* Mr. Ed .............

I think it was May of last year when I began my 1st day with Mr.Ed. I Had met he and his wife at church and was very happy to be his Care-Giver. My duties were to get him up each day, Bathe and dress him, get his breakfast, meds and etc..usually while they ate breakfast I would do the house cleaning, laundry and get lunch ready..In the beginning months Ed could get around and help me out with getting dress, we had our little routine every morning, he never liked getting up I think he would have stayed in bed all day, but once I got him dressed as we went through the bedroom to the kitchen we would stop at his dresser and get his wallet, keys, Handkerchief, chapstick and his change, I would always ask him...how much money do you have Mr. Ed?... and he would say 2 dimes, a nickel and a quarter and he had to have everything in just the right place...every button on his shirt had to be button, his belt had to be just right,, he was the best dressed little man I know that was just going to sit in his recliner for most of the day and oh yes, his hair had to be perfect.
I would take him to his appointments and he was always that sweet little daddy/grand-dad every daughter would have loved. I took care of him like he was my very own dad realizing someday that just might be my dad.
Each day was a new day with Mr. Ed...Some days we talked about his fishing all night or that he was so very tired because he had played Basketball all night. What I learned most about this awful disease is that you just never knew, he could tell me everyone by name on TV, love to talk about the Dr's he worked with at SBJ and his years of playing Basketball.

As the year  progressed so did the disease taking My sweet Mr. Ed , he slowing stopped helping me out, stopped telling me his stories until he was just not with us anymore, he was just Mr. Ed locked up in a worn out little body. I experienced a roller coaster of high and lows in such a short time. I watched a loving sweet wife that refused to give up on her Husband that in reality she lost long before I ever came into the picture. I helped them out 12 hours a week ...meaning that she was his caregiver for the other 156 hrs..leaving her a short 12 hours a week to do her errands and what ever she needed to do while I was there.

I have since my share of death in many forms...some taken quickly...some slowing....some before there were time for goodbyes. Each day I left the Jeter's I would always tell Ed Goodbye and I love you because I knew in the back of my mind he might be gone{his mind} the next time I came back. I thank the Lord for my time with Ed, he taught me that yes there is all kinds of death and I have seen 1st hand many kinds but to be locked up in a body one day knowing and the next moment gone that life is not to be taken for granted.  Each day I left him, I left feeling like anything I was going through was nothing compared to his daily torment of being locked up in your body with no control and at the mercy of others.

As I came home from the office tonight I got a text from Mrs. Jeter saying Mr. Ed was no longer locked up in his chains....Somewhere around 6pm God took him home and out of that worn out earthly body...His Chains are Gone!!!!!  I know we as Christians have many roads to travel and the "not knowing" has to be one of the worst for me, we just have to be ready... but I thank the Lord for this journey in my life with Mr. Ed... As a mom you can handle many things with your babies as a caregiver but it does take a lot to be a caregiver for adults.. In the very 1st days he was very hard to coach into letting me bathe and dress him, and I would always say" now Mr. Ed ..it's just skin and we all have it and he would always reply with a laugh and say Okay then....I would joke with Ed almost every morning as I washed his feet that one day he would have to wash mine like the disciples did in the Bible  and he would just laugh and say "you have pretty pink toes. It's was a humbling experience and I'm so blessed to have taken this journey with him. The memories made with Ed will always be with me, there were days when I knew he was gone and he was a little ill with me,he would always say " I'm sorry" and I would just kiss his head and say it;s okay Mr. Ed...because I knew it was not the Ed we all knew and Loved...

My heart is full tonight for Mrs. Jean, for the many years she has had Ed even though for the most part in the end he was already gone, she is now alone. I pray that she will find peace in knowing he is no longer suffering and has a new body and mind.  I know 1st hand she was a loving and devoted wife that went above and beyond for Mr. Ed.... I pray for her and her new journey without her beloved Ed.

Words will never express the love I have felt working with the Jeter's and the blessings I have received.

I love you both!!!! and will miss "my little man"......

*Heirlooms....Up in the Attic....

 The Davy Crockett Gun.....

 The cat Judy brought Kyle back from Brazil when he was just a baby.... he was just laying in the rafters.

 Kyle's Journal, I think this would be his 2nd grade...at HA

 

 This was my Candyland Lunch box.....not telling how old....

Kamren's Report Card... Kelly Springs...2012


As most of you know in 2009 Kamren and myself were in the Attic looking for Kyle's old Davy Crockett gun. Now I don't have to tell you in end results. I ended up falling through the Attic and we never returned to get the gun, mainly because after all my injuries it was a fear factor. To this day I deal with the pain left from that fall.

