The Brotherhood Of Sisters

This photo was taken at Silver Dollar City shortly after our mother passed away. Can you spot the female ghost right above my head. I never saw her till I was posting this picture.
My sister Bev, Mom and I in front of our old house on Y Hwy

Taken out in front of our favorite Flea Market in Laquey

My sister Bev lending a hand with our new driveway

They say write what you know and coming from a family of five girls and two boys, boy do I know a lot about sisters! I've put this post on hold for quite awhile now, knowing fully it would take a lot of thought in putting it together. You see my sisters mean a lot to me. The relationship between sisters is a very complicated one, especially my sisters. My sisters are my best friends. They know everything about each other, good and bad. They know how you work. They know where to hit you too....how to push all your buttons. It's because they know what is near and dear to you.

You can try to fool other people but never try to fool your sisters. They know you too well. A sister will tell you like it is and they have the right to. If you ask one if they like your new hair cut brace yourself because your going to hear the truth. It's not meant to hurt you it's a honest opinion meant to inform you if you goofed. I value my sisters opinions. If you have gained a little weight or neglected your self a sister will gladly point it out to you. It's their job. You may not agree with them at first but when you get a little time to yourself you will reflect on their comments and take a better look at yourself.

My sisters have always been there for me, in good times, bad times and trying times....they have been there. We have raised our children together and all our kids think the world of their aunts. My oldest son Adam once gave all of us the most wonderful compliment. He once told me that he thought we sisters were the strongest women he had ever known. What a wonderful statement. For I believe women need to be strong. I can't understand a weak woman! God gave us a mind to think with and the courage to take care of our families. All my sisters are wonderful mothers. At about roughly 3 years apart it's nice to talk to all my sisters for advice because you will get so many different takes on the situation at hand because we are all at different times in our lives.

My oldest sister Sharon had seen it all. Young marriage, five children, tons of grandchildren, and she still faces each day with anticipation and the spirit for new adventures. Just ask her about her chickens!

My sister Bev was the peacemaker growing up and hated fighting with anyone. She carried this approach to life into adulthood. About within the last five years she has finally realized her own potential and began her own highly successful business. Her confidence continues to grow daily and we are all very proud of her accomplishments.

My older sister Patti is the life of the party. Her positive personality attracts friends wherever she goes. Growing up she was always in a freshly ironed dress while I barely had any clothes on at all. She was all girl and I was all tom boy. I think she was ironing at four. She was neat as a pin then and she's as neat as a pin now. At her house everything has a place and everything is in it's place. I hate that about her!

I am the middle sister. It's a nice place to be. One year I will feel really close to one certain sister and another year I will identify myself with a different sister. Those are the benefits of having so many.

All in all since my mother passed away 3 1/2 years ago all of us sisters have gone in unique directions. Some have embarked on new careers, new spiritual paths and passages.

As for me I have discovered that taking a combination of simple pleasures and slowing down has a lot to offer. My dreams and goals are still there but I'm not waiting to start living. I'm living each day, each moment, finding pleasure in everyday simple things now. One vow I have made to myself is to do more fishing this year. I can not even put into words the absolute thrill of seeing my bobber go under the water!!! Not to mention my love of cooking out doors over a open fire pit.

Getting back to my sisters I would like to say that we never fought but that would be an out and out lie. I can't ever remember not fighting with my baby sister Deb. We have always fought, mostly because we are so much a like in nature and personality. We are both family driven. We would do anything for family. We are both strong willed so naturally we butted heads since Mom introduced us. Along with this we completely understand each other even though she once said I never "got her". Growing up I tried to boss her around but she always stood her ground but at the same time if in trouble she always knew I would be there. That's what sisters do. We will always be there for each other. A voice in the night telling you that everything will be okay.

We lost our father to cancer when we were very young and our dear mother became our firm foundation that we could always lean on. She taught us how to laugh at our own flaws and to find the courage to try new paths. She taught us what family was and the power and faith of a true mother. If more mothers could be a little like her. She invoked all that a mother should be. Nurturing, loving and steady. We could always depend on her. She made you happy you were born a woman. She was a wonderful guide through this life and when we lost her we thought we would surely die too. But her strength lives on in us and we have go on. We nurture our children and our grandchildren. We take time to enjoy our husbands and we make time to get together. Uncontrolled laughter rings through our homes whenever we are together. We are sisters. Such a relationship can't be put in mere words. We will be there for each other the rest of our lives and never be afraid to say " What have you done to your hair?" If you are lucky to have a sister or five like mine, take time to enjoy them, laugh with them for surly they are one of your world treasures! Aunt Onie

