A new adventure to embark!

Hi friends , yes another new adventure for the wehr's here on echohill. Seems we take a step ahead and a few back. Kennys work at BOC has been put on hold for a while. The economy can't support work to continue at the shop he's been working at for 1 1/2 years. This economy is troublesome. Steel mills are shut down and a few here in the Cleveland Chicago area may never re open. So BOC - had to lay him off. He ( K) has worked two - four days a week as a mechanical draftsman. The Bureau of Visually Impaired set him up with a 24" flat screen monitor and a program called zoom text, that makes it possible for K to draw his machinery on the computer via CAD. or Auto cad. You'd be surprised a blind man can work like that. Remember he does have some limited vision in his right eye. So .... for now we need to be thankful he has been awarded the SS DI . At least we have that coming in, I guess I'm greedy and want it all. I'm just tired of the struggle. Trying to be patient as we wait still for that big check.... Wish I could get some of these bills paid.. Property tax is really heavy on my heart. Continue to pray for us as I know you do .... I appreciate it. As i know K does too. Love to you, ~J

Hi Friends

Hi there. One of my favorite things to do is check my computer for my favorite blogs of note. One in particular is from an acquaintance of mine, through a mutual Friend. Her name is Jane and I have asked you to pray for her in the past. Well I am once again asking you for prayer for Jane her husband and her son. That they feel the love of Christ surrounding them at this very hard time in their lives. I believe that Jane is a born again believer, I am praying for her son and husband to be as well. Pray with me to that end that without a doubt they all would have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. Thank you. God bless you for praying for my blogger friend. Love to you this night. -J

Winter, Winter, Winter,Winter.....

Is it getting old for you yet ? Wow.. Winter is eternal this year... I have always tried so hard to be optimistic about it, enjoy the snow , take some pictures, you know play in the snow... I'm over it ! It's taking forever this year. I don't know the statistics of snow fall but it is A LOT! Today through Wed we are to expect snow........
How are you doing with the love month ? Over that too ? :) We went to Doug & Mar's on Sat night to watch the Pavlik fight, had fun, ate pizza, laughed with Alex, it was an exciting night for Youngstown Ohio! Actually you need to say "YOUNNNGGGGGSTOOOOWWWWNNNN OOOOHIIIIIIIOOOOOO" hahaha can you hear the announcer say it ? I still can.. With Youngstown native Kellllllllyyyyy Paaaavvvlikkkk. That should make you smile ! Go Kelly! You are doing great things for you and great things for your hometown!
All that to say I love my family. I am so blessed to enjoy the company of my family. We all enjoy being together. ( at least I do ) . My Nephew, Alex, is so funny and enjoyable to be around ! He makes me laugh. We all have a sick sense of humor and have the ability to play off of one another. Most enjoyable. And as far as Douglas goes. The best big brother any little sister could ask for ! Now that we are 43 and 53 years old, makes the equation a little different, but still terrific. I love his wife Martha. They married when I was 12 ! She has been my sister forever as well. I cried at their wedding as if I had been abused. I remember them asking me why I cried so terribly as I walked down the aisle, I said my Dougie was so beautiful. Never mentioned poor Martha , the beautiful radiant bride, only my Dougie.. lol. Oh My , Memories... The only one missing this weekend was Molly.. She and Bob are in Memphis.. Hopefully we will be able to visit in June when the bridal shower is for Seva. I can't wait ! i hope you have a warm day. Love to you. Tell your loved ones that you appreciate them... ~J

Sunday Morning and I'm cold.

good morning, Sunday , yea, a day to be off... A day to spend with the LORD! Our fire is out. we are once again with out wood. I'm bundling up right now to head out into the Alaskan Tundra to round up the wood Kenny and Greg cut last week. Sounds like a fun day huh ? Really I'd rather not spend it any other way. Love to you, I'll try to write later when we are warm in here...

Hey , Just home form the pool, Don't have too much to say, But I wanted to tell you we were out of the water for 20 minutes tonight due to thunder and lightening ! In February ! Can you believe it ? SO that is really all. Just needed to tell you that little tidbit. Oh and I love pets but I don't want a 200# Chimpanzee ! Just thought I should tell you that... Love Ya

Myday Monday

Good morning Friends... How ya doing this nice day? I hope well. I'm busy about the house, laundry, dishes, etc. Trying to get it all done so I can knit. I just fed the birds. I love the birds in my yard. I have a little bird feeder right outside my kitchen window. I enjoy doing the dishes and watching the birds! I have a red headed woodpecker that comes and hangs on that little feeder, it hangs almost sideways as he is such a big bird! As he hangs on the feeder, all the little chickadees and nut hatches scatter to the ground and wait for his waist to fall to their feet. I understand their plight. :) Enjoy your day this day. Please know I appreciate you . My readers... My friends... Love to you this day. ~J

Love,,, Bah, Bah Bah Ba... All we need is love.....

