A Little homegrown wisdom

Things I have learned from Dad and Mom

1. Yes you can. Of course you can.

2. If you can’t, just file that away; some day, you can.

3. Hang your laundry up to dry.

4. Hammer your own nails.

5. Hammer your neighbor’s nails.

6. Let your neighbor help hammer your nails.

7. Pay your bills.

8. Music makes practically every task a little less troublesome.

9. Singing in the car is not stupid.

10. Your clan really matters.

11. Your friends really matter.

12. When your friends fail to understand you, your clan probably will. When you clan fails to understand you, your friends probably will. You need both.

13. Get out of bed and go to church.

14. Get out of bed and go to work. Keep doing that.

15. A cell phone is nice. Someone on the other end is essential.

16. What you don’t have might be attainable; what you do have has been attained, so use it.

17. Re-use it. Several times.

18. Fly when you are young.

19. Tell your stories.

20. Tell your children your stories.

21. Tell yourself what your story will be.

22. Let your children do ridiculous things.

23. When your children decide it was ridiculous, don’t say that you knew it all along.

24. Smile at the grumpy checkout lady. She is related to your neighbor or to you.

25. Keep your word; in a small town, that’s your credit rating.

26. Listen when your father is speaking. No, not only the words-to him.

27. Pay attention. Less costly than mistakes.

28. Everything that has been done in the past 40 years is the result of the previous 20 years in the family; all was done for a reason; and you, too will make great wins and huge mistakes. Just keep trying.

29. Sow your money into what you believe in. Let your kids see it.

30. We are all in this together. And that is exactly why you have to fill the woodbox.

31. While you are thinking your woodbox job sucks, your parents are busy doing a job ten times more difficult that has to get done too.

32. Fix your car.

33. Buy a better car.

34. Love your neighbors.

35. Count your blessings. Count your sorrows. Count your money, and count on life being busy. But mostly, count your blessings.

36. Smile and then answer the phone.

37. Let your kid play the trumpet in the house.

38. Get a massive christmas tree. Make your own ornaments.

39. If you are going to make improvements, you are going to have to tear a few things down.

40. Don’t be surprised when you bruise your fingernail.

41. If you step on a nail it will always, always, hurt. Get a tetanus shot and suck it up. (note-my mother has stepped on 6 nails.)

42. I always and forever will love you and do whatever needs to be done to get that through your thick, stubborn skull!

This is the actual conversation between my two sons this morning as I was making breakfast.

Joey: Henry, do you know who is Jesus?
Henry: Who?
J: Jesus is the biggestest superhero!
H: Really? Wow!
J: Yup. And we can call him God too.
So, if you need help, you can ask him. You ask him like this: Jesus, please help me know you
more.
H: Jesus, me love you!
J: No, no, not like that! Like this: Jesus, please help me know you more. But I think you can
say I love you to him too.
H: ok…please help me know you more Jesus.
J: Do you know who sin is?
H: Sin?
J: Sin is a bad guy that Jesus beats.
H: Oh! heheehe.
J: So sin is, like, in the ground, but sometimes it comes up and gets us!
H: Oh!
J: But don’t be afraid, cuz Jesus can help you against Sin.
H: Yeah! What if me ‘fraid??
J: And, Jesus angels are here too, helping you. So, Jesus can beat sin up!
H: Yeah!
J: In fact I think Jesus already won against sin. I heard my teacher say that once. Hmm, I think
Sin is the same as Satan. But he can’t get you if you have Jesus.
(pause)
J: We can’t really see Jesus but we can talk to him anytime!
H: Wow! Jesus so BIG!
J: Yeah. Remember, I told you already! Jesus is God! WE have him with us so we are A ok.
Right mom?

Look at these Awsome Kids!!!

One thing I am grateful for in my life is the chance to value family. We live with and love my family and we pray for and remember the Liew Clan in M'sia too. Here are pictures of my kids and my brothers kids. They are growing up together, practically at each other's houses all the time! They really all have such distinct personalities!

Keepin' Healthy-a few tips

Ten general tips for preventing the spread of infection

(From APIC Handbook of Infection Control, Farrin Manian, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., Editor. Permission to use this material granted to Marsha Koopman, Infection Control Nurse, from Farrin Manian and the APIC)Some diseases have become immune to the antibiotics we use. As a result, controlling diseases and preventing infections from spreading are more crucial than ever, and doing so begins with measures every individual can take. Here are 10 tips to remember:

Wash your hands frequently - especially before preparing food, before eating, and after using the restroom. Insist that your health-care providers wash their hands and use gloves, especially before any invasive treatment or procedure.

