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June 29, 2007
I don't enjoy...
(Originally published by Nattie on August 19, 2003)
I really don't enjoy having my eyes dilated. I had my bi-annual eye exam today. The glaucoma test is bad enough, but to then dilate my eyes. You'd never believe I've been a contact wearer for 15 years. I hate having people mess with my eyes.
As the result of the dilation and trying to focus to drive, I have a headache. The kids are watching "Sleeping Beauty," and as soon as it is over we are crawling into bed and going to sleep. Maybe I'll have more meaningful words to say tomorrow.
Although, on the plus side, our insurance paid for the majority of my new glasses and contacts. I wear glasses most of the time since I became a SAHM, but I'm still a little vain when it comes to going out and like to have contacts on hand for those moments.
Night, night. Don't let the bedbugs bite.
copyright Natalie Rose York
Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:14 AM | Comments (1)
June 27, 2007
Wordless Wednesday
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Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 04:22 PM | Comments (6)
June 26, 2007
Things...
(Originally published by Nattie on August 18, 2003)
Things I don't understand:¦
*Mosquitoes
*Chiggers
*Nose hair
*Ear hair
*Why brothers and sisters have to fight over who is thirstier
*Why men love to gril
We had a quiet weekend. Wes cooked out on the grill Saturday and Sunday night. Which means minimal kitchen time for me. That is always a plus.
Saturday night he fixed chicken breast and pork chops. I cut the chicken breast up and tossed it in a salad. Sunday night we fixed baked potatoes, hotdogs, steak on the grill and broccoli. I think it was the best baked potato I had ever had.
The kids had a water fight Sunday night while Wes was grilling. I opted out of the fight, claiming they had better not ruin my library book. I could have put it down, but I was enjoying watching them too much over my book to join in the rowdiness.
I went to the library today and picked up a few books.
Remembering You by Penelope Stokes
The Wishing Jar by Penelope Stokes
Voices In Summer by Rosamunde Pilcher
Out to Canaan by Jan Karon
A New Song by Jan Karon
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Standing in the Rainbow by Fannie Flagg
The Blue Bedroom by Rosamunde Pilcher
And the Shofar Blew by Francine Rivers
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Saturday, I received a book order for:
Write His Answer by Marlene Bagnull
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
The Gatecrasher by Madeline Wickham
Wes and I allowed each other one "treat" with our tax check. He got an Xbox game and I got the books from Amazon.
Other than that, life is boring. I'm still trying to figure out how to remove black sharpie from white walls. I also need to fold some laundry and do some dishes. The life of the hapless homemaker never ends.
copyright Natalie Rose York
Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 03:52 PM | Comments (5)
June 25, 2007
Twin Tornadoes
(Originally published by Nattie on August 18, 2003)
Twin tornadoes touch down in Small Town USA, Indiana.
Their efforts seemed to be concentrated on a small area in the Country Club Estates. Namely apartment J79. There, destruction ripped a path from their bedroom to their parents' room, leaving pictures of cats drawn in Sharpee on white paint.
A pile of photos on their mother's scrapbook table was tossed to the floor. Toys and blankets were strewn across the area as they moved to the bathroom coating fixtures in minty toothpaste and diaper rash ointment.
The path of destruction moves down the stairs to the living room upending baskets of clean laundry and devouring large quantities of Dannon yogurt.
Finally in the quiet that follows a storm, you hear the ABC song being sung..."A, B, C, D, 8, 9, 10..."
copyright Natalie Rose York
Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:08 AM | Comments (5)
June 23, 2007
That Someone
(Originally published by Nattie on August 16, 2003)
Something I wrote awhile back...
Sometimes I feel
Like my very breath
Is being squeezed out of me
Like being held under water
Where is that someone
Who can breathe life back into me
Sometimes I feel
Like I am walking in the dark
Searching and grasping
To find my way
Where is that someone
Who can lead me through despair
Sometimes I feel
Like stones are being thrown
Hitting me on every side
Bruising and scarring me
Where is that someone
Who can make me whole again
"Hard pressed but not crushed
Perplexed but not in despair
Persecuted but not abandoned
Struck down but not destroyed"
Why?
Because that someone has been there before
And He can help me...
Together we'll make it through again
copyright Natalie Rose York
Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 10:15 PM | Comments (6)
June 21, 2007
Is that all there is?
Thank you (have I said that before?) for continuing to visit NattieRoseWrites.com. I had no intention, I can assure you, of becoming a blogger when--less than a month ago--I posted my first update in my daughter's stead.
Many of you have thanked me for continuing to post. Surely you have noticed that I lack a certain quality that made this site so popular and its author so well loved. I ain't Nattie...OK? (Insert smile, here.)
Sometimes, we parents tend to think of our children as extensions of ourselves. Although we know better, we expect them to adopt our friends, adapt our logic, to assess their situations and make their decisions in the same ways we would. This, however, is rarely, if ever, the case.