All we need is love...... You know the song.... We are human , God created us that way... Isn't He so smart ? I need love, Kenny needs love, Holly needs love, Snickers and Belle need love, Ezzie needs love.... One Eye, Pretty Kitty and her sister, pretty white cat with blue eyes, poopy orange kitten all need love. We were created in His image. Do we love Jesus as much as he loves us ? Ba Ba Ba Ba Bahhhh.... Do we love His creation as much as He loves it ? Do we treat each other with love ?
Just a few thoughts crossing my mind this Valentines' evening. I tell you the truth. You need to read the shack. It will change your thought process if even a little about your level of giving and receiving love. From God, and from our friends and from our husbands. ( or wives)

I have a love for Kenny that I would have never been able to describe years ago. It is ever unfolding , changing and blooming . Love is not an easy verb. It often comes with some heart ache, some pain, some extreme circumstances. Also some extreme joys and a few sorrows. It has turned into so much more than I ever thought possible. I loved my first husband, I loved him as I thought I new best. But this is different, It is so much more . Ours is a relationship unusual as Kenny has had a lot of medical problems or issues... My role of wife, lover , friend is different as I almost have to put some of those rolls in a different order. It has taken me several years to get a grip on it and understand how it actually works. I fought it so much for a while. But you know what ? I think it works. Let me change that, It does work...

Life is hard. It is so uncertain
It can turn on a dime and what you think is normal is so far from reality you can't even begin to focus. Love is giving and giving and giving and giving..... Love is not looking to receive. It's only direction is to give. In giving is where you find peace and security. Sure you will receive in return... But that is not where you'll find your contentment. And It is hard to learn to give is to receive.... But The Wise and Wonderful Giver taught us that. He;
( the Lord Jesus Christ ) is the orchestrator of this great scheme.... and it works ! Hallelujah! The Lord did not bless us with our mate to take the crap of our lives and fix it . He Blessed us with our mates to help us through the CRAP. Don't tell me you've not dealt w/ any of that... I know better.
God is Good and his mercy is new each day. As is his gift of love for you and me. I hope you are blessed with a friend a companion a soul mate, a helper, a challenger, a companion, an honest listener.
I am ....
Happy Valentine's Day.... I hope you have love. I hope Love has you.
God Bless You. ~J

February, the LOVE month

When I was a kid growing up our church would have February "love month". I was thinking about that the other day, Kind of missing the special things that happened that month. Every Sunday night was set aside as a special evening for families , or for couples . I'm feeling lonely w/ Holly at school and not allot of 'extra curricular' at this time, seems life is somewhat boring. Kinda wishin' we had love month activities planned to look forward to! So Lets' plan something.... Try to think of things we can do fun and entertaning and loving right here on this crazy computer.... I'll begin with naming 7 things I LOVE ABOUT BLOGGING!


1. Easier to type here than write in my journal
2.Fun to stay connected with friends I don't have the opportunity to talk to often
3. Speaking my thoughts and feelings out loud helps me to not harbor bitter thoughts
4. I love peeking at the world of friendships through this window
5. I love seeing pictures of your homes and families as well as showing you mine
6. I love "imposing" my views on you!
7. I Love that is all FREE and doesn't cost me anything ! YEA!

so for now that's all, try to comment on something you love and can share here with us.
Love you, ~J

Sorry Correction:::: The Shack Wm. Paul Young Loving it. Gotta go for now to finish it.

Hi Myday Monday....

My day monday is upon us. How are you this pretty sunny morning ? I hope you are well. rested and doing what needs to be done ! I 'm just getting home form my DIno appt. He's my massotherapist, I would be crippled and walk like a Neanderthal if I did not visit his office once a month or so. After doing aerobics and working the hours at the shop with my hands out in front of me , I need realligned. He does just that for me. I have been reading The Shack By Rodney Young. , after my appt I went to breakfast and sat and read for an hour. Yea! My day is my favorite kind of day ! I think I'm beginning to feel better, Every day a little more. I am still all "junkie" . I made some wonderful vegetable soup yesterday and then the most magnificent bananna cake ever ! Today I'm gonna make granola to go in a little Valentine for Hol. Have I mentioned lately how proud of her I am. .... ? I am She is a real blessing in my life. Thank You God for the precious gift of a child. She is a delight. I am so proud of the beautiful young woman she is becoming. Please join me in praying for her. It is hard to be 20 years old , working like a crazy person and trying to study.... Thanks, it means so much to me to know that many of you do know her personally and do pray for her. I pray for your children as well... I love you, ~J

hi i'm still sick but a little better ....

