Show and Tell ~

I remember those school days long ago

when we were given the opportunity before our class-mates

to "show & tell" of our treasured items.

My thoughts ~ I believe show and tell may have been a fun way

of getting students out of their comfort zone

and up in front of others speaking without even realizing it was a teaching tool.

I looked forward to sharing with my class-mates,

but I'm not real sure it helped me in overcoming  my shy and quiet spirit.

It wasn't until High School when, at a Christmas dance my best friend and I 

stood up against the wall looking like wall flowers, both very much shy and quiet

that I had a little talk with me, myself and I.

'Debbie, is this really how you want to be for the rest of your life?!
Unless I decided to make some changes, I would likely remain a wall flower.

Soon after my little talk I was employed by the ski resort as a chair lift operator.

During my interview I was told that I was given the job

because of who my dad and his business partner were,

and that I would be hired on a trial basis.

I had to prove myself, speak to the tourists and be friendly, after all, 
it was the tourists that brought in the business for the ski area.

That was the turning point in my life,

and the shy, quiet Debbie never stood as a wall flower again.

Making conversation was... well... I could talk to a stump if I had too.

~ ~ ☆ ☆ ♡ ♡ ♡ ☆ ☆ ~ ~

While I have nothing to show you here in this post sweet friends,

 I do have  some happenings to tell you all about.

Remember a year ago July 2nd mom had a massive heart attack,

then Urosepsis, followed by a fall in the Rehab Center due to the O.T.

leaving her wheel-chair unlocked causing a brain bleed,

followed by brain surgery.

After two "Flight for Life" helicopter rides, months in the hospital,

extensive rehab and tberapy mom has graduated.
After her visits with the Doctors this past week
mom will travel back to Arizona knowing all is good and well.

Mom had some mitro valve clips put in and they have secured themselves perfectly.

While mom will always have heart disease we stand in amazement 

over the short time it took for her to make strides.

She made it back to her home in Arizona last March,
has private help looking in on her, and is driving.

Yes, driving!!

God's grace and mercy, your faithful prayers and mom's determination

is why she is a walking miracle.

~ ~ ☆ ☆ ♡ ♡ ♡ ☆ ☆ ~ ~

This past week I landed on a bit of a ripple climbing my "sand dune".

I think it was the weepy ripple, I was warned it would pay me a visit.

At the drop of a hat, I was weepy.

While at one of my therapy sessions, my therapist asked "how was I sleeping?"

Tears began to roll down my cheeks as I shared that going to bed in the evening

was dark, dreary and depressing.

Hooking up to the ice machine, being surrounded by pillows, sleeping on my back

all played a factor in why I didn't look forward to my bed at night;

so my dear therapist told me it was time to change things up.

Now I ice only during the day, no more pillows except for one,

and I can sleep under the covers like a human being.

I was told to take a few days off from major exercising

as I was over doing it causing some bruising underneath the skin.

When my therapist told me I had fluid around my knee 

and that it could turn into scar tissue, I freaked out!

I have such a fear of NOT doing things right with my exercises,

but overkill can be just as harmful.

Lesson learned!

After four days of nothing but rest, ice and sleep, I'm back in the saddle again.
My precious therapist knows me very well, 
she has treated me with my three other minuscule knee surgeries and with my
vestibular/labyrinth balance issues, so I know she is looking after me well.

She continues to remind me that it is still quite early and take it slow.
Slow is a foreign word with me, but, I'm listening to my orders.

~ ~ ☆ ☆ ♡ ♡ ♡ ☆ ☆ ~ ~

Over these past weeks I have been greatly blessed by the love
that so many dear friends and family members have showered upon me.
There have been meals, cards, gifts, flowers, phone calls, 
encouraging text & e-mail messages, visits, drivers, errand runners and lots of hugs.
Thank You!!
I have had the joy of being treated like such a lady from my grandsons
who are becoming quite the gentleman.
This Gamma has been blessed beyond!
"Children's children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the glory of their children."
~ Proverbs 17:6 ~

Life is sweet, even on those days when it seems like we may be going backwards,
and that sweetness comes straight from our Heavenly Father's heart. ❤

