Classic Father's Day Car Rally

At my Etsy Store, where I sell watercolors, I have the opportunity to put together "Treasuries."  These are collections of interesting items, also for sale at Etsy.com.  In coming up with a theme this week, I was thinking about Father's Day and Classic Cars, and all the car rally's we've been a part of.  So I decided to create a Treasury based on this theme.  I normally don't include these in my blog, but I do want to be a resource for "theme parties" and therefore, am including it for your inspiration.  Of course these ideas don't need to be limited to Father's Day only, but any guy's birthday would be fun to celebrate in this way.  I personally would never spend the kind of money needed to use these particular items, but thrift shops are great resources for party planning.  If you start WAY ahead, and see what's available you can come up with some great parties.  Build your theme about what you can FIND at the dollar store, or thrift shop.  Don't start with theme, and then go from store to store to store, unless you have unlimited funds.  With the internet, Ebay and Etsy are great resources too.   This Treasury is meant to inspire.  I don't get anything from it, except a little networking with other Etsy sellers.  I just wanted to share it with you.  Here's the link:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTQzMTQ5NzF8MzI2NjQyODE3/classic-fathers-day-car-rally

Gary's Prayers - "Your Word"

 Since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in '07, I wrote down some of Gary's prayers...

June 18, 2009

"Thank You for giving us Your Word, and delivering it so precisely to us.  Thank You for Your Son and forgive us for trying to kill Him."

Watercolor Journals - The Beach

When you visit the beach in Southern California, it  can be hard to find a place to park, both car AND beach towel.  Painting this Monogram for a bride and groom who both love the beach, brought back some great memories for me personally.  For many years our family enjoyed Leo Carillo State Beach, and because it was a bit of a drive and was therefore less crowded. It had something for everyone in our group, including tide pools, big rocks for exploring, surfing, and great sand for sand castles, of course. The nearby campground hosted many fun vacations for us.  I remember one very dark night, while camping, Gary took us over to the beach to lay on the sand and watch a "meteor shower".  The part that makes me smile, was the bus full of teenagers, playing Capture the Flag in the dark, that nearly tripped on us.  Guess it wasn't so uncrowded after all.

As I worked, I began wishing that the future Mr. and Mrs. Pratt would find many happy memories at "their" beach as well.

"Dad, drive FASTER!"

On a fall evening, in 1973, on Foothill Blvd, west bound near Ocean View Blvd, 2 cars were traveling parallel to each other.  Middle-aged couples were in the respective front seats, and each car, had a young adult passenger in the back seat.  In the left lane, a mustard yellow Cougar, toted a young man, and in the right lane, the sage green Chevy station wagon, toted a young woman.  While stopped at the intersection, the young man began waving, a bit dramatically, trying to get the girl’s attention, who did in fact, notice him.  But not knowing who he was, and thinking him to be too bold, even though attractive, she quickly looked straight ahead, and asked her dad to please drive a little faster, to get beyond this other car. 

I still smile at how we got together.  That happened on a Friday after Gary and I had just been out to dinner with our parents.  Two days later, after evening church let out, Gary came across the foyer straight to me.   “Did you see me Friday night? Waving at you?”…. “Oh, that was YOU!”  I had known him just a little in our College/Career group at church the year before, but I had been gone for the summer, and now, he had his hair combed forward, and looked different.  After a little chat, we ended up with a group of friends sitting together eating strawberry pie at Love’s Restaurant.   I wish I could remember who else was there, but at the time, the only one I was thinking about was Gary Price.  It didn’t take long until we were dating, and we were married a year later.  

He often laughed at himself, and the way he approached me, how humbling it was to be riding in Mom and Dad’s car, and trying to get the attention of a girl.  Though living at home to save some money, and regroup, after the Lord saved him, at age 21, he was now 24 and working as an electrician, planning to get his contractor’s license.  He later told how he had been interested in me for some time, but that’s another story with it’s own humbling incidents. 

I love this man.  He loves me.  I am SO happy that he waved and that I looked back.  But it would have gone no further if he hadn’t been a lover of Jesus.  After that initial, heart flutter and invitation to dessert, it was the faith that Gary had, and the way he would talk about the Lord, and the joyful little notes in his Bible that grew my love for him.  I’ve never met anyone who looked more forward to Jesus’ return.  When we got married, we asked Pastor Travaille, to mention in the ceremony, that our last names had a special meaning.  Pastor T. said “You are Laurie Ransom and Gary Price.  May you always remember the Ransom-Price that Jesus Christ paid for us.” 