Hi Friends , I'm still Sick !!! but a little better. mornings are the best time of day when your head is the size of a 25# bowling ball. I know that is what the average head actually weighs, but to write it seems to be an exorbitant amount of weight or in my case.....STUFF you know the other s word, snot. On that light note. Ha ha . I found something new to do here on this technological device that is a time warp of all of my free time. Face book ! I thought it was only for the college age, but oh no... people in their 40's can face book too... ! How cool is it ? I was able to write on the wall of a friend of mine I haven't talked to since high school ! - We played trombone in the band together and we went to church together ! I literally have not spoken to him in 24 - 25 years ! Oh my goodness ! He looks the same , I however am fat and old.... Any how it was fun for me to re connect. I also set Kenny up with a page. You'll have to check that out as well. This is still where my "ramblings ' will come. But I thought that was kinda fun... Hey have a good Sunday. i think it's beginning to thaw out there.... The birds are sure happy. Love you...~j

We arn't feeling very well here on the hill.

Seems Kenny and I have gotten another "bug" He started antibiotics yesterday, I however am not on any, as I was not able to see the DR. you know how that goes, Just wanted to stop in for a second and say Hi. Hope you are staying warm in your home tonight. We are doing ok, just sorta snotty.... Or as I like to say I have "shpielkas in my kinectegazoink!" It's making my head ache ! I just did up the supper dishes and gonna settle in for a cozy night of knitting and watch my favorite show. ER I'll be sad on May 2 when it's over :( I have been watching it since the very beginning. Only one I ever look for.... Oh well I should be doing something more constructive with my time for that hour anyway . Love you. ~J

There is someone on my heart this morning who I'de like to introduce you to!

Today is Super bowl Sunday, Not a big deal in many peoples lives however it is a huge deal in my heart. It is the "day" my hero , my friend, my confidante', my dear ole' dad went home to be with our Lord and Savior. It was not February 1st, it was January 27 1989. 20 Years have gone since he died. I have almost lived longer without him in my life as I was only 22. Holly was a new born baby. We lived in Seattle, all the way across the country. It was while they ( Mom and Dad) were watching the game, Dad on the couch in his favorite position with the yellow corduroy pillow between his knees, and Mom in the chair reading the paper. That's it , simple, a Sunday night how we all like to be. He was only 56 years old. The older I get the younger that seems. So..... I want to tell you about the man he was.... I think you'll enjoy meeting him.....

Lets begin with the obvious, 6'3" 265# and hands as big as goalie gloves. Dad had the most beautiful hazel color of light brown eyes, some times they even looked as if they were golden. He had beautiful long eyelashes, and a big nose! He was a big man , but we all are big so he was our size ! He loved to sing and whistle. He thought he was the best singer and would sing to his own rhythm which as a kid made me crazy ! Now I enjoy singing to my own rhythm and wish I could hear him in my ear ! Dad knew something about absolutely everything. ( at least he made you believe he did) He loved the outdoors and was never afraid of hard work. He taught me how to work hard and I remember hearing something to the effect of "hard work never killed anybody".
Dad always drove a pick up truck and worked hard as a diesel mechanic in the steel mill. His hand s were rough and calloused cracked from the cold. Although he seemed larger than life and a little like a bear , he really was nothing more than a Teddy bear with a occasional "sore paw".

I was very involved in 4 H had a horse and a goat, a small farm, was involved in sports, played basket ball, volleyball and acted in every school play. Busy to say the least but a happy kid. My dad enjoyed all of those thing s with me. I was never really "good " at any one thing but did every thing! He and my mom made it possible for me to have the child hood that people can only dream of. It was a Huck Finn fairy tale of utter proportion !

My dad loved the country served in the army in the Korean war. He always taught us respect for the service men and made it very clear that "duty Honor and Country" were of the utmost importance. He loved kids. Boy Scouts of America was one of his "hobbies " if you will. More of a devotion I think. Many weekends spent away from us with someone elses' kids at a camp out or some such thing. He loved Camp Stambaugh in Canfield. He loved going to Phillmont and to the Jamborees. He loved scouting and had a lot of knowledge to bestow on - alltheboys- or so he thought. -No Many of the scouts I still run into and they still speak highly of him :) Dad served in the VFW. He was a township trustee for Ellsworth , Ohio. He was a member of Berlin Center United Methodist Church. He ran the chains at all the home Western Reserve Varsity football games. And He loved a cup of coffee from Myron's in downtown Ellsworth.
A simple man to most .... A hero to me..... I would love to sit and chat with him and although you probably didn't have the opportunity to know this gentle man I look forward to heaven when I can introduce you ! I just know you'll love him too.
God truly blessed me with the greatest father any child could have dreamed of .
In my lovingest of memories, Ronald William Gedra, the greatest father, to Douglas, Molly and Jenny, Beloved husband to Donna, Papa to Amy, Alex, Luke and Holly. Brother, Uncle, Friend and Teacher to so very many. May you rest in eternal peace.