MY DAD, FRANK KASPAREK

March 22, 2009 at 3:58 pm (Family, Memories)

 

 

dadkasparek1Four years ago today I visited my Father in Westmoreland Hospital three times in one day.  Dad had been in for 2 ½ weeks because of congestive heart failure and complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  It was a difficult time for my sisters and me.  Mom was in a nursing home for rehabilitation for a broken hip.  Then Dad got worse and had to be hospitalized.  We were being pulled in so many directions physically and emotionally…

The first visit that day was really kind of bittersweet.  Nick and Tasha were on Springbreak. Dad’s doctor had told me that he probably only had at the most 6 months to live.  Dad was quite animated and laughed some.  He always enjoyed having people around…

The second visit was just me!  I had purchased a re-chargeable electric razor.  Dad hadn’t been shaved for a few days and he looked terrible.  I tried to do my best, but the razor hadn’t had enough time to charge…

The nurse had written Dad’s name on the board in his room.  He looked up and said with such emotion, “Frank Kasparek.  That’s a good name.” 

Before I left, for what I believed to be the last time that night, I turned to Dad and said, “I love you very, Very, VERY much!”  He repeated it back to me…

Just a few short hours later, I was back with Dad.  This time, his body was there, but his soul was where he had hoped and lived for most of his life.  He was with his Lord.

I am really missing him today.  But I wouldn’t wish him back for anything in this world!  He is where he wanted to be! 

Dad, I love you very, Very, VERY much!!

Mom and Dad

Mom and Dad

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ECO-FRIENDLY, ECO-CONVENIENT?

March 13, 2009 at 10:37 am (Commitment, Focus)

recycleToday I had the chance to re-connect with a young woman that I had worked with for about a year when she was a freshman in college.  She is now married and well into her career (teaching).  I always find it interesting to see how college has molded (changed?) a young person. 

 

We began to talk about her lifestyle.  She is a self-proclaimed eco-friendly activist.  She and her husband only have one bag of trash each week.  Their goal is to have only one large bag PER YEAR!  She shared with me the waste of buying and using bottled water.  (What a waste of landfill space!)  Vegetable skins, egg shells, etc. should be composted.  It is so important not to waste the earth that God has given us.

 

I was really impressed with her eco-education and her commitment!  She was adamant about preserving the world that God gave us. 

 

And then, somehow, the conversation turned to having babies.  As a 51 year old, I understand her mother’s desire for grandchildren.  In the midst of this conversation, I innocently asked if she was going to use cloth or disposable diapers.  (Disposable diapers make up 3% of landfills according to the Fall 1988 edition of The Earth Review).   Immediately she said to me, “I will not use cloth diapers.  I don’t want to have to rinse a ‘poopy diaper’!”  In that one moment, her eco-credibility bottomed out (pun intended).  If it involved something unpleasant, forget about it! 

 

So how often do I blow my Christian credibility because I am not willing to do something unpleasant???  How about you?

 

diaper

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RANDOMOCITY

March 2, 2009 at 10:11 am (Random Thoughts)

1. It is what it is, but it isn’t always what it appears!
2. Being a Pastor’s Wife is a difficult journey to travel. Many love the “authority” that you have, UNTIL you disagree with them. Then you are just “overstepping your bounds”.
3. I love Winter! The snow is beautiful. But I am so ready for Spring!
4. I hate cancer and what it does to others!
5. Never underestimate the power and importance of loyalty to a friend.
6. Reality TV isn’t really!
7. Paul Harvey was the best! He will be missed!
8. There is nothing better than cuddling a newborn.
9. Why can I never remember my login passwords?
10. No matter how old you are, no matter how long it has been, you never get over losing your parents.

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MERCY!

February 3, 2009 at 10:11 pm (God's Provision, Lessons Learned)

pa-state-trooperOkay, quick, answer this question: What is mercy? If you are a regular student of the Bible, you will have a “pat” answer. Mercy is “unmerited favor”. See, I have a pat answer. But, what is unmerited favor???

Have you experienced mercy lately? I have. Here’s the story…

January 4th I was on my way to the mall. (I had to exchange a pair of shoes from Christmas.) As I was getting onto the ramp to the highway, a State Trooper pulled me over. (What was I doing wrong? I knew I could not have been speeding. I had my seat belt on. I wasn’t driving erratically. I wasn’t even talking on my cell!) As I handed the Trooper my license and registration card, he said to me, “I pulled you over today because your Inspection expired the end of September.” (WHAT??? Are you serious? That’s not my “area” in our marriage! That is Paul’s! How could this be? September? That was 3½ months ago!) “Expired?”, I said. “I am so very sorry. I really had no idea!”