Here's a song from our wedding.  Our friends Korla, Mike and Bryan performed it, but I only have a cassette tape of it.  I found it on youtube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33U8saXFV4E






The Screwdriver


His big strong hands are smaller now yet he holds his tools correctly, most of the time, and even handles them the right way.  What has changed is their intended purpose.  Nathan, a friend, recently made Gary a “project board” with a variety of Phillips-head screws partly screwed in, so today, when I handed him the screwdriver, he began working on getting them all the way in.  He enjoys holding his favorite hand tools.  They went back and forth from his right hand to his tool belt countless times a day for an entire career.  In the “old days,” he didn’t need to look to see where the duckbill pliers or the wire strippers were.  He could reach down, like a gunfighter, and grab them as needed.  Now, standing at the kitchen counter, with his wooden project board of screws, he is content and has been for 45 minutes.  The goal is very short.  Turn the screw. 

One of the 4 parts of human thinking, is “Executive Function.”  This is what it sounds like, the ability to plan, make decisions, sort, and multi-task.  Someone with A.D. may have this part extremely inhibited, as does Gary.  Therefore, he is easily distracted from the task of “turning the screws” and, still using the screwdriver, may decide to twist it rapidly, like a drill, making a small hole in the tile, or using the defrosting sausage package, pry off the paper label then press it (the label) on the project board, weaving the strip of paper amongst the half installed screws.  He even may poke with the screwdriver into the partly thawed sausage.  In the last 45 minutes, Gary has done all of these things.  His heart is happy.  He is not frustrated, or “missing out” on what he wished he could do.  He has no “wishes, or “longings,” that I can tell.  He is enjoying handling and using his old friend, the Phillips head screwdriver.

One of the things I had to get over, and am still trying to get over, during this adventure of the last few years, was the wishing and hoping that Gary could do satisfying little projects.  You know, things that you’d give the grandkids at Christmas, like a simple craft you could buy at Michaels.  But, if he enjoys hearing the sound of the tip of the screwdriver tap repeatedly on the edge of his piece of wood, or the sausage package, or the tile, for that matter, and God has allowed him to retain the ability to be pleased with the process, however simplified that is, then I need to be at peace with that. (at least I am today)

One of my favorite books on the topic, says dementia patients don’t lose their own dignity, rather, others take it from them.  I love and respect my husband, so I write these things to say Gary is an amazing man.  He has done and IS doing amazing things.  God gave Gary the ability to use tools to create some incredible things.  He LOVED working hard on some new “idea.”  Right now, he is LOVING removing the screws from the little piece of wood.  As Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.”  James wrote: “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”  Gary’s mind, was given to him by God.  Now it is being taken away.  But look how kind and gracious God is.  We live in a fallen world, where every one of us is mortal and will die of something.  Yet, for now, He has allowed my dear husband to work diligently with his tool for over an hour.  An hour well spent.  I believe that this is pleasing to God, who loves Gary far more than I ever could and has great plans for him. 

EnCOURAGment

We have a fairly new Alzheimer's Ministry group at Grace Church.  We are several families with a parent or spouse with A.D. and others who want to help us.  Our Special Ministries pastor, Ric McLean heads it up.   This morning, at our monthly meeting, it was great to see how the group is beginning to encourage each other.  I was reminded of 2 Corinthians 1:4.  God, "comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  I've been thinking about Romans 8:28 too.  "...God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."  Sin became part of our world in the Garden.  If I were there at the time, I would have fallen just like Adam and Eve.  So the resulting death, disease, loss, labor, difficulty, pain, sorrow, etc, etc, is here in every generation since the beginning.  But they are not wasted.  All these things cause suffering true, BUT are included in the "ALL THINGS" God is using in our lives, for GOOD.  One of those good things is the comfort we experience as we are encouraged, and comforted by others who have gone before us or are right along side us.  Pastor Ric reminded us of some of the ways God uses suffering in the lives of his children.  The fact that suffering is very short in light of eternity, and a tool in the hand of God to mold Gary and I, is encouraging.  That thought gives me COURAGE!  The group is bonding in a way that will be invaluable and we're so blessed to be a part.

