It is going well. 🙂 I have the time right now to do this well, so I am being consistent. When school starts……….. it will be difficult.
Tomorrow I plan to get up & walk farther than I ever have, on a new route. It is 3.5 mi. Let’s see how long it takes me.
Coming down into my Grandma Mary Agnew’s family, there is another line of the last name OWEN. I spent some time w/ them today, you know, sitting at their kitchen table drinking coffee and talking. Anyway………..
Five years ago on June 22, 2007, my mother’s spirit ascended from her body to heavenly worlds. That was a blessed week, to spend the last 5 days of her life with her, along with my younger brother and sister. And so much has happened since then, it feels like a lifetime ago.
June 2007 was prior to my finishing my PhD, prior to my interviewing and getting a tenure track job in South Carolina, prior to the birth of 2 of my grandchildren in North Carolina, prior to my husband following me to SC and experiencing southern culture. A lifetime ago.
Her last words were, “I love you all.” Whatever difficulties passed between my mother and I, she had a devout faith in God, and she loved all her children and grandchildren with all her heart. I remember her love. I remember her outstretched arms to embrace her oldest grandchild from her hospital bed. I remember her struggle at leaving us. I remember her child-like spirit. Her love for her cat, her car, and Purdue basketball. Let us all remember the very best about a person. I miss her.
Working on more of my Grandma Mary Agnew’s ancestors. Some go back to Germany. The oldest woman whose marker I sent yesterday (Elizabeth Riblin) — her family also immigrated from Germany, her father being one of the 1st Germans in Rowan County, North Carolina.
My 3rd great-grandfather back through my Grandma Mary Agnew — Peter Smith b.1793 in KY, d.1849 in Bedford– worked for the newspaper in Bedford, IN.
In 1775, George Michael Smith served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Dixons Company of the 1st Regiment of North Carolina. He enlisted October 6, 1777 for three years. He was wounded and promoted to Sargeant in November, 1778. In contemporary records he is called “Colonel”, probably a colonel of the Militia.
Peter Smith Schmidt (1720 – 1769)
As do many Americans, I want to lose some weight. My plan is to have a regular plan to get more healthy, and in the process, lose 30-35 lbs. Though the world is not interested in my health plan and progress it helps me to write out my thoughts, experiences and feelings. Therefore, I am starting a new category for health and weight loss.
This afternoon I walked 3 miles for the first time in about 2 mos. I am sweating and it definitely elevated my heart rate. It is rather sad to have this much effect from just walking 3 miles! But it is what it is. In the hot Carolina sun, maybe not too surprising.
It’s pretty simple. The main thing is to HAVE a plan and do it daily. Consistency is always the key. It is also so easy to change your diet in summer, with all the fresh produce. So here goes.
My Daily Plan:
walk 3 miles
exercise routine indoors for leg lefts, abs, stretching
4 containers of ice water per day
calcium, fish oil, St. john’s wort for now
cereal for breakfast – very light on breads
fresh fruit, salad for lunch with lots of produce goodies
meat & veggies at night
frozen yogurt, sherbet, popsicles, real juice bars or light ice cream if anything
1 cup green tea (with others for flavor) at night
This is a little haiku-in-3-parts for my husband’s experience this past week:
Fire ants pierce the skin
Put their venom in his veins
Leave permanent scars,
Tiny but deadly
They sense in him a danger
and attack en masse,
He breaks out in hives
Delirious with burning,
then convulsions start,
with son on the phone,
and violent vomiting,
friends come to rescue!
Bendryl comforts,
medication takes effect,
the storm is over.
Quick post to record going to Methodist records at DePauw.
For the church where James Agnew was a janitor for 16 yrs., found that two of his sons got married in the same church, which lends credence to their attachment and membership in this Methodist church in New Albany.Â
The reccords at DePauw were disappointing. I expected membership records going years back. All it was, was random pamphlets and records of centennial celebrations or whatever else some secretary threw in a folder. Non-Methodist church records are not there. Picked up some info. on Methodist church beginnings in New Albany. Need to visit Floyd County public library for detail on the Baptist church that was a stop on the underground RR at the time James was married to his 1st wife there & she was a member.Â
Need to see if there are any other records from his Methodist church.