Out With The Old, In With The New

Sitting here in the "dead of winter", my mind wanders away from the white snow landscape outside my office window and is drawn mysteriously to a spring time vision of green grass, tree frogs and somewhere in the distance the welcomed familiar sound of someone mowing grass. AHHHHH if it was only Spring! But it's not. It's my least favorite time of year where Christmas is a fast fading memory and taxes are fast coming due. It's where you sit down and look back at the year past and think what you could have done better. It's a time where you notice you pants and sweaters seem to have shrunk more with the new detergent you have been using. Then it hits you like a ton of bricks. This year will be different! This year you will have better finances, a slimmer figure and be more organized. You vow to reinvent yourself because you are looking at a New Year, a clean slate so to speak. Anything is possible!

We should take this opportunity to clean out our closets, organized our bills, and simplify our lives. What better time to do this when we have more time to focus on these task, while the earth sleeps. As soon as the winter months fade there will be so much to do and so little time to do it. It only makes sense to tackle these worthwhile projects now, in the dead of winter.

As for me I will be focusing more on my writing skills and start that long awaited novel. I will be focusing my endeavors to obtaining a literary agent as well. At the same time I am going to work on me. I will be putting more effort into my appearance and well being, inside and out. I am motivated to feeling more fit this spring and summer.

As cabin fever sets in I am revealing some small but useful techniques I have used in keeping my spirits up and positive. We all know that a positive attitude can keep you healthy both physically and mentally. Here are just a few that have helped me through many a harsh winter.

First, sleeping with a lamp near your face a few nights a week can actually help swing your mood to a more happy side. Something about less sun during winter months can play havoc with our good moods. I can really notice a difference with sleeping with a light on my face.

Second take time to pamper your body as it faces cold wind and dry air. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Your body and mind will thank you.

Third, go to your happy place by using smells. Yes smells. Sit by a sunny window and rub some suntan lotion on your arms and close your eyes and let the smell of the lotion take you to the beach or by a swimming pool. Feel the warm air on your face and you can even smell fresh cut grass. Our connection to smells and memories of places you have been are all interconnected and can easily lift our spirits in association. Try other smells of summer and see the difference they can make.

Fourth, transition yourself to focus on the spring and summer months by giving yourself some goals to reach by winters end. These goals will see you through the long winter nights and before you know it, spring will be here in all it's glory.

Fifth, bring color into your winter. Nothing says spring like yellow, blue and lavender so buy an inexpensive bouquet of flowers for your bed side. Set the mood for your meals with a brightly colored tablecloth. Bring a splash of spring to your bathroom and bedroom.

These simple yet effective techniques will help you to stay happy and healthy during the long winter. If you have other ideas to beat the winter blues please email me or post a comment. I would love to hear from you. Till then stay positive and upbeat, enjoy a good book, movie or a romantic evening and be sure to get plenty of rest and exercise. Before you know it we will all be able to pick fresh flowers, feel the sun on our faces and enjoy the wonderful sound of tree frogs. Close your eyes for a second....can you hear the distant sound of someone mowing the lawn?........ Aunt Onie

Back Among The Living

Happy New Year 2010 Everyone!
I've been down with a bad cold and hope to be back to my old self tomorrow and up with a new post on my Blog. Thanks for a great 2009 and all the great feedback, praise and comments you have so graciously given me. My greatest wish is that I put something in there that you can really use in your everyday life or just makes you smile or laugh. We all need those in our lives once in awhile. So here's to a great year blogging. As always feel free to share my blog with all your friends, relatives and co workers. If there is a topic you would like me to cover, please let me know and I will do my best to research and write about your subject. Happy reading everyone!
Aunt Onie

The Christmas Ornament Party

Okay ladies, start your stretching exercises because the annual family Christmas Ornament party is this weekend! Some of my sisters and other female relatives have shopped all year for this night. In fact we have so much fun some say Christmas is over for them when the party ends.

My heart begins to race just thinking of it! Let me explain the reason for this madness. The main goal for this party is to search out all the shops and stores for just the right ornament or Christmas decoration. Your goal is to purchased the item that will cause the most fury. You WANT everyone to fight over your ornament! At least that is my goal. The men stuff themselves and find a good chair to take this female frenzied event all in.

