10 Aug 2022, Wednesday

Prioritized Daily Task

Remind the grandchildren it is their grandmother's 71st birthday, today

8:00 AM - Tax assessor and Clerk of Court, Haralson County in Buchanan

Go by dry cleaners and drop off my white temple tie to be cleaned. (will be ready to pick up tomorrow, Thursday, at 10 AM)

Pull weeds and grass inside rock wall with McAlpin graves, at Pleasant Hill Church graveyard

Visit Frank Powell at Pleasant Hill

Visit Nora Husley on Pleasant Hill Jacksonville Rd.; when and her granddaughters were getting pears ready to can.

Visit Hoyt "Dickie" Puckett in Tallapoosa

I did not call Bobby Husley to see if I has time and is able to keep the William Alexander McAlpin's family graveyard cleaned with weeds and tall grass. (Instead of Bobby Husley I got in touch with Jodee Pike who is married to Jennifer, Nora Husley's granddaughter." He is employed by Pleasand Hill Baptist Church to clean off the cemetery for $450 a month. I asked him to see what he would charge for cleaning the William Alexander and Manah McAlpin, Old Indian Graveyard once or twice a year.)

Visit with Roy and Elain Bryant in Anniston, AL

Visit Joe Williams and his wife, Linda, who has dimentia. They live off Hwy 100 on the other side of the Tallapoosa River from West Haralson Schoool. Joe is the one who recruited me to take his place as a salesman for Stoffel Seals Corporation when I got home from my mission in 1978.

Debbie and I were up early, had prayer, ate breakfast, and drove down to Buchanan to see Monique Carruth, Haralson County Tax Assessor about the tax covenant Ora, my sister, and I have with the state on the 60+ acres we own together. She said if one of us pass away we have to the following January to get it changed over to the names of the new owners. If we want to change into a trust it is best to wait to January 2024 and change it then. We have until April 1st to make the change. If for some reason Ora or I pass away in December and not able to get all parties to her office before April 1st to give her a call and she can probably give us an extension, but we would have to talk to her. (770-646-2022, homesteadadministator@haralsoncountyga.gov, P.O. Box 548, Buchanan, GA 30113)

We drove to Tallapoosa and visited with Hoyt "Dickie" Puckett; we drove out to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church graveyard. The grass had been mowed but the grass and weeds inside the rock wall with he McAlpin graves had not been cut. I pulled the weeds and grass and carried it off to the woods beside the graveyard. We stopped and visited with Frank Powell. He did not know who is cutting the grass at the church graveyard. Debbie and I went up to Debra Husley Casey's. She was not home so we did not cross her property to walk down to the Old Indian Graveyard. Instead we drove back up the road to see Debra's aunt, Nora Husley. Two of her granddaughters were helping her peal pears to can. One of the girls name was Jennifer. They were finishing pealing and cleaning the kitchen and left. Debbie and I went to the front porch with Nora and set in rocking chairs and talked. She talked about working at the different plants in Tallapoosa including Stoffel Seals. She did not know I took Joe William place as a salesman for Stoffel. She knows Joe, Huns Stoffel, and his son, John, who hired me. I asked her if she knew who is keeping the Pleasant Hill cementary cleaned. Sthe told us that Jennier, her granddaughter, I met, her husband Jodee Pike is the person who is doing the work. I called and talked to Jodee, 770-312-1310, and he is going to give me a price for cleaning off the Old Indian Graveyard of William Alexander and Manah McAlpin. Debbie and I drove to Fruithurst, AL and had lunch at the family restaurant there. We took some pictures and drove on to Oxford and visited with my cousin, Roy Bryant and his wife, Elaine. They had a flock of wild turkeys in their front yard. On the way back to Cedartown we stopped at Joe and Linda Williams. I had not seen Joe in 40+ years. He takes care of his wife who has dimentia. We had a good visit and stopped at Petro's and picked up dinner for Max, Debbie, and us. We stayed up talked and Debbie Kimball make copies of documents Barbara Wrothy and copies of the lease and contract on Cason Road I brought I had saved on my computer.

We all had family prayer together. It is good to have family and friends you love and love you.

We received this message from Emily's mother today: "We are headed HOME! Tomorrow is our last full day of therapy. These last couple of weeks have become a time of reflection for me. Here are lessons that our family will be taking home with us.

1. BE HAPPY FOR OTHERS

Craig Hospital is unique. Special. You immediately feel sympathy for all of those who enter the doors of this hospital. You become a family. You cheer for and cry with complete strangers. One day, as I was walking into our therapy gym, an older man grabbed my arm and exclaimed ~ “I walked 42 steps today!” I cheered with him and then cried. I was so happy for this man, even though my own daughter wasn’t even close to walking. I shared his success with Emily and she smiled and pushed even harder in her session. We can be happy for others successes and we should be. It should be inspiring to us. Not threatening. When we are happy for each other, we inspire each other. We all can elevate together.

2. EVERYONE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING HARD

It is easy to see hardships at Craig and I wish trials were more transparent in everyday life. I think we would be kinder. More patient. More Christlike. I don’t ask people how they are doing anymore. I do care but I just assume they are battling ~ as I am ~ and we cut straight to the good stuff. Something funny. Something real. Something that connects us. I have been gifted empathy through this trial and I’m trying to let it truly change me.

3. BEING GRATEFUL IS HEALING

When I focus on all of the miracles that have occurred, I feel empowered and excited about the future. When I focus on what we have in front of us, and the obstacles we will need to overcome, I feel discouraged and beaten. Nothing has changed in our circumstance ~ only my attitude. So I try and start each day with a grateful heart. You CAN be grateful in any circumstance. I have learned this in a profound way

4. WIN THE DAY

I wanted to quit today. I am physically exhausted and this morning I was just…sad. My baby girl, who was blessed with beauty, agility, intelligence, grace, and goodness is having to battle everyday for the smallest victory. I never wanted this for her. I would take this all upon myself if it were possible. I was just heartbroken. But then Jon told me…just win the day Kari. It’s all I needed and really has been the theme of this whole experience. If we win the day, we win the battle. So Emily and I are sitting in therapy today. Smiling at all of the people around us. Excited about our next session. We are trying to just win the day.

5. TURN TO GOD

I made a choice the night of April 22nd, that I was going to turn into God, not away from Him. He has been my strength. I have been able to do things emotionally, mentally, and even physically that would not have been possible without Him. I did not want this experience to make me bitter. I wanted to gain more love, more understanding, more perspective. And I have been blessed with that. I will forever praise His name for picking up my shattered heart and helping me to move forward.

We love you all so much! Thank you for your continual support. You will never know what it has meant to us. We will forever try to pay it forward, for your goodness has been inspiring. ♥️

Love ~

Kari and the entire Traveller crew"