We moved out of the house some 19 months ago thinking we were leasing to sell but for some reason God has brought us back. When we left it was a very hot September so we left most everything that was in the Attic...this Attic could be a good size bedroom/playroom, it has floors but just the studs for walls...the place were we were was over in the rafters..yea we were walking the beams...NOT A GOOD THING TO DO!!!

Well I have been very busy since we moved back about a month ago cleaning, painting, cleaning, painting.... and I just kept getting this need??? hankering??? to get back in the Attic!!!!!!!!!!!
And little did I know until I sat down to write this post, we moved back in this house the same month I fell through the Attic.. I believe it was 2-3-09.... That's scary!!!!!!!!!!  You can look back in my post and I did a post on 2-15-09....
You can breathe, I didn't do it Kyle did.....

I knew there were many things I had pushed way to the back and I just needed the peace of mind to have it all down to see what had been put away for the last 20 years...
It was a lot easier to get it all down because the hole I made when I fell through was still there, so Kyle handed it down to me....all the time I kept warning him "DON"T  STEP ON THE WHITE STUFF"!!!!!

Well we found lot's of stuff....soooo many toys, the boy's school papers, costumes, Christmas Decorations, they made in school, it is amazing what we keep.

And guess what else???????????   The Gun!!!!!!!
Some 5 years later the gun was right were I knew it was but it had to wait some 5 years later. Kamren is bigger now and was not interested in the gun but I'm sure one of the babies will enjoy it.

There is a song Amy Grant sings and I used to play it for the girls and until today even though I loved every word of the song, the words really struck a cord with me. I am a very sentimental person and keep everything from cards, school papers to baby teeth.. yes I still have all of my children s baby  teeth (all 5 kids) so you can imagine what a tearful time I have had this afternoon... I am very drained!!!
 Heirlooms:
Up in the Attic
Down on my knees
Lifetime of boxes
Timeless to me
Letters and photographs
Yellowed with years
Some bringing laughter
Some bringing tears
Time never changes the memries, the faces of loved ones, who bring to me....all that I come from, and all that I live for, and all that I'm going to be.
My precious family is more than an heirloom to me.


On a happier note:
Kamren made A/B Honor Roll today!!!!!!!!!!!

* Kisses for Katie....

 

Kisses for Katie!!!!!

Just when you think you cannot get out of bed another day, God sends you a "Red Bird".. You would have to have been to a Woman's Spectacular Event to understand the Red Bird but it's really about you counting your blessings. After finding her blog many months ago, we really have nothing to complain about but MUCH to be happy about.. I really think I missed my calling....I would love to be were she is, doing what I love and that is taking care of Children...Children that does not know what being spoiled means, walmart, Ice Cream Shop, etc.
This blog will make you cry, but in so full of love...

* Trusting God... one surprise at a time.

One of our many Easter Dinners....
Natalie, Sophie and Nicole... I think this was the last Easter before we moved..

I tried to delete this one but couldn't... they look like Ghost...
The front door, on the steps was always our spot for pictures....
Many "Ann Varnum" shows were taped in this kitchen..



Went to 102 today to make a walk through not sure of what we would find after not being inside for 17 months. When I left the house it was with the intention of not moving back but moving on to better things. Little did I know what was in the making and what would play out some 17 months later. Lots of stories have come to us but if I have learned anything in my last 20 years is not to judge and always know their is always 2 sides...

As we arrive we were very shocked as to what was taking place, not knowing how we would be welcomed we enter "our" home. I almost ran to the Sun Room to see my 6th baby(my Gran-Piano) that I had not seen nor played in 17 months..it was there!!!!!!!! I would have loved to sat and played but the atmosphere screamed your not wanted here!!!!

It was very sad, this was to be their home and now they were having to say goodbye and I am facing the fact I have to move back(this week end) not knowing for how long because it is still for sale... Oh well, I will do what I have to do but there is alot of work to be done..I did not realize when I moved out 17 months that I would ever miss that huge house..It is a lot of work to keep it cleaned and with two boys going in two different direction we are never home, so the day I left I felt like a huge load had been lifted from me. And the fact in 1 year Kyle will be off to college and what do we need that big of a home with just the three of us...