Don't insist that your physician give you antibiotics if you don't need them. Antibiotics have no effect on illnesses caused by viruses.

Take prescribed antibiotics exactly as instructed; do not stop taking them without checking with your physician, even if the medicine makes you feel better - or worse.

Keep your immunizations - and those of your children - up to date.

Don't send your child to a day-care enter or to school with symptoms of an infection - such as vomiting, diarrhea and/or fever.

Follow safe sexual practices.

Do not use IV drugs; if you do, do not share needles.

Don't share personal items - such as razor blades, toothbrushes, combs, and hairbrushes - and don't eat or drink from others' plates, glasses, or silverware.

Keep kitchen surfaces clean, especially when preparing meat, chicken, and fish; disinfect kitchen surfaces.

Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold, especially when the will be left out for a long time.

Noteworthy Column about Selflessness

This is from the online newsletter from the organization that manages the nursing home I work at.

WAHSA Recognizes Patti Staude

As we move ahead with this and upcoming issues of e-News, WAHSA will be introducing you to the remaining 9 individuals nominated for association awards. We look forward to sharing with you their heartwarming stories. Here is one of them.
Nominee for Employee of the Year – Patti Staude, Meadowview Household within Shorehaven Health and Rehabilitation Center, Oconomowoc
Patti Staude has been an energized homemaker for 10 years at the Meadowview Household within the Shorehaven Health and Rehabilitation Center in Oconomowoc. She starts out her day with a hug for everyone in her Shorehaven Household. The tireless Meadowview Homemaker is an innovative force creating unity, humor, and hope for those fortunate enough to live there. “Patti is so open to new ideas, she encourages all of us to be open, and so much of what we do here starts with Patti,” said coordinator Jan Braun. Describing Patti as a “faithful person, not just with words, but with actions,” Jan named countless activities launched by Patti. Originator of ideas as in the Household’s famous Italian and Greek dinners; the Meadowview Melt-Away and Holiday Cards sales; the annual Meadowview Thanksgiving Day Parade and Chili Dump; the Sweetheart Party and couples’ vow renewal; driving residents to Brewer games on her days off, taking photographs of all events for posting and recollection, and creating the Family Photo Wall, reminding residents, staff, and family members they serve crucial roles daily in this intimate setting. “Patti reminds us often, ‘it’s not about you, it’s about what we can do for our residents,’ ” said Braun.

“I’ve learned more about love from Patti than from any other person in my life.”

Isn't that inspiring!!

School's On

Kids started school again! It was, um, harder on Momma than on the kids! They were all so excited they didn't sleep very good. Ellie started back Tuesday, Joey on Wed., Henry on Thursday. Henry was so excited, first day of school ever, and he just waved goodbye and walked right in. Are we PROUD of him or what??? Yes we are.

I have Heidi to thank for this pics. She's been great! I will get a school pic of Joey up too.

Yes I know I am obsessed with my kids but what else is there in life when you are a single mother of three. :) Oh yeah. Work. But the kids are so much more exciting.

Here is a recent, well, almost up to the minute photo of me and the kids. This was taken about half an hour before I loaded it on to my blog.

Greetings from Ruth and the Liew Crew

Good Morning Everyone! I am finally putting another update! Sorry I haven't posted any stories recently. Working on that!

Hi All! Ok that computer deal didn't work out. Still working with the dinosaur. Maybe later this fall I will get a computer. We'll see. ANYWAY... My sis in law recently asked for pics of myself. She said she has seen pics of the kids but not me. Ok, ok, so here is one. I kinda like this picture. Ellie took this when we had first moved into the trailer (so it isn't a new picture. But I look the same! Except my hair is lighter now.) Here is a little more recent photo: (Does this really look like me? My kids don't like this one much. My nose looks like a huge schnazzle!)

What other news.... school will be starting soon. OR it feels like soon. I guess it is one more month yet. Summer has gone by really quick because I have spent quite alot of it at work. I have another pic to share. Here are the kids with their cousins at my brother's place. Heidi took the pic:

Guess Ellie thought she might slip off the hood. Or maybe she was just being goofy. They spent the day together because Heidi watched the kids while I was at work that day.

In new news, it looks like Henry and Caleb might get to go to tadika (preschool) together after all this fall. I wasn't sure I could do it and also work. Between family members we have a tentative plan worked out.

(I wish I could find a better picture of the two of them!)

I hope that the next post will be a story or a joke list. Until then, have a wonderful week and God Bless! Love, Ruth and the Crew