MarysLaryVibes

Today is August 31, 2024! Many decisions have come along the way in my life but one of the biggest was my laryngectomy. Most people have a laryngectomy as a last resort. They either die or have a laryngectomy. Sometimes it's an emergency and a person doesn't even know it's going to happen but they wake up from a surgery with no voice box. I can't imagine the fear involved in that.  I can't imagine not being a part of such a big decision.   It's been a mere two years since my laryngectomy. It was 2019 I was told my cancer had returned. The doctors in my city told me I needed a laryngectomy immediately. I sought a 2nd opinion, then a 3rd opinion; all doctors were saying I needed a laryngectomy. Then a co-worker asked his doctor who had done a tracheotomy on him, and that doctor said my best option was a laryngectomy.  I had a biopsy done to determine the type of cancer I had. That doctor repeated his insistence that I needed a laryngectomy. I requested a PET scan ...

I have a TERRIBLE time making decisions! I have very few items hung on my walls because I can't decide what to put up. I haven't hung curtains because I can't decide what I like. Fortunately, there are blinds on every window. My house is full of clutter because I can't decide what to get rid of; and IF I decide to get rid of something, do I throw it away or give it away? I can't decide so I still have most of it. Ugh! Following Jesus wasn't a real hard decision. I was raised Catholic but didn't understand a lot of it. I was treated cruelly by my peers in parochial school and when getting ready to go to 7th grade I begged my parents to let me go to public school. Since I left parochial school I was required to go to Saturday school and youth group. One night at youth group they were planning a retreat. While the sponsors stepped away, the kids were discussing who would bring liquor. I didn't want to be a part of that and my parents didn't make me go t...

Back to   School ! I told ya'all I was signing up for a college class.  Just one. I tell you what...that has been a major hassle. I didn't think it would be a big deal. I just want to audit---one class. But just when I think I've gotten everything done I'm told one more thing I need to do. Had I known that "one thing" I could have taken care of it the night before when I saw the teacher. So I had to go back.  I don't mean to whine, but not having a good working voice makes EVERYTHING more difficult. Being a laryngectomy just adds to the challenger. Some stuff I should be able to do by phone, is best done in person. Good thing I'm mostly retired and have the extra time on my hands. Good thing the campus is only a few miles from my house.  At one point this week I was trying to decide if it was worth it. Having just buried my dad. Trying to work out dates for a trip in September. Trying to get as many hours at work to pay for said trip. Trying to get stu...

YAY! YAY! YAY! Autumn is my most favorite season.  Cooler air!!  Football is making it back to the TV line up!  Cooler air!!  God is the creator of all things and part of that is the seasons. Not every part of the world gets the benefit of temperature changes, but I live in Oklahoma, and I LOVE FALL! Autumn!  That's when I start putting up decorations for the holidays! I usually put up Fall decorations in September and leave them up until after Thanksgiving. I don't get tired of them. I love the colors! And d id I already mention I love the "cooler air".  School is starting for the kiddos and....get ready.....school is starting for me! OSU-OKC Just one college course, ASL 1. I'm just auditing it so there's not a lot of pressure but I still want to do well. I know some sign language. I'm able to communicate using ASL a little as long as I'm around someone who knows sign language also. But I'm not smooth. I'm jerky and slow and mess up signs so t...

  sisters  Tomorrow will be the memorial service for my dad's passing. I have to realize that life continues. There will be difficult days ahead. But there are good days coming. Of 6 kids growing up, 4 of us remain. Lucy, me, Patty, Joe, in that order (names have been changed to protect the innocent.) Patty, even though the next to the last, has become the one who can organize and plan and make decisions better than the other 3 of us. She and her husband make a good team. He has a servant's heart as well and is always willing to help with physical labor or sage advice. Of all 4 girls growing up, Patty was the youngest girl but then later had the oldest husband. (My oldest sister who died several years ago, had the youngest husband. That always cracked me up.) Patty and her husband have the largest home of any of us and so is the one who gets stuck hosting get togethers. Always, always, always with love and kindness.  And it was with that same love and kindness that she to...

Words from our pastor the week of August 4.  "Faithfulness is grown when it's inconvenient." Reading back on that today I was befuddled. What exactly does that mean?  I think I get it. When we have to continue in a task that seems difficult, and we push through, we have shown ourselves to be faithful. If it's convenient, well that doesn't require much faithfulness. But pushing through when it's hard, now that is being faithful: in our commitment to God, in our relationships, in big projects, in the little things. Be faithful. Why:  1. Because our faithfulness blesses God. 2. Because our faithfulness builds trust. Blessings Mary

  I bet you've heard that the bible has a lot to say about forgiveness. I was reading in Luke 17 this morning and came across something that, according to my notes, I noticed back in 2015. I mark up my bible and put the date that I did that. I like to think back at what was going on in my life at the time. But honestly 2015 (?) I have no idea. And this scripture isn't for a particular day anyway. It's for always, forever and ever. Vs 4 says "And if he sins against you seven times a day and returns to you seven times saying 'I repent', forgive him". What I circled in my bible was "a day". If he sins against you seven times A DAY, forgive him.  Each day...forgive him. That adds up over the weeks and months and years. I can only forgive that much with the Lord in my heart. NOW, I'm kinda getting hung up on the guy coming back 7 times "saying 'I repent'". How often are we confronted with someone who does NOT come back with ...

My dad made it to his 103rd birthday, but left this earth yesterday. August 6, 2024. Of course we knew this time would come. He lived way past what any of us thought he would, but it's still hard. He and mom were married over 75 years. It's hard to see her go through this. 

My dad turns 103 years old today! I wish I could say he is doing great but he is not. I'm writing this early and hoping he makes it til August 4. My dad had wisdom far beyond the classroom. He only went to 8th grade. At the time, kids got jobs early and helped support the family. He has the brilliant mind of an engineer. He helped design and build construction equipment. He gained much of his knowledge early on by reading encyclopedias and dictionaries. Who does that?  He still might have a brilliant mind and is very frustrated laying in bed, not participating in life much. It's hard to know since he doesn't talk to us much. He has told so many amazing life experience stories throughout the years. Some when he was just a kid, many as a teenager and, of course, many more from the navy ( C onstruction B attalion [Sea Bees]) and his construction experience. My dad helped build man-made lakes, highways, turnpikes.  My dad was a perfectionist and it was hard to live up to that, ...