Video #2 - Sheba Looks For Billy

A Little Play On Words... Video by Linda Meikle March 8, 2009.
As posted on my website http://dustyangels.blogspot.com

Sheba always perks up when we mention "John" or Billy". Today was no exception as I inadvertently mentioned Billy's name as I was taking this video. She is totally blind and her painful hips make it difficult for her to get up when she's lying down. But, she gets up and 'looks' out the window (patio door) when I mention Billy's name.

Hey Billy, get the hint? We miss you!

Enjoy the part where I couldn't figure out how to turn the camera off. It looks like Sheba is trying to tell me something...



Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

Home: http://dustyangels.blogspot.com
E-Mail: bestnurse@usa.com

Zachariah & Grandma Linda

We first laid eyes on Zachariah in early 2001 when he was only a few weeks old. John laid little Zachariah in my husband's arms and said, "Here's your first grandchild".

A precious bit of life snuggled deep in several soft blankets with a sweet baby face that bore a small cleft lip and palate . It was love at first sight.

But, as too often happens these days, relationships changed, families separated and reformed into new ones. We lost contact with little Zachariah for several years.

This Christmas, Zachariah returned to spend the day and he asked if he could spend the night. Grandma and grandpa were delighted to pull out the sleeper and put on our granny hats. Little Zach checked in with his mother several times (on grandma's cell phone), but otherwise played with his presents, chattered like a little monkey and entertained us better than any TV program ever could! It was like he had never been away.

His first request after giving me a hug was that 'grandma' download some music for his new MP3 player. A-hemm. I told him 'maybe after supper'. Of course, he did not forget the promise, and I could not come up with another excuse for I've-never-done-this-before.

"So Zack. Do you spell your name with a H or a K?" I asked as I zinged all over the Internet trying to figure out how to download music without spreading a thousand viruses throughout my computer.

"I spell it with a H, grandma."

"What kind of music are you hoping we can find for the MP3 player?"

"Rap. If it has only two bad words, my mom won't mind too much."

"Well, Zach spelled-with-a-h, grandma has three rules for downloading music. I'm not going to pay for it. I'm not going to jail for doing it, and we can't have any bad words in it."

As I searched Google for "free rap music to download", we 'listened' to some FREE RAP songs only long enough for me to quickly hit the ESC key on the computer. Is there NOTHING sacred anymore?!!!!

Zach patiently waited and leaned on the computer table for almost an hour while we listened and I deleted. Finally, he quietly agreed that maybe he would be satisfied with something Country. Much better selection, but I couldn't find anything FREE in the country music section. (Did I say I've never done this before?)

One thing I love about Zach is that he is a little chatterbox. He told me stories while I was searching the Internet that made me laugh and almost cry at the same time. I stopped to take some notes on what he was saying until he noticed what I was writing. (Very smart!!)

He asked what day it was and when I told him it was Friday, he said, "Good. I go home on Saturday, and I'll be at home so I can go to church on Sunday."

A bit taken back, I asked if he went to church with his mommy but he informed me that a bus picks him up. He proceeded to explain that he has four fathers. (Don't get mad at me, I'm just reporting what a child told me.) He said, "These are my four fathers. My mother's boyfriend, my 'real father' who lives in Tennessee, and my dad who thinks he's my father 'cause he was there when I was born, and my father up in heaven."

The real world from the lips of a child...

He also told me that he talks to God and sometimes God talks to him.

"What does God say to you?" I asked.

"He asked me if I spell my name with a H or a K. I told him I thought he knew everything, but if he didn't already know, I spell it with a H."

Honesty from the lips of a child...

Later I asked Zach if he knew any songs from church that we might could download onto his MP3. He quickly told me that his favorite song at church is "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and started singing it to me. (All one note.)

Well ladies and gentlemen, we found that song on the Internet and as we listened, he jumped up and down excitedly.

"That's my church. I hear me singing in that song. I also hear my friend who won first place on the stage, and I won first place not on stage." (You figure out that one!)

We were able to download that very song to his MP3 player- straight from his own church - according to Zach. And grandma doesn't care is she goes to jail for copyright violations. Later, he fell asleep listening to "Happy Birthday, Jesus" and singing a bit off key as one does when wearing ear plugs.