Joy!
~ Debbie ~

On the Road Again ~

Hello to you, my lovely friends and faithful followers!
Have I got a special surprise for you!
Today it would have been my dear dad's 81st Birthday.
Two and a half years ago many of you spent precious time
on your knees before the thrown of God in prayer for dad

 and our family as dad went through a time of illness, 
hospital stays and then his open heart surgery

which resulted in complications and God calling dad home to glory. 
Just before dad was wheeled into surgery,
his last words were, "I'll be returning with a new heart"

but God had other plans for dad.

~~~♡♡ ~~~

Months before dad passed away, he and mom went through an Estate Sale
with nearly everything selling, including the restored vehicles dad

put his time and heart into during his living years. 

One of dad's restored treasures was a '56 Ford pick up with the name "Cherry Delight".

My husband and I were fortunate enough to purchase dad's dream.

Of all the restored vehicles dad put his time into,
 Cherry Delight has a story behind her and she was dad's dream. 

After purchasing Cherry Delight I asked my dad to write out for me

why he wanted a '56 Ford pickup and these were his words. 

Debby~

In 1955 just prior to graduation I purchased a new 1955 Ford pickup

with the help of my mom and dad. The plain Baby Blue pickup was customized

including a flame paint job, custom upholstery, fender skirts,

full hubcaps even '49 Mercury taillights fitted into the rear fenders. 

But then in 1956 Ford made a dramatic change adding a wrap around

windshield making it the best looking pickup on the road, 

or at least I thought so, oh if I had only waited another year. 

A year actually turned into 21 years.  Now living in East Vail

in a new home we had built for ourselves I decided it was time 

to find me a '56 project pickup ~ time to make my dream come true. 

My friends were trying to help me out but to no avail, 
couldn't find the one I thought was right. 

Then in early May Mike Bice told me of a red '56 he had seen in Red Cliff, 

he had spoken to the owner John Martinez, who wasn't 

interested in selling, but I decided to go see him for myself.

After meeting with him, within an hour or so I convinced him the pickup

should be mine ~ and the fun was about to begin.

Forty years later my daughter Debby has decided she wants

the pickup, I'm both excited and concerned for her. 

The pickup has been sitting in a garage for approximately 30 years. 

The brakes are down and the tires are shot, and that's to be expected, 

hopefully mechanically the rest is still sound. 

I wish her nothing but the "BEST" and I'm anxious to see her

driving and enjoying it within the next couple of years. 
 Love Dad ~
~  
Looking back, not knowing dad would not be with us much longer 
I am so very thankful for this hand written letter. 

 
Before dad passed away he told me to talk around
and see if I couldn't find a "back yard mechanic" who would be willing
to tinker with Cherry Delight. 
So, I did as dad asked, talked around, even went to the High School
thinking maybe they would like to work on her as their automotive project. 
Finally, with a handful of options I laid them all before the Lord in prayer.
 Soon after, God clearly directed me to this amazing and talented mechanic,
who offers custom rebuilding and does restoration on any automotive.


 
For the past two and a half years Cherry Delight has been at the garage
under the loving care of our mechanic,who by the way, is a Christian.  
I truly believe this man was sent from God. 
It all started with putting in fuel injection, which led to
Cherry Delight receiving a new engine, (her new heart) which led to 
numerous changes taking out the old and putting in the new.
God knew that Cherry Delight would be in the best of care
when He directed me to this man.
If dad were here today, I just know he would be very pleased with God's choice.

Cherry Delight is on the road again after being stored for so many years.
Oh how I wish my dad were here to see his dream is alive
and sit in the passenger seat beside of me
while the two of us Cruz down the road together.
Dad was full of life and known for his story telling,
so now as I drive along in his dream pickup
I can hear that awesome voice of his as he shares of his many interesting stories.
In spirit, my dad will always be there by my side
as I enjoy something that was once his,
something that meant a lot to him and something that was restored with his own hands.
Right now before winter sets in I'm having the time of my life!
She will be garaged over the winter month's in this vintage garage
that both dad and I discussed before he passed away.
The paneling is from an old milking barn that was on dad's property.
I'll save that story and photos for another time.
Until then... I'll be out driving ~ 

 Mom continues to make progress with her rehab
gaining strength with each new day.
The goal is for mom to be strong enough to have Christmas
with one of my sisters who lives in Wyoming.
Wyoming is a lower altitude than here, something mom needs with her heart. 
Once again, thank you so very much for your continued prayers. 
God bless you!
Love & Hugs
Debbie 
♡

In Loving Memory ~ Dad, this ones for you! 😗