break in classes and could get off work for a few days for the trip.

Jessica bought a new camera to record her picture, and we marked it on our calendar. My winter temp jobs helped us to set aside gas money, and Jessica plans on sharing the cost as well.

I told my Mom back in the winter about Aunt Ruby's healing, and her call to come. "Go now!" she said. "She may not make it until May!" While I heeded her warning, the obligations of life did not allow that pleasure.

We will continue to look forward to our visit with Aunt Ruby, but the next time we visit, we will be not only with Aunt Ruby, but in the presence of the Lord.

We will remember her determination to always overcome through hard work, love for others, and believing in a God that still works miracles. "Come and See!" God is good.

love,

Betty

April 27, 2008

Spring time in Iowa. The 45 degree morning is very welcome after a long winter. The trees are budding and breaking out into to small leaves. Tulips and daffodils are in bloom. Yard work calls.

I spent about 10 days in the Fairborn, Ohio area visiting family earlier in the month. My mother had a knee replacement, and needed extra physical therapy before she could return home, and received both physical and occupational therapy for a month at a rehab facility. The women and men in that unit were hard workers, and I knew I could take some lessons from them! A 93 year old woman recovering from a heart attack and fall led the way by example. When it was her turn to work out, she put her whole heart into it, determined to grow strong enough to return to her own home and be on her own again. Mother worked every day until she was exhausted, determined to get home as quickly as possible. I am very proud of her strong spirit.

I had some good times with my Dad as well. My younger sister, Ruth, was caring for him. Although his heart was lonely for Mother, Ruth cared so gently for him. Dad doesn't like to eat the same thing two days in a row. One day my dad asked me if I would go get him a burger and fries at McDonalds. "Sure," I responded. There were some other things in the refrigerator that were very good, left over from the day before. When I mentioned to Ruth that Dad wanted MeDonald's for lunch she knew right away what he was trying to do. He didn't want the left overs (no matter how good they were) two days in a row. (The third day is fine though.) And he didn't want to ask her to make him something else. His perfect solution: McDonalds! Ruth very gently told Dad that if that was what he really wanted, of course, he could have a MeDonald's treat that day. But, she said, if he would prefer, she was getting ready to make a tuna salad that he could have with toast and water melon on the side. Ruth packed Dad's tuna salad full of extra chopped vegtables, and another healthy lunch won the day.

I'm not with them often enough to be counted as a caretaker. My trip was to allow my own heart some home time with my extended family, and to give them a respite where possible. Then, to return to my own husband and family in Muscatine, Iowa. I count myself blessed for the love I received while there from both family and friends.

From Ohio

Dear Family & Friends,

It has been a while since I posted to this little site, but it is time to reconnect!

The Fannin/Lewis/Eldridge Fannin Family & Friends Reunion is scheduled for May 24th. Please join us first on top of the hill at the Fannin/Eldridge Cemetary for a morning service, and immediatly following for a potluck carry in lunch at the Isonville School.

We will be taking a love offering for Rodney Fannin this year. Rodney is our mentally challenged uncle that lives at the Elliot Nursing and Rehab Center in Sandy Hook, Kentucky. All of Rodney's spare clothing for the changing of the seasons were lost in the mobile home fire at Aunt Bertha's former home. The money allotted for his care only allows enough left over for the burial insurance policy, and then Aunt Bertha has been footing the rest of the costs primarily on her own. Robert and Delbert have been made aware of the need, and have been able to send a contribution. Bertha was able to purchase a few spring clothing items for Rodney with this money. But if we all chip in a few dollars at the reunion, it would go a long way toward not only needs for him, but new movies, books, hair cuts, snacks, etc.

Needy Neighbors - That's Us!

Hi,

It has been in the high 50's today, a real taste of spring! I have rested all week and am planning on heading back to work tomorrow. I still have a wheeze, but I understand that it just takes time to get over.

We are the neediest neighbors! What would we do without neighbors that will come on a moments notice and bail us out of trouble? And bailing is what was needed this spring day. Snow kept falling last month, and had no place to go. It was pushed into large piles. Now, as it melts, it has drained into our basement, and our front walk was a river! Our neighbors came and helped chip away ice in the yard to make a path for the melting water that was accumulating out front, carried ruined rugs out of the basement, and assisted with general water control! All working together disaster has been averted. Fans and the dehumidifer are running in the basement, and Keith is still running a drainage hose from the front of the house to try to divert some of the melting snow.
It will freeze again tonight, and we will start over tomorrow. But in the meantime, we are grateful for the help our neighbors once again gave. We can't do a lot of physical things to assist them, but we can watch their dog when they are on vacation, bake some cookies, and tell them how grateful we are for their help.

Stay warm and dry!
love
Aunt Betty

A Day of Rest

It's a day of rest for me. The feeling that jagged rocks were poking out at my back and piercing all the way through was not a dream, or from sleeping the wrong way. A trip to the Urgent Care Sunday morning confirmed a scattered pneumonia to go along with a bad case of bronchitis. I hesitated even going to get it checked, as I know that most things in the cold and virus family just have to run their course, but I was pretty miserable. I've only been on the medication for two days, but I am already starting to feel better.

My Cousin Tony called and walking me through the "indelicate" procedure of "hacking." Hot soup to break up the phlem, and then - force the hacking. He had me laughing on the phone so hard that I didn't need the soup or to force it! And that, says Tony, is the best thing for me to do.

Keith has contributed by passing on the hospital incentive spirometer that he used to help keep his lungs open after his last surgery. Now, it is his turn to tell me to breath a little deeper!

Jessica dug out the old vaporizer and supplied a cool mist, and ran the extra errands.

My supervisor said, "Please don't come in today." - "Or tomorrow!" The doctor told me that after two days on the antibiotics I could return to work. That would be Sunday and today, Monday. I'll take Tuesday too, and give myself the extra rest - and they will be really assured the medication is working!

My pastor called and assured me of the prayers of the church. And to remind me that that I have an article due for the monthly newsletter by the end of the week or before if possible. But no pressure....


I'm doing a few chores and then resting, reading, praying and enjoying my quiet time. The rocks still feel like that they are sticking in my back - but not all the way through to my stomach. Maybe it is time to try Cousin Tony's "Soup and Hacking" remedy!