By the way, ask Zach what he wants to be when he grows up. He doesn't hesitate a split second.

"I'm going to be five things. A farmer because I love animals. A policeman. A fireman. A lawyer and a 'millio-nare' so I can give all my money to the poor. And when I run out of money, I'm going to work as a lawyer until I earn more money to give to the poor."

I believe that God knew all along how Zach spells his name..

Take Care on the Journey,
~Linda

Home: http://dustyangels.blogspot.com/

Happy Anniversary to Jim & Linda

Wedding Photo: Philip, Marian, Justice-of-the-Peace, Linda & James, John and Billy

Waco Beach, Bridgman, Michigan, where we were married November 23, 1997

Our 11th anniversary finds us happy in our little burrow nestled along a winding creek close to the capital city of Ohio.

Eleven years ago today in a little town of Berrien Springs, Michigan, I roused my groom about 1:30 a.m. to prepare for our sunrise wedding at Waco Beach in Bridgman, Michigan. It was bitter cold, and the wind howled around us as we gathered in the beach house and welcomed about 35 guests who were willing to brace the Michigan winter for the most unusual wedding service I'm sure any of them had ever attended!

We greeted friends with hot chocolate and single roses for each guest as the sun peeked over the horizon - on the wrong side of the lake to be spectacular - but significant nevertheless! My two sons, Billy and Philip, met their new step-brother John, for the first time, but all three boys performed beautifully and respectfully as members of the wedding party.

A Meikle wedding must have a bag piper! I planned this as a surprise for Jim. He played Scottish wedding music for me to march in. To listen to our Scottish wedding music (and see the Meikle words to the song), click here

My matron-of-honor was my good friend, Marian Mendel. Another great friend, Sue C. helped out by keeping the hot chocolate warm during the service and loaning us a special tape for the music. Jim's son, John, was best man.

I set up my own photography backdrop and bossed the official photographer around until he was ready to toss me into Lake Michigan. Thankfully, he didn't!

After the wedding ceremony, Jim and I made a mad dash straight to Columbus, Ohio, where we had to catch a flight to Tampa, Florida, where my sister, Sandy, had planned a reception, and we planned to spend a few days camping!

We still remember how tired and sleepy we were driving to Columbus but pushed on anyway - with Jim doing most of the driving on the 5-hour trip.

Yep! This was our Honeymoon Suite near Clearwater, Florida. What more could you ask for? The bed was soft and the peaceful setting was exceptional! Several times we went swimming in the pool at the campgrounds where we camped. (In November - Florida weather is perfect that time of year!) Later, we visited Fort Desoto Park and went canoeing! Having no experience with a canoe, I paddled on the wrong side and tipped us over. We lost several important items and cut our ankles pretty badly on the sharp stones. A fellow hiker rescued us and our canoe!

It wouldn't be our wedding story if I didn't remind everyone that Jim and I met on Match.com! And, you know I have to tell everyone, once again, that we were married only 55 days after we started corresponding on Match.com. The fact that we have survived job losses, a move to Florida and back, living in nine different homes, and starting two new business ventures, speak well of the strength of our love and loyalty. Family ties are strong. My boys respect "Daddy Jim", and John says that I'm the best 'mother' that he ever had.

Roses for Linda today.
Jim never forgets the roses!

Gifts on the table this morning...

Before and after...

I saw this at Cracker Barrel and glowed over it until I saw the price tag, but Jim went back and got the angel playing the piano with the little child as an anniversary gift for me.

He said, "I couldn't let that one pass by."

Here we are 11 years later!

We took the camera to the office this morning and asked someone to take our picture for our anniversary. We won't tell how many shots I made her take until I was satisfied with the photo. Jim is smiling because I promised him breakfast at O'Charleys! My kids should enjoy this! A rare photo of Jim and me together! (And my new glasses, Billy.)

This posting has taken all day to put together. As usual, Jim patiently waits for me to get off the computer and join him in the living room.

Take Care on Your Journey,

~Linda

Home: http://dustyangels.blogspot.com/