Well to say all of that... after I saw my Piano and walking through the house this crazy feeling began stirring in me and I can't explain it.. I began to almost cry, a sadness stirred inside me, as I looked around at the memories. I looked at the bay window and I could see my daddy and Matthew on 10-10-00 up in the tree building Kyle and his little Brother that I was inside giving birth to a double Decker Tree House, the swing that daddy climb up even higher in the tree to hang.At times the tree house would have 10 to 12 little boys in it playing Robin Hood. The woods that Matthew and myself cleared with just a axe and push mower.Lot's of sweat and blood had been put into those woods..I remember the weekend we moved into the house and everything was put up, Mother and the kids packed up and with back to Winfield, leaving me(great with child) and little Kyle all alone in that castle. Kirk was writing his 1st book and had a trip to Atlanta so me and Kyle were all alone. We with out to the huge screened in back porch to sit and watch the many squirrels and we couldn't even see the road for the woods, so as soon as I had Kamren and could walk we started on those woods. I saw all the Easter Egg Hunts we had had each year with our friends. The fire pit in the woods that Kyle and his buddies loved sitting around at night. The batting cage daddy had made for the boys.
Back in the house the memories were bouncing at me like crazy... I did not go in the garage for the memory of falling through the Attic, I live with that pain everyday so I did not need to see that. Lot's of reflecting in such a short visit.. I went in with a nervous/heavy heart and came out broken to pieces.. Broken for them and broken at what I had left behind without even looking back. If you remember they knocked on our door on a Sunday afternoon and we were out on Friday.. I did not have time to think about anything. I have not looked back or allowed myself to say I wished I had never left or I wished for it back, we just got out and I think I had blocked it from any hurt and really any memories...
God has his hand in everything and I don't have the answers but he knows our plans... I must wait to be shown and I can't see past today...After being inside today I think in my heart that God is allowing me to go back for a reason and I must be willing to find it and accept it.
Kyle is glowing in delight that he gets to spend (he hopes) his last year of High School in the Big House, he has not had the room in the rental to have the guys over for their "grilling and chilling", so he can't wait. Kamren was always afraid of the house because it was sooo big and his room was on the 2nd floor close to the attic, so I just told him today that we were moving back so I guess I will have a new bed buddy.
I must say I have missed my HUGE KITCHEN!!!!! and the short time we were there today I felt like I was Home!!! Don't know for how long but will love it for whatever time we are granted. As my Blog reads... Trusting God..One surprise at a time...

* Moving Back???

Well, I really don't know where to start.... But... looks like we are moving back!!!!!!

September 2010, two weeks before Kamren was born we moved to 102 Sterling Ridge. We left a 2600 sq. ft home with a pool ( i think about a 27 yr old home). Kyle and myself were devastated to leave our beloved pool and his best friend since birth Chance. This was the home were I gave birth ti Kyle on the backporch in the Hot Tub. Lot's of memories!!!!
With the help of maw maw, Matt, MeLeah and Chris we moved out and was all unpacked in 2 days. Wow!!! me and little Kyle was lost in this big thing and thought we would never call it home. Two weeks later Kamren was born here in the downstairs bedroom. We lived here until September 2010 exactly 10 years to the date.


We moved out 17 months ago with the intent that the leasers would be buying it after a year. Well the luck of the Eriksen's is... things did not work out and looks like we will move back until it sells... I do not look forward to packing and moving, but I think Kyle will love having the upstairs for his friends to enjoy his last year at home.
17 months ago a couple knocked on our door made a offer and ask us to be out in 5 days!!!!! Should I say that we had lived here 10 years, Kamren was born here and sooooo many memories and some 18 years of stuff. I found a rental home on Wednesday and we were moved out by Friday. We left alot of stuff,( which was in the agreement that we would get when they purchased the house) my beloved Gran-Piano which I have not seen since the day we walked out. I hope and pray everything is still there and that the house is in good condition..
It's a bitter sweet journey back, but when life gives us Lemons we will try to make Lemonade.

I will say this little home has been cozy and quick to clean and very nice to call the Landlord when something is broken..but...I just don't know how I should feel at the moment...I guess we will take it a day at a time.

102 Was a beautiful home with lots of space for fun and each of us have our own space, It will be nice not to hear the person in the other room breathe and have a place to park three cars.

With Spring just around the corner..I guess this is just another season for me... God has a plan and we just have to go along for the ride..

Moving Time!!!!!!!!!!!

* William Jackson Overton

The Home Place of William Jackson Overton as we found it on 12-9-11.. Double Springs, AL




PawPaw digging for gold...
I had just told Kamren he was about to slip and fall...and he did!!!!

Kyle laughing at Kamren when he fell...

The Waterfall....
Paw Paw and Kamren....

Kyle, Luke, Paw Paw and Kamren.....
On 12-9-11 Daddy ask me to ride with him up the road to take pictures of his Great Grand daddy's old home place. So off we went, which was about a hour drive. When we got there we drove past it a couple time because it was grown up we didn't see it. We wading through the brush to get to the house but could not get a good picture.
12-24-11 I was back home for Christmas and once again daddy wanted to go back with proper tools to cut the brush away to get a picture. My brother Wayne said he would take us back and help with the clearing. So off we go, Wayne, Luke, Daddy, Kyle, Kamren and my self. It took about an hour but this is the finally result. Everyone worked hard as I finished up with pictures.

Legend has it that William Jackson Overton rode beside Andrew Jackson in the War and that he had lots of Gold hidden somewhere around the old homeplace. My grand daddy (Ralph Overton) said that anytime someone went to visit William to borrow money he would go out back, down the hill and come back in about an hour with the money. So while the boys were clearing I walked down the hill to see what I could see.