Everyone brings in food and a feast is enjoyed by all. I try to get there early and sneak my present under the tree before anyone can see which one it is. I can't even begin to tell you how exciting this is. As all the plates are being cleaned up and the kitchen restored you can actually feel the excitement fill the Christmas Tree room as all females young and old begin to eyeball all the brightly colored large and small boxes. I never get suckered into the large box desire. I know that some of the most beautiful and expensive ornaments have come in small boxes.

It begin as a right of passage when any female girl reaches 13. She is then allowed to join the party. Just remember this is not a game for the weak at heart. Everyone is out for the most gorgeous gift. The game rules are pretty simple. This being said it did Take several years to get (all) the game rules down.

This is how it's played. All females are asked to draw a number out of a hat. The girl that draws the 1 picks the first present and opens it. The person who has drawn the 2 goes next. She has the choice of either taking number 1's gift or drawing from the pile. This goes on till all the presents are opened. There are some rules relating to when a present is dead to everyone else or something like that. My sisters keep up with all that because at this time I am too far gone with the stress of it all in trying to keep my favorite gift. I get so caught up in the game I forget to breathe!

This year seems to be one of the greatest with so many relatives flying in or driving to be with us all. What a party!! And everyone is saying this year THEY have the greatest gift! Can I stand it all, I ask myself! Well my tomorrow I will be in cookie making form and my house should smell life cinnamon, ginger and vanilla frosting with lots of Christmas sprinkles. So much to do and such little time to do it all in. This Christmas is going to be so special. Larry and I put so much of ourselves into our gifts this year.

I will pick up my blog after the Holiday but till then my family wishes your family and even "The Green Phantom" a very Merry Christmas and may we all have a wonderful New Year to look forward to.

I would also like to add that my youngest son Jeremy decided to marry his sweetheart in the dead of winter 5 years ago. Don't ask me why but December 18th was the month and day they picked out for their wedding Day. May or June would have been my choice but the festive month near Christmas suited them just fine. My parents married on the 20th of December running off to the Jusice Of The Peace after Mom got out of Choir practice so I guess my kids were in good company.

Christmas weddings are beautiful. I've been invited to several and the colors of reds and white are gorgeous. Everyone is also in a wonderful mood during the Holiday, so much that it's a shame we can't carry that feeling over into January. Anyway, Happy Anniversary Jeremy and Paige. May you walk through this life hand in hand , heart to heart. Aunt Onie
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!

The Dawn Of A New Dad

Seems like everyone is busy expanding their family or just starting one. Babies quite simply are everywhere! And just like in years gone by the mommies and mommies to be get all the attention. That's where the similarities stop. There is a change a brewing that has never been seen, at least not in this country. It's the Dad's role that has began to change drastically. Dads now have become the second and sometimes the first caregiver.

My dear Larry has never changed a diaper in his life. Don't get me wrong, I tried to get him to because everyone knows that changing a dirty diaper is a sure way to bond with your baby! Let's just say he came close to changing one once but didn't quite make it, leaving him with a few nightmares later. Not so with Dads now a days. My two sons often amaze me when left alone with their sons they easily become so efficient when caring for them. They don't give a second thought to grabbing a clean diaper and changing their sons while they talk with me. I sat there and watched them as they both easily maneuvered the babies legs, doing a great job or cleaning the baby up and putting the new diaper on. And they did it in record time too. Yes, times sure have changed.

Not only are the new Dads great at changing diapers they are capable of cleaning the house and doing the laundry and still have total command of the Barbecue grill. Amazing! My son Jeremy can do it all. When called upon he can shop, cook dinner and still have time to play with his son Noah all after working a full day! When I was growing up men never went near a dirty diaper and the only time you talked to them was when you were in trouble.

Now a days Moms and Dads work together in caring for their children which should make a good impact on future generations, only time will tell. As for my son Adam his job as a Basketball coach and teacher has him very busy during Basketball season and he tries to make up for his absence with story time before bed. Instead of hitting the couch he takes over the care giving as soon as he hits the door. All this makes his son Cannon feel loved and cherished by his father. In this everyone wins. When I say everyone wins, I mean everyone. The mother wins because she feels she is not alone in the raising of their child. The child wins because he has a loving and nurturing mother and father. The father wins because he becomes a part of the child's daily life and society wins because this child will become one of it's cornerstones.

I think we have great things to look forward to with this new and improved Dad, don't you? So next time you are visiting a new family, make sure you include the Dad in your praise of the child's achievements and goals, odds are "Dad" had a lot to do with it too.

