Magaw's Blog

My Ohio Trip

2009-09-10T13:01:00.002-05:00

Well, I have been in Ohio for exactly 11 days. I have been having a wonderful time. I arrived at my friend Carol's on Monday morning, the 31st. It was so good being with her! I got see two of her daughter's, Chris and Nicky (Twinkle Toes) whom I have already met. I also got to meet Cathy, a daughter I had never met, and Cathy's six children. They are all so cute. Her other daughter, Kelly, lives in Akron so I didn't get to me her. We went to the Hancock County Fair on Wednesday. We went with Carol's sister, Shirley, and their Aunt Mary. We had a good day but unfortunately, it ended on a sad note. Carol's cousin, Judy, whom Carol is extremely close, called and was in the hospital. She had just found out that she had a malignent tumor in the colon. She was scheduled for surgery the next morning. After the surgery, Carol got a call from Judy's husband saying that Judy had come through the surgery just fine and that she would not go to intensive care, after all. However, on Friday, Judy took a turn for the worse. She is now in ICU and they are trying to keep her comfortable. They have said there is nothing more they can do for her. Her kidneys are shutting down. Please say a prayer for Judy, her family, and for my dear friend, Carol.
I left on Thursday morning to come over to my sister's. I got here that afternoon and we just settled down a little and visited. We've run around a great deal and have had a good time. The best time ever, though, was yesterday! On Saturday, I called a cousin in Fostoria, Ohio to see if we could get together. It's been over 40 years since I have seen them. She gave me some other phone numbers and yesterday, ten of my cousins, my sister and I, all met in Fostoria for lunch! What a wonderful time we had!!!!!! Jean (King) Shaw is the first one I called. Jean and her husband, Harry, and their daughter, Brenda, Jean's sister, Marlene (King) ; Dale Peskey and his wife Lori, Dale's sister Manya Faye; Carolyn (Gangwer) Hopkinson; Donny Lee Bryant were all there. My sweet cousin Alice Lou was also there. I have a special place in my heart for Alice Lou because she is the one who was able to answer questions about my mother's mother. As most of you know, I have been searching for years for my grandmother. Alice Lou, over the past year, sent me pictures of, and a pin that belonged to, my grandmother. When we met Wednesday, she gave me a vase that had belonged to my grandmother. What a treasure this is for me!!!! After lunch, Marlene, Carolyn, Alice Lou, my sister, Phyllis, and I all went to the cemetary where my grandmother is buried. What a beautiful day it was. Such a feeling of finally having found where this dear lady was. Her life must have been so difficult. It is a welcome closure after years of searching documents and trying to get information about her.
There was a family gathering of my sister's children and grandchildren last Saturday. What fun to see them all. My niece and her husband, Jody and Tom, were celebtrating their 30th wedding anniversary!
My sister and brother-in-law Dan and I have been doing some shopping. It's been fun and relaxing but I am very tired.
I look forward to coming home and getting back into the routine of things. I miss my family so very much.

Busy Week

2009-08-25T13:48:00.003-05:00

Today is Tuesday and I am baby-sitting with Emily, Sam, Abby, and Claire. Sarah has a volleyball game in Gulf Port, MS. I don't know why Marty didn't want to take the children with her!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are being very sweet. Emily and Abby are out riding their bikes. There was a brief moment of panic for Abby. She was wearing a pair of Emily's jeans and they were a little long. When she was riding the bike, her pant leg got wrapped up around the pedal! Alas, a pair of scissors released her from her bondage! Grandma to the rescue! And a cut off pair of jeans!!!
Sam is wandering around trying to find something to do. Claire is taking a nap so it is very quiet around here.
My friend, Carol, called me this morning and told me that the fair is Wednesday in Findlay. It's been many years since I went to the fair with Carol so I decided to think about leaving early and being able to go to the fair with her. My plans at this point (baring unexpected plans) are to leave on Sunday. I am going to Rob's church and will leave right after that. I will stop somewhere along the way and go on to Carol's on Monday. That will give me a day to rest and chat, chat, chat, before going to the fair. I'm really getting excited. I was a little reluctant about the trip until this week. Now it is almost here and I'm ready to go!!!!!
I need to go put air in a bicycle tire so I'll sign this off for now. God bless and have a wonderful day.