To make a long story short, I ended up with a ticket! I knew I was guilty, but I really wanted to fight it! So I sent in the necessary $50 “bond” and I plead “not guilty”. Today was my hearing…

I stood before the Magistrate. I was really nervous. He seemed nice (but that could just be a trick). Finally he asked me what had happened. I explained that it had been a hard year; that I had 6 surgeries because of breast cancer. I told him that my mother passed away at the beginning of September. And I went to India for two weeks at the end of September. And then I had surgery October 13. He finished the story for me. “And somewhere in the middle of it all, you lost track of the Inspection.” “Yes, sir,” I said. “Somehow we lost track of it.”

And then he asked me a most important question: “So what were you expecting from this hearing today?” “Well, sir,” I said most carefully, “I was hoping for mercy.”

There it was. The reason I was there. I was guilty. I had driven my car without a valid inspection. I had broken the law. I really didn’t mean to, but I was guilty. But it was easy to break that law. I was too busy with other things (funeral, missions trip, surgery). Those items were all very important and worthy reasons. But I still broke the law.

“Mercy.” The judge seemed to contemplate all that the word meant. “Yes, I think I can show you mercy,” he said. “In fact, we can just make this disappear.”

WOW! Just like that, it was gone! It was all over! All I had to do was ask…MERCY!

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PAY IT FORWARD!

January 28, 2009 at 9:11 am (Helping Others)

 

 
 
dignity-gangThis past week, about 15 women, at different times worked diligently to sew Dignity Robes for women in Beaver County (where I live) who are undergoing radiation treatments for breast cancer.  We completed 50 robes!  I am so proud of these women.  Only one, other than me, had actually survived breast cancer.  The others just wanted to come and do something good for a woman who they probably will never meet.  I asked each seamstress participating, to say a prayer for those who will receive the robes. 

A very special “Thank You” to my boss, Amy Baughman of Amy Baughman Sew and Quilt, who provided the sewing machines, thread, velcro, snacks and a place to construct the robes.  Also, much appreciation to Jackie Finney, the Executive Director for the Beaver County Cancer and Heart Association.  This was Jackie’s idea, and I was so thankful to be a part of this event.

This has been a very moving experience for me.  I wish that I could reach out and hug each woman facing this degrading disease.  Maybe each woman who receives one of these robes, will somehow feel my hug…doris1cindy1

 

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THE STEELER NATION

January 19, 2009 at 6:48 am (Uncategorized)

steelers1THE STEELER NATION! Whew-who! WE WON! I live in the greatest place on earth – the Steeler Nation! We WON!

“Here we go, Here we go, Steelers are going to the Super Bowl! Here we go!”

Growing up in this region, I have never known anything but the Steelers. So today, I am proudly proclaiming that I AM A STEELER FAN! The next two weeks will be really exciting around this region. But the Steeler Nation goes beyond the Pittsburgh area. We have the largest fan base anywhere. (I don’t know that for sure; I am just “evangelizing”.)

Anyway, if you are as excited as I am, let me know! By the way, who is your favorite all-time Steeler? Mine is Lynn Swann. My favorite current Steeler is Hines Ward.
steelers

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GRACE

January 7, 2009 at 8:01 am (Attitudes, Focus)

job4GRACE – God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense    God’s Grace to me is incredible!  But very often, I enjoy and appreciate God’s Grace when things are going well…But when I have some “difficulties to face”, His Grace is temporarily forgotten.

 

The story of Job is portrayed in the Old Testament.  In man’s eyes, Job was “blameless and upright”.  In other words, according to his peers, Job was perfect!  He had all that anyone could ever need or want.  He had a wonderful family, good health, servants, livestock, properties – everything!  But within a short time he lost it all!  Everything was gone, except for his wife who told him to “curse God and die”.  (What a wonderful {????} helpmate!)  He spent the period of his life in agony.  His children and servants were killed.  All of his livestock were destroyed.  In Job 1:22, God’s Word says of Job, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”  

 

Finally, he lost his health.  Job sat in a heap of ashes and used broken pottery to scrape the sores on his body.  (Not a pleasant picture, is it?)  This “perfect man” who had it all, no longer was on top of his game. 

 

What would your response be to tragedies like this?  Job answers the obstacles in his life with this response:  “Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” 

 

On New Year’s Eve I was informed that I must have one more (?) surgery.  Evidently, I have developed a large amount of scar tissue that is causing some problems.  I thought this part of it was all over!  Then, on Sunday I received a traffic citation because I did not realize that my car inspection had run out!  There have been some other “difficulties” this past week.  (You really don’t need all the details.)  I have been tempted to find a heap of ashes and sit and cry. 