Much to my surprise I saw many bluffs and what looked like a huge cave, and I heard water!!!! I went back to the house and told daddy and Wayne and they both said they didn't think there was anything down there. When they finished the clearing and we took many pictures, my boys being city boys wanted to check out what I saw so we all took to the woods.

This is where you realize your out of shape!!!!!
Going down was fine but once we got there it was bluff after bluff, up and down and over and beyond. It had been many years since I had been with my dad in the woods exploring.( when we were young every weekend after we did Bus visitation dad would take our family and a group of girls to near by Caverns) I think we were all very shocked and in Awe of what we found. Look was walking around with his dads old IPhone taking pictures of everything. My boys were all over the bluffs climbing and looking for the gold. The Waterfall was beautiful, to think he had this right in his back yard and for all these years we had to drive and pay to see caves and bluffs that were not as beautiful as these. The boys were all over the rocks climbing in and out of the holes. Kamren was walking on the ledge that went under the Waterfall and I had just said (Kamren your about to) when he fell to the ground with a huge axe in his hand, never letting it go, it was about a 12 ft fall.. Thank Goodness the ground was very soft and wet. My dad is in very good shape, not once did I hear him pat for breathe and he was always out in front of us all. I was the mother of the bunch worrying about my two city boys getting hurt and Luke didn't have a clue if we were there or if he was alone. The scary thing about these bluffs were you could be walking and out of nowhere your walking on the edge about to fall to your death, so I was in constant fear for these boys.


Well we explored for quite sometime down in the bottoms and now the tough part was getting back to the top. Me and my boys did not go to Winfield prepared for this type of outing. I did have on boots, Kyle and Kamren had on Crocs... Can you imagine those two in the woods, clearing brush from around the house and now down in the caves and bluffs in crocs??? Kyle was like he was Ice Skating, he could not stand up for slipping and sliding and that is why Kamren slipped and fell. We finally made it back to the top where we found the pile you see daddy in the picture at the top digging in. It appeared to be some kind of old truck or car.

We left with no gold but lots of memories with PawPaw....

* Happy 11th Birthday Kamren

Happy Birthday Kamren!!!!

Eleven years ago I was in a race with my dad to see who could finish 1st, me having a baby or him finishing a double decker tree house. My Midwife arrived at our home at 8:00 amand got things started, my labor was not going well so she gave me something to snort ( if I had been in a hospital this will have been in my veins) but because I have never use any drugs or nose drops I never caught on to the whole snort the meds so my labor was very long. I spent most of the day walking, jumping, rocking anything that I thought would get this over. We had just moved into our new home and I was in a lot of hip pain from lifting and bending and I had pushed Kamren down on a nerve that had crippled me, so my Midwife thought it was time for me to have the baby. Mom, Dad, Matt, MeLeah, Cris and Kyle were all present for the Grand day. needless to say my dad beat me in the race and the Tree House was finished but no baby.
I had threw in the towel and given up when all you know what hit the scene. Oh, and did I say Kamren like Kyle was born at home not in a hospital???? Yes I did it again this time I was at the very young age of 39 giving birth at home just like on all the Old West Movies( where most of the women in the movies died). By midnight Kirk and Mrs.Gretchen decided they were tired and I had to get busy so they could go to bed..lol... I had given up and was ready to meet my maker, I had gotten to far in the birthing process to be moved to the hospital ( all of 2miles away) so they say, so it was deliver or DIE and I was in for the latter. I begged my mom to call 911, told my children goodbye and really thought I was going to die. Kirk being the Kirk he is finally got in my face and made me fight. I had developed a problem that ever time I pushed the baby down he would just go right back up.I really don't know what took place down there only that had I been in a hospital I would have a c-section.Finally at 5am on 10-10-00 Kamren Lee Eriksen decided to come on out and meet his family. I had always thought that I would be in my 50's and still be having babies but he broke the mold and he became the caboose some 21 years from his Big sister Melanie. All my babies are different but he and MeLeah have a lot in common. They are always on the go, always talking and never a dull moment. MeLeah was the one who had her own sign on the door at the ER and Dr. office and Kamren is right there with her. When he was little he always had a stick...lots of sticks!!! Everywhere we went he had a stick even went to bed with his sticks. He was the actor and had the costume to go with what ever he was for the day.
Kamren has always been full of life. I have joked with him many times that by the time he gets married I will be in a nursing home and not know my name or that he will have to take care of me, but God has his plan with everything in life and Kamren would be just that. He cares about everyone and is always worried about everyone. In less than 9 months Kamren will be the Man of the house with Kyle off at college. It's hard to think about him being the only baby left. my how times flies!!!!
Love you Little Man and Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!