Our offspring are the products of their genes and environments, not ours. My Natalie did not get her sweet optimistic spirit from me.
But Natalie isn't blogging anymore. And, now, the updating is done. Although we will continue to grieve indefinitely, we have said our goodbyes. her "Hobbit House" is empty, her accounts closed, her books donateed to her church and her library.
Jonathan and Anna miss their Mom, to be sure, but they now live with their dad and look forward to their birthdays in July.
All we have left are memories, a few photographs...and her written words. All I have left to say is a polar opposite to what you have come to expect to read, here.
I know that Nat is having the time of her life, but all I want to talk about is how unhappy I am. I feel sorry for myself--to say nothing of her mom, her kids, her extended family and all her friends--because the world just isn't the same without her.
Because many people still visit daily, I don't intend to remove this blog anytime soon. Fortunately, I am a minority investor in the box that serves the site, and the domain is registered for a few more years.
But I also know that those readers will soon fade away if new material is not added frequently, so I had an idea...
Thanks to Heather, Joanne and Cynthia from W@H, and the internet "Wayback Machine," I have the posts puiblished on the original "Nattie Writes," dating back to mid-2003.
I also have some things she wrote in the years before blogging became such an important part of her life and yours.
If you would like me to periodically post this material--some of it previously published, and some of it not--let me know. Otherwise, I cannot imagine that you would be interested in anything more that I could add.
Thanks for caring! (((((Y'all!)))))
Posted by Nattie's Daddy at 09:17 PM | Comments (21)
June 18, 2007
A Card from a Lifelong Friend
I owe a debt of gratitude to each of you for your good wishes and wonderful comments in Nattie's memory. I also received the following by "snail mail," and now pass it along to you, her friends worldwide . (Thanks to Joy; credit to Hallmark)--Nattie's Daddy
A rose may lose its bloom,
But still the fragrance lingers long.
A bird may fly away,
yet we can still recall its song.
So when someone who is loved departs
to join the Lord above,
They'll live and laugh and be with us
in memories of love.
"Your days of moruning will come to an end."--Isaiah 60:20 (MLT)
Posted by nattie at 01:22 PM | Comments (8)
June 15, 2007
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust...
The sky was clear, the sun wa bright and the grass was dusty. A small group of Carters, Wootens and Yorks gathered this morning to say our ceremonial goodbyes to Nattie's earthly remains. Her grandmother Julia read the following words:
"We know this small urn holds no 'ordinary' ashes, darling. They're all we have left of your beautiful life, and we've come to place them where we knew you'd want them most of all--near your beloved Grandma and Grandpa Wooten.
"And, no, that isn't all we have left--we have beautiful memories of your valiant spirit, your wonderful testimony of faith and trust in God, and your radiant triumph over all the pain life brought you.
"The word 'beautiful' has been used with purpose--that is how we will always remember you--our beautiful little girl...our Natalie Rose.
"Rest in peace, darling; we'll see you 'in the morning.'"
Then we took some pictures, exchanged a few more words and tearful hugs, and went our separate ways. Angel and Karla are helping Mary clean out the "hobbit house" apartment.
Four weeks ago today, Natalie phoned to tell me she was sick. What happened?--Nattie's Daddy
Posted by nattie at 03:38 PM | Comments (22)
June 14, 2007
Letters from Mommy's journal
(Written the day before her surgery; Natalie passed on a week and a half later.)
Dear Jonathan,
You are my first-born, my precious baby boy. Yuo have gotten so big I can't believe you are almost as tall as me or that you'll be 9 this July.
I want you to know that I love you. I know I haven't always been the best mommy but know this much--no matter what--I will always love you.
You are such an amazing little guy. Never stop dreaming, imagining or being creative. I know that if you want to you can be a great artist someday. You already are an artist.
Believe in yourself. I do.
Again, I love you. Never forget that.
5/26/07
Dear Anna,
My sweet baby girl--being your mom has been a joy.
I am only sorry that I've been sick so much of your life. I'm sorry that we haven't cuddled more, that you haven't read more to me. You are such a smart little girl. Yes, I called you a little girl because even though you are almost 7--you are my baby girl.
You are going to do just fine--in school and in life.
Never forget that mommy loves you, and so does God.
Mommy
5/26/07
Posted by nattie at 02:15 PM | Comments (3)
June 13, 2007
Happy? Birthday
I just had to mention--if for no other reason than to try to get a little bit of this selfish grief for my loss of Natalie's earthly presence off my back--I also have to suffer another birthday, today. (No flowers, please!)‹
I think I shall, henceforth, swear off Fathre's Days, entirely; wish I could do the same with the annual reminder of my advancing years. And, Anne, if you tell any of these young ladies how many, you know what's going to happen on November 12!