Trouble

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me: You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me."   When it seems like there are more "bad" than "good" days in the course of a week, like THIS week, I begin to wonder if we're reaching a new stage in the progression of Gary's disease.  During these times I am tempted by the Enemy of our souls to give in to despair, frustration, control, self pity, and more.  He is, after all, "prowling around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."  I'm sure that anyone who has been close to someone with a progressive disease that has no cure, experiences this same kind of "trouble."  The kind of trouble that you just have to accept, because you can't change it.  Last summer, we reached one of these new "stages" and at that time, I gave myself over to self pity, and the rest of it for many days.  I am so thankful for the Lord's kindness to yank me out of that thinking back to His side, where I was revived and saturated with His wonderful promises to "accomplish what concerns me."  I hate when I'm tempted to go down that road again, and by God's grace, this week, He has reminded me, again, of His completely kind hands which made both Gary and I and will do what's best. 

"Your lovingkindness, O LORD is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands." Psalms 138:7-8

Revived, and ready for another one...let's see what tomorrow has in store.

Gary's Prayers - "Trust"

Since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in '07, I wrote down some of Gary's prayers...

November 1, 2009

"Thank you God for giving me something to make me trust you so I don't need to worry.  You are all I need and use me to glorify You."

Watercolor Journals - Spring

This Cherry Blossom Monogram is an intended birthday gift from one friend to another.  These pink flowers just say SPRING to me.  They always have.  The birds outside our window were "going crazy" while I was working on it.  This morning when I flung open the curtains, I surprised a robin with a mouthful of twigs.  I thought she would drop the bundle and flee, but she just looked at me and kept on towards her target, somewhere under our eve.  The "nesting instinct" overrode the "element of surprise.

New Alzheimer's Page

Just a quick post this time to let you know that I added a page to my blog about Alzheimer's.  I will be accumulating information that has been helpful for us, so if you know anyone whose family is touched with this disease, please feel free to pass on the link to my blog.  www.ihavebeenyoung.blogspot.com 

Colors

32 years ago Gary and I created this stained glass window for our kitchen.  It was a very fun project that led to a cottage industry, designing and crafting custom stained glass for 12 years.  So much has happened since then. To quote Karen Carpenter, “We’d only just begun…” Recently, I’ve been able to get “artsy” again, with watercolor illustrations.  I call them “Colors By Laurie.”  I have been mulling over the idea that my life is colorful too, not unlike a stained glass window.  

I have experienced the light and bright joys, as well as the “dark” events that everyone dreads.  My greatest earthly happiness is my husband.  He and I have partnered together to face life and that has made for some wonderful memories.  The fun of watching a thunderstorm from our bedroom with the girls with the French doors wide open, “batting practice” at Lake Powell, the Murder Mystery Parties, transitioning our daughters into the hands of the men they said “Yes” to, of course all the grandkiddos, and the endless practical jokes and movie quotes.  All of these have been peppered with hard times as well, and now, in the last decade I’ve had a bout with Stage 3 Breast Cancer, and a few years ago, Gary was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s Disease.  We have the privilege of walking together through the “for worse” part just like the “for better” part, and though no one knows the future, I have a pretty good idea of what’s likely. 

Our world could be monochromatic, but it’s NOT!  I’m thankful for the variety of colors, darks, lights, textures, mass, shapes, and lines.  I’m not meaning to sound like an art class, (nod to Mr. DeGrassi) but it’s true!  Look around.  Our world is FULL of visual variety.  That’s what makes it interesting, from the clear, aqua waters of Florida, to the vivid orange sunsets over the rugged, massive Rocky Mts.  Why did God make the world that way?  Artist’s prerogative.  He does whatever He pleases, and it pleased Him to make the world beautiful, and then, give us minds that appreciate it!

Look too long at any element, without stepping back to see the whole, and you’ll not see the story the artist intends.  For optimal viewing, wait until completed.  God made the universe very quickly, but we are in process.  One day, we will be as He plans, Gary will have a renewed mind, able to comprehend his Creator perfectly.  I will no longer be distracted by the ups and downs of life, and completely joyful and at peace forever.  “Behold I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:5  For this reason, I refuse to give in to self-pity or sorrow.  I don’t deny that emotions are very real, but there are far reaching benefits to the dark times and I choose glean what I can from them. 

If a stained glass window is all one color, it can be a nice geometric design, and that’s great, but it won’t tell a story.  It needs shapes that mean something to the viewer, line so the eye can cruise around the entire composition, texture for interest, and those dark areas of contrast that make the colors stand out beautifully.   People are creative, because they are created in the image of God.  God is creating a beautiful thing in the lives of His people. “Look among the nations!  Observe!  Be astonished!  Wonder!  Because I am doing something in your days—You would not believe if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5


For a blast from the past...Here's a Keith Green song I love on the same topic.  Jon, this one's for you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNoYNlvpcek&feature=related