With Christmas just a few days away I would like to wish you and "your" family a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. May you gather your family together with wonderful meals and good times. I'd like to announce we have just added another member to our ever growing family.....My niece Mel and her husband Dan just had a baby on the 14th of December, a little boy named Daniel, a whopping 5lbs 13 Oz's. Man, does he need some of Aunt Onies cooking! Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!

The Christmas Baby

When your Birthday comes around you naturally think of your Momma. Today's my Birthday and with it comes happy memories of my mother. She often told me stories about how she and daddy were getting me ready to come home from the hospital and an old county judge was visiting a sick friend and happened by the nursery window. He had to come in and see momma and tell her what a beautiful baby she had (I'm just repeating the story, no conceit intended). Anyway the story goes that when she and daddy got home all my other sisters and brothers gathered around me and they all sang Christmas carols. Momma said the little wood stove had the house all snug and warm and the Christmas spirit was all around. This story always made me feel somewhat special.

Now with Momma gone my Birthday doesn't feel that special. Even though my family comes together to celebrate, it just doesn't feel the same. It's the way you feel when you celebrate your Birthday with the one who gave you that Birthday that made it so special. Momma always teased me that I wanted my Birthday to last all week.

It was Momma who always remembered every ones Birthday and anniversary. She would get up early and put your name on the radio so when you got up you heard your name announced. That was great.

When it came to her Birthday it was just the opposite. She hated that we made a big deal out of her Birthday which was June 1st. She really got mad at me when I announced on live radio that she wasn't 84 anymore. I didn't say she was 85 like she told me not to. On Mommas 83 Birthday I took her to the Ft. Leonard Wood Military Fire station where they let her look inside to her hearts content. They were so nice to her and she loved it. Her zest for life was so inspiring to watch. On her 84th Birthday I took her in a medium semi truck and we made a delivery to a factory I was working with in Washington, Missouri. She loved the truck ride and climbed right in (with a little assistants) the cab. We took the scenic ride all the way and she had a blast. I will always remember the time we shared on that trip.

So today is my Birthday and if I sit quietly with my morning coffee I can hear her sweet voice say...."Happy Birthday Christmas Baby!" Thanks Momma for giving me a wonderful life....remember when your celebrating your birthday be sure to remember to give your Momma a big old hug, because no one wishes you a bigger Birthday wish then her! Happy Holidays everyone! Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me.........Aunt onie

An Imaginary Life

During this festive time of year a person can start to believe that all your dreams are possible. I am here to tell you that I have had a dream and imaginary life that has kept my poor husband on his toes for years.

During my 35 year marriage I can now admit to all that there has been another man in my life. He is rich and owns his own multi-million dollar company, has his own private jet and commands attention wherever he goes. He has sent me red roses on numerous occasions and I keep his picture framed above my computer screen for all to see. You see I have been having a torrid affair with Victor Newman, CEO of Newman Enterprise's (The Young and The Restless Soap Opera).

My husband has been patient through this ordeal and is dealing with this other high power man in my life as best he can. When ever bills are tight and Larry and I argue all I have to do is bring up Victor Newman's name. With the day to day grind of bills, work schedules and taking out the trash Larry knows that at any given moment Victors private helicopter can swoop down in our back yard (right next to the fire pit) and whisk me away to Paris for lunch. Victor has given me so much during many a harsh winter, beginning with beautiful gowns, fine dining at the best New York restaurants and all the Broadway plays I would eve want to see! He has blatantly shown me off to all his socialite friends and quite simply he adores me. He does however knows that my heart belongs to Larry and patiently waits for me to come to my senses and leave Larry one day. This thought keeps Larry on his toes and a leery eye to the sky for Victor's private jet.

In the mean time all my family knows about Victor and no one is ever surprised when celebrating my birthday at my favorite restaurant that red roses are mysteriously delivered to our table with just a small note attached. (See note above)

Even renewing our wedding vows on Larry and my 35 wedding anniversary Larry was still a little leery as all who attended kept one eye on the sky just in case Victor would show up. Victor has been a part of my imaginary life so much that I think Larry wouldn't be surprised at all if Victor really did show up! I believe every woman should have a imaginary life that they can retreat to when real life gets to be too much. It can put possibilities, hope and dreams in your marriage as well as a few laughs.

As for Victor, does he know that I even exist? Perhaps not, or does he? Larry will never know for sure. "Listen.....is that a jet I hear?????? May you fill your marriage with intrigue, mystery and love......Aunt Onie