Meanwhile, my amazement over Nattie's outreach continues to grow. As the subject hadn't come up in sevaral months, I had neglected the server logs for this site. I finally ran them last night, and to use a Nattie-ism, "It blew my socks off!" On June 7, 1,027 peopl e visited NattieRoseWrotes.com. I am sorry she can't tell you how much she appreciated each one of you...so I will try.
Thank you very much!Nattie's Daddy
PS: Angie, Cheryl, Cynthia, Heather, Joanne and Valerie--You and your companions are part of Nattie's W@H family, and we were more than grateful to have you represent the rest of your sisters.
Mark--We all appreciate the effort you put forth--along with cousins David (North Carolina) and Laurie (also members of John's family from Florida and Texas)--to attend. Your musical contributions, as well as your dad's, couldn't have been more appropriate. I do hope we have a happier reason to meet the next time..r
Posted by nattie at 02:45 PM | Comments (19)
June 11, 2007
In Memorium
Natalie's memorial service is over. It truly was uniquely a blogger's send-off.
Her former pastor Brent spoke almost entirely in Nattie's own words from this site. Her cousin Mark from Colorado Springs played the piano and sang the last song she posted here. Blogging buddies Heather and Joanne read a passage they had resurrected overnight from the crashed "Nattie Writes" on the Internet Archive. Another cousin, Laurie from Auberry, California, read several comments posted June 7 in response to the question on the W@H site--"What do you love about our Nattie Rose?" All brought laughs and tears in similar numbers.
Thank you to Nat's Internet friends Valerie (Missouri), Joanne (Washington), Angie (Indiana), Cynthia (Illinois), Cheryl (Missouri), and Heather (Mississippi), who traveled to help us celebrate her life. We also appreciate the rest of you who joined us and our Natalie Rose, in spirit.
On a related note, the funeral director told me that the only person to get more guestbook entries on the Home's website was Bill Gaither's dad. Rock on, Nat!
I still do not intend to make this my blog, but I do have a few more things that I want to post in the not too distant future, so check back at your leisure.
Thank you for your prayers and good wishes.--Nattie's Daddy
Posted by nattie at 08:11 PM | Comments (13)
June 08, 2007
A few necessary details...
A brief obituary and memorial arrangements are now posted. You may sign the guestbook, there, and/or leave comments, here.
As always, we thank you, sincerely, for all your thoughts, prayers, and expressions of concern.
Posted by nattie at 02:45 PM | Comments (3)
June 07, 2007
Natalie Rose "Nattie" York
delivered on
December 15, 1973;
returned to Heaven
June 7, 2007.
Posted by nattie at 11:17 AM | Comments (67)
June 05, 2007
The Touch of a Hand
(Dictated June 4, 2007, to Daddy)
Through this illness I have realizeed the importance of the gentle touch, whether it is rubbing hair away from forehead, or even the prick of a needle.
Yesterday I rerealized even more the value of the touch of a familiar hand.
My blood pressure dropped to zero. All I could see around me was white, and all I could smell were clinical smells. If not for the touch of my mother's hand, tethering me to reality, I don't know if I would be alive today.
As I gripped her hand fiercely, I also recognized how much her hands felt like her mom's. Im sure I squeezed life from those little hands, but they were so precious to me--that link between Mother, Daughter and Granddaughter.
Those hands returned my squeeze, while their lips softly sang old Gaither tunes.
Never undereestimate the power of a gentle touch.
Posted by nattie at 08:42 AM | Comments (19)
June 03, 2007
Weekend Update
Natalie was transferred to ICU with an elevated heart rate early this (Sunday) morning. As she had a blood clot in her lung a couple of years ago, that was a concern. Accordingly, CT scans were ordered. Her mom also asked that they do abdominal X-rays in hopes of detremining the source of the back pain that has plagued her for almost a week.
Sorry this is rushed, but that is all that I know this morning.
Marie, and others: I cannot tell you here and now whether Nat would appreciate visitors, though my guess is probably not for at least a couple of days. The best thing I can tell you is, if you know where she is, call her room and talk to her mom. If she has stepped out of the room, please try again later. At thte very least, she will relay your message.
Thank you, everyone! Don't stop praying now!--Nattie's Daddy
Posted by nattie at 10:57 AM | Comments (13)
June 01, 2007
Beauty for Ashes
(Note: Although Nattie is still in the hospital in Indianapolis, she dictated the following this afternoon for her daddy to share with you.)
"While my mom was reading to me from my Bible, she came across a highlighted passage--Isaiah 61:3. There, God talks about trading pleasure for our pain, and to this truth I’ll hold.
"I have people praying for me from coast to coast and around the world. I want to thank you for being some of those people.
"No matter what happens, it's going to be OK. This is just a twinkling of the eye, a mere moment of pain..In a little while we will all see our mourning traded for 'oil of gladness.'"
Posted by nattie at 10:06 PM | Comments (15)