 

But God’s Grace – Oh, how precious!  His Grace covers it all!  The good, the bad, the difficult.  I am so blest with a wonderful family and incredible friends!  God has given me a tremendous heritage.  Will I scoff at the struggles that God allows to come my way?  Will I “quit life” or at least my “spiritual life” because it’s not the way I want it to be? 

 

Absolutely not!  God has given me so much, especially salvation through His son.  This is more important and precious than anything else.  I will choose to walk this journey with Him. 

 

How about you? 

 

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THE BLESSINGS OF CHRISTMAS

December 28, 2008 at 7:54 am (Family, Focus, Holidays)

It is December 28, 2008.  Christmas is over.  New Year’s is just a few days away.  Now is the time to evaluate the “Season”.  Was it good?  Were there disappointments?  Will we be glad when it is all finished?

 

I have always loved Christmas!  It has everything wonderful wrapped up in one big present.  The meaning of Christmas is vital to our Christian walk.  If it weren’t for Christmas (and Easter), we would not have a Savior who came to earth as a man and then died on the cross for our redemption, our faith would be worthless!  This is truly an important and meaningful time to remember!

 

Christmas is also a wonderful time to see friends and families.  Many memories are made during this time of the year.  It is important to me to keep a strong connection with my sisters and their children.  I want us to make memories for ourselves!

 

And, of course, Christmas has it’s own special foods.  It is almost magical sitting down to Christmas dinner.  The smells, the tastes, and the conversation are such a beautiful fusion of the senses.  Each one is good, but the blending is incredible!

 

This year, the Christmas Season has been bittersweet.  This is the first year without my Mother.  My sister and her husband announced that they are moving to Missouri.   My uncle passed away on December 23.  The funeral was held on Christmas Eve.  Each of these events is sad, but the combination of them is overwhelming. 

 

In the book of Job, Job experiences wonderful blessings of God, followed by horrendous tragedies.  As he is suffering through all of this, his so-called friends try to give him advice.  They wonder why he is facing so many difficulties.  They ask about the sin in his life.  He declares, quite adamantly, “Why should I accept the good from God, and not the bad?”  He isn’t saying that God randomly sends us good, and then slaughters us with bad.  What Job conveys is the blessings of the plans of God.  His plans include wonderful gifts, and also difficulties.  But I can have assurance and encouragement knowing that God is in it all.  I will live this day, this month, this Season knowing that God is good!

 

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LOOKING FOR THE BAD???

December 15, 2008 at 9:59 pm (Uncategorized)

I have been accused of always expecting something to go wrong! When my kids were in college and they would call home, I would often ask, “What’s wrong?” Nick would get irritated and say, “Nothings wrong!”

I’m not quite sure how it began, but I guess I do have that “tendency”! It’s not that I am a pessimist. I don’t think I am. I think I am an optimist. I love to see good in people. I love to anticipate the fun I am going to have when I am with my family and friends. I don’t like to talk negatively.

But there are times when I find it to my benefit to anticipate the worst. Like today, for instance. I had my first mammogram since I had surgery. I had myself convinced that the cancer had re-occurred. I knew that when I had this test, they would have to “break it to me easy”. But I had pre-planned how I would react. I knew who I would call first and what I would do.

So after having the mammogram, I was told I could sit and wait for the results. As I sat down, I picked up a book about how to deal with a re-occurrence of breast cancer. I started to read…or at least I tried to read. But my mind kept racing…

And then the Tech came out and asked me to go to a private area…I knew what was coming. I braced myself for it. I took some deep breaths. And then I looked at her.

“You have an early Christmas present! There are no signs of cancer! Enjoy your family!”

I was so overwhelmed, I started to cry! God is good! I love His surprises!

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EXPERIENCE – A GOOD TEACHER

December 4, 2008 at 10:59 am (Great Teaching, Lessons Learned)

brick-wall   I am finishing a book that was given to me to read on my flight to India. However, instead of reading, I slept!  (I just love Ambien.)  So, I am finishing The Last Lecture by the late Randy Pausch.  In case you don’t know his story, Randy was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh who died from pancreatic cancer in July of this year.  He gave one last lecture in September 2007.  This lecture has been put into book form.  It is an inspiring book full of wisdom and common sense.  I highly recommend it!  Here is a short segment taken from the chapter entitled “Be the First Penguin”.

 

   “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.

 

   “It’s a phrase worth considering at every brick wall we encounter, and at every disappointment.  It’s also a reminder that failure is not just acceptable, it’s often essential.

 

   “Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.  And experience is often the most valuable thing you have to offer.”

 

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