Week Update

2009-08-21T17:31:00.002-05:00

This has been an interesting week. Amanda called and said she thought she had broken her ankle. I went over to stay with Adam and Madison while they went to the hospital. Fortunately, it's only a bad sprain, although I think sometimes those are worse than a break. But - no cast. Wednesday Marty and the children came over and I went with them to finish school shopping. When we left Target, it began to really rain. Abby said she liked to play in the rain so she stopped in her tracks! Never mind that Sarah, Sam, Claire and I would really liked to have gotten into the van! Marty had stayed behind in Michael's. When Marty came out, she was drenched! We dropped Sarah off at her school for volleyball practice then came back to my house and Marty fixed chicken and sald and dinner rolls. They left around 6:00 to go to their community group meeting here in Pensacola. Thursday morning, I met some fellow members of the church and we prepared lunch for student orientation at Warrington Middle School. It was fun and I think the total number served was approximately 400. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, cookies, and drinks. It was fun spending the day with my other family! Great people! On my way home, I stopped to see Amanda and Richard and the babies. Madison screamed in my right ear, so now I am deaf it it; she hit my cheek with her head, now it's bruised; she hit my eye-brow area with her head and now I have a knot as big as a baseball! Oh - the joys of grandchildren!!! I may have exagerated a little on the size of the bump - actually, there is no bump. However, I have to try to get some sympathy!!!
Today was rather uneventful. Abby is spending the night with me and going with me to Neppie Hay's tomorrow for our Stampin' Up session! I'll take Abby home later and my friend, Bobbie and I have been invited to eat Sabboth Dinner with Rob and Marty and the children. I'm really looking forward to that. Speaking of Rob and Marty, they are at this moment looking at a house. They have to move by the 15th of September because the owners of their house are moving back into it. It would be extremely crowded with four adults and seven children!!!!
That pretty much wraps up my week. I really have enjoyed it.
I'm leaving for Ohio on Tuesday, September 1st. So much to look forward to! I'll be visiting my friend, Carol, in Payne, Ohio, then to my friend, Cathy's, in Findlay, then on to Clare, Michigan to visit friends I met on my cruise to Hawaii. After I leave there, I'm going to my sister's in Milan, Ohio and will stay about two weeks with her. I also hope to get to visit with some cousins I haven't seen in years!
I hope you all have a blessed weekend and will spend time worshiping. Our God is an awesome God!!!!!!

My First Blog

2009-08-19T08:49:00.003-05:00

Today is my first real entry into my blog. I just read a blog posted by someone so very dear to me. I can so relate to her as she looks into the eyes of her children. I can see the genuine, deep love she has for her husband. Sometimes we fail to look at the lives of others and when their lives may look "perfect" - we must remember that there is no other perfect except our God. As most of you who know me know, my family is my dearest treasure. I love them so deeply. I hurt when they hurt, laugh when I see them laugh, cry when they sometimes don't understand me, but ALWAYS - love them desperately! I pray for the families as individual families. Rob and Marty are so committed to being the best Christians, parents, and mates. Their love is so very obvious. They truly are wonderful examples for the Christian life. They do walk the walk! Their love of our Lord is exemplified in all their actions and words.
I was blessed with three beautiful children. Rob - (a Baptist Preacher) my first child and only son - is my hero! He has been such an inspiration to me. He's kind, wise, and very loving. I am so proud of him. He has a remarkable wife. She is not only talented, but is an example of the kind of mother I wish more people had. Julie, (works at an auto shop) my oldest daughter, is my best friend. We do a lot together and she is so possessive and concerned about me. Her husband, John, is a paramedic, and is quiet and seems quite devoted to his wife. Vicki (works at Baptist Hospital) is my youngest and last child. She is still so childlike and sweet. She loves her two grandchildren.
I am so blessed by my nine wonderful grandchildren. Aimee - (an EMT) a spirited, determined young lady. She is so much like her Uncle Rob. Amanda - (A wife and mother) mother of my two great-grandchildren. More a daughter than a granddaughter. Erika, (working at Tom Thumb in Foley) so lost in her little world - so confused. Such a sweet girl, though. Struggles to make a place in this world. The three oldest Hadding girls all attend Trinitas Classical Christian School) Sarah - (entering the 7th grade) a sweet, tender girl who is living her life as I wish I had lived mine as a child. Emily - (entering the 4th grade)my heart! She is so sweet and gentle. Quiet and calm but also loud and full of life. Sam - (being homeschooled but gets to go to Trinitas next year!!!!!!) what can I say about my Sam? He is such a loving boy and he loves me! He sends me e-cards and e-mails - my dear little boy!!! Abby - (entering the 1st grade at Trinitas) what a sweet, pleasant child. She is so beautiful and so willing to please. Claire - (trying to be homeschooled) what can I say about Claire? She is a very determined little girl with a strong will. Once when Rob was a little boy, I discussed him with his pediatrician and I was told not to ever try to break his will - well, Marty, there you are!!!
I never dreamed I would live long enough to have great-grandchildren. But I have and they truly are "Great."Adam is three and will start Headstart at Sherwood School next week. He's loving and so very sweet. Madison will be two on October 1st and is SO much like her Uncle Rob and Aunt MeMe (Aimee). She is beautiful and full of life.
How can I ever that the Lord enough for these people whom He has given to me to share my life with!!!! I am blessed beyond belief - I don't deserve any of it - but for a God who gave His only Son - I have all of these wonderful, loving Gifts.
I hope you all have a blessed day and will bear with me as I try to become a 'blogger.'

First attempt

2009-08-06T10:15:00.003-05:00

This is my first attempt to write on my blog spot. Wish me luck. My daughter-in-law, Marty, came over yesterday and gave me a tutorial on this site. However, I still don't know what I am doing. Please say a prayer for me that I'm not too old to learn new tricks!!!!! Have a blessed day.