35 years ago I was in labor for my first child. At about 5:15pm, after 24 hours labor, she was born into a quiet, lightly lit room in early evening, and then her father gently laid her into a small tub of warm water we called “the Leboyer bath”. We named her Jasmine. It was a natural childbirth and the Leboyer method of labor and childbirth. The doctor believed in it and cooperated. We used only quiet, hushed voices so as not to shock or disturb the child’s entrance into this new world. The labor progressed sometimes slowly all day long, but I did not want any drugs administered. The now ever-present and common “epidural” was NOT common and not used except for extreme circumstances in 1977. I think women are quite capable of birthing without intervention. But it takes preparation, confidence, education, encouragement, and knowing your own body. I feel that today, young women are not educated, are once again complacent in the birthing process, and are taught to believe and accept intervention. It is usually not necessary. We are just led to believe it is needed. Half the time, people schedule their child’s birthday today. You cannot do that without intervention. Only in extreme circumstances is that needed or even wise. In any case, I support women’s choices as long as they are educated about all the possibilities first.
This daughter and all my other children are wonderful gifts, each one different and precious. And now today, 35 years later, I watch her 2 sons, ages 15 and 11, for 2 weeks, 5 states away from her. It was impossible to imagine this 35 years ago.
Today we hung out, went swimming. It was cooler than usual. We waited around for quite awhile before swimming while Leah & Jean took a nap with Naylah. Then I decided to go ahead with Caspian & Zakiah & we got in. I was afraid it was going to rain. The others came later, along with Nick, friend of Caspian. They called another friend & he showed up with his sister, so I had 5 kids in the pool I was responsible for. We only stayed an hour & 1/2, as it clouded over & the sun disappeared for hours. Clouds were barely moving in the sky. The pool had been freshly cleaned so it was COLDER than usual. Naylah floats with a floatee and loves being in the water.
Tonight, we made spaghetti & Mr. Zakiah, nearly age 6, lost a tooth in the front bottom right! It had been loose for weeks. Big moment. Leah & I picked out goggles and sugarless gum to come from the tooth fairy. We rented TOOTH FAIRY the movie, for $1.00 & watched it. Terribly made movie but it got better in the second half. The guys then watched the end of the Celtics game at home where they lost by 19 pts.
Today Caspian played w/ Nick & Brenden for the morning. They ride bikes on something they call the “BMX trail”. It is something kids have created where they ride a small bike over a dirt hill. Then I took them all including Raven to “The Avengers”. I bought one lrg. popcorn for EIGHT DOLLARS. EIGHT DOLLARS! That was after asking how much was the special of 2 cokes + 1 popcorn & it was $18.50. MY GOD, how do we allow these things??! They were upset I wouldn’t buy them all a coke. TOO BAD!
Came home & I needed to do some more preparation for Leah & Jean & family to come tonight (like plan some meals). So AL, after some sleep this aftn., took the boys to Mind Gravy (R&C) & left me home alone. We have gone through 6 gallons of milk in 9 days, it’s been AWHILE since that has happened! Bought more groceries. Planned spaghetti & a fish or chicken night. I like to cook when family comes, & eat together. It doesn’t really matter what, doesn’t have to be a complex, involved meal. Just hang out together. When you go out, you spend SO MUCH & you’re out with other people, you have to worry about how the kids are acting, etc. Here, we can just hang out, the boys can go outside, walk around the pond, fish, swim in the pool, no big deal.
Caspian has been reading a bit every night before going to sleep. He has read one dog story chapter book, & is now reading Wizard of Oz, a book from my dad’s collection, the few I managed to save.
Raven had a quiet day, would have stayed home w/ me tonight except for my husband not wanting to only take C. to the poetry night.
Am hoping a couple friends stop by to meet our daughter & family, & perhaps play a game of chess w/ Raven the next couple days. There is also a CHANCE I still have to appear for jury duty tomorrow or Fri. but probably not. I super super hope not.
Leah & Jean started out tonight, drove for an hour, engine light came on in their car, they went home, got in their other car, then started out AGAIN. They will get here about 2am. The boys & Naylah –cousins– haven’t seen one another for a year.
Doctor Grandma 