My Absense

I am ashamed of myself lately…..starting too many projects at once has been the trend of late. From starting the documentation of Dena’s Diaries, to my booth at an antique mall, and all the “stuff” in between.

My life has been a hodgepodge of a mess over the last 20 months; but I feel as though I am back on track. After a lot of stress relief recently, I feel as though I can focus on the things I’ve started while enjoying a new life.

God has taken me on a journey that I had no idea I would take at this stage in my life. I turn 46 tomorrow. I hope my following years on this earth will bring me peace, fulfillment, new friends, family, and a sense of purpose.

The diaries will continue…..I need to relax…..Dena is calling me to speak for her again and document this simple life. (So that maybe I can enjoy being simple again myself.)

JUNE 1969

June 1, 1969 - Went to Sunday School and Church- work on Kindergarten plans, rested, wrote letters to Lena, Frank, called Edna Jo

June 2, 1969 - Rested, house routine, items for kindergarten ready

June 3, 1969 - Hair do, in evening Halfway room set up, carpenter in room and I reworked plans

June 4, 1969 - Pre-registration for kindergarten; wonderful response

June 5, 1969 - House routine, Dr. Back for yearly routine physical, went to Springfield ate at Sears; car air condioning fixed; shopped; Saw Mrs. Chaney of Collins

June 6, 1969 - Rested, ready to see Papa, Went to Springfield, ate, saw Papa

June 7, 1969 - Rested, set in Papa's room, rested, then back, Dale to Lake

June 8, 1969 - Dale church, I was with Papa, Lorene's at 3, Carl's new golden cat, left at 6 for MO, hard rain in Springfield, dry in Bolivar

June 9, 1969 - Reset iris, spider plants, 11am lunch, out until 4pm, set out coleism sultans, on north side, sprayed goat's beard

June 10, 1969 - yard work, cut out blue dress, did most of cape

June 11, 1969 - Yard, reset iris, etc. Got perm, was cold, heat is on, Nellie's to meet Lois, goat beard display

June 12, 1969 - Mrs. Wilson cleaned house; I did other jobs, Rainy and cold; Made picture with goat beard

June 13, 1969 - Still rainy and cold; took it easy, getting off to Papa's; Left at 11, ate and shopped; Dale worked on college furniture

June 14, 1969 - Got to Papa's at 9, rainy and cold; worked in yard, hedges, etc. Lorene ate with us a tnoon at Holiday Inn then out to Dairy, called Lisa

June 15, 1969 - Dale and Browns to church. I fixed Papa chicken and visite with him; worked on Capps Reunion; home around 8pm

June 16, 1969 - Cold, 45 degrees, Sewed blue dress and cape, cut out "Mex"

June 17, 1969 - Finished 2 dresses and cape, rainy and cold, caught up on diary and did handwork on garments

June 18, 1969 - Hair do at 2:30; Dale to Kansas City; went to see Zelma Dunn, prayer meeting

June 19, 1969 - Cleaning, Lorene, relaxed, lumber to school at Halfway; Mrs. Wilson helped clean; pictures of Papa; Dale phone and I worked on flowers

June 20. 1969 - Happy Birthday, I gave party for neighbors; Zelva; Had Mitchells at 9 for cake and tea. Glorious daisies, beautiful daylilies, starting Dale's money for Glorieta

June 21, 1969 - Neighbors 5 for dinner, get Goat Beard; had tea and cookies

June 22, 1969 - Church service, lunch fo rLena at 3, arrived 4:30, ate, home, church, called Lisa and E Lou/Frank

June 23, 1969 - Hair at 9:30, Irene came at 11:30, Dr. C 2:30, Hilda Meredith 3:30 Nellie Billie H Blanche Velma, Brandy jar Ha! Jolly time! Packed at 11pm; stormy weather and rain

June 24, 1969 - Left at 9:30

June 25, 1969 - Left Oklahoma City at 10:20, Ice Cream at Shamrock Stuckey's

June 26, 1969 - Left at 9:30; 3 car belts, Glorieta at 1:30, unpacked

June 27, 1969 - Good Primary Conference, rested, wrote cards, ate breakfast, conference at noon, rested, writing

June 28, 1969 - Santa Fe, Hair Do, Fruit Supper

June 29, 1969 - Rested, observed 6 yr am kindergarten pm, Wilson's at Portales cabin

June 30, 1969 - open house, kindergarten meeting 11am - 7pm; state meeting, called Dale, hot there

May 1969

May 1, 1969 - Hair do and then rested

May 2, 1969 - Rotary "Ann"- Field House Hostess 1-5, banquet 6pm, Tom guest until Monday morning, talked until midnight

May 3, 1969 - Breakfast at 9:30, men to the college at 10am, I did house and laundry. Ate lunch, rested, banquet 6pm field house

May 4, 1969 - Early servies then home for chicken dinner in the evening, did school work, Tom wrote news and Dale slept

May 5, 1969 - Rested all evening; picked up house; worn out from Rotary meetings; Halway interview, kindergarten

May 6, 1969 - School work ok, tired and rested in the evening; Dale to Jefferson City; Stephen Floyd as yard boy, did good, iris beautiful

May 7, 1969 - Kindergarten, film, fire department, Coke plant, Bolivar park; fine day and time; Halfway contract

May 8, 1969 - Too tired from trip at park and Rotary, too; rested

May 9, 1969 - Still worn out; Dale and I to Springfield for supper and graduation gifts

May 10, 1969 - Slept late, took iris to Penny Riley and Dr Crippin; resed in the evening; planted okra and I "potted"; called Lorene, she's better

May 11, 1969 - Frank called, "Happy Mother's Day"; spent week in Austin played golf; in yard planted "beauty"; slept in the evening

May 12, 1969 - Happy school, worked all evening on inventory and clean up, home and rested 3-5

May 13, 1969 - Review of year in Kindergarten, good; rested in the evening

May 14, 1969 - Stephen Floyd (yard boy) and I worked in lawn. Iris beautiful, had steak for supper, graduation high school, no prayer meeting

May 15, 1969 - Closing school, saw tenant, goat beard in flower stage, gave firebush greenery, Halfway 1-3pm, got Kindergarten and bio news, contract in

May 16, 1969 - 7am car to Springfield, then car trouble at 5pm, water hose, ate, window shopped at Sears, ready for trip to Ark.

May 17, 1969 - Pick up, do bags for trip, leave at noon but air conditioner out so home; Mrs. Smith and Darren 1-3pm, Dale to Springfield with car; 6pm rainy

May 18, 1969 - Started trip, all day with Papa, Harrison all day and leave Monday for Pine Bluff; spent nite with Lorene, she is exercising her arm

May 19, 1969 - Left for trip at noon, visited Lena, drove and relaxed, at in Little Rock, arrived around 6pm; talked until midnight; did go shopping at Sears

May 20, 1969 - Primary workshop on south side of Pine Bluff 9:30 - 3pm; good and helpful; Lena's 3-5:30, down to shop and go to Sears; Lucy's for supper and until tomorrow morning, up until midnight

May 21, 1969 - Left Lucy's and saw Doggit twins, out at 10:15 for Lois, ate at Camden, Lois home $20,000 built in 41 days, beautiful, nice

May 22, 1969 - Saw friends, left at 4, arrived at Frank's

May 23, 1969 - Rested, temperature is 85+ so I stayed inside; Lisa and friend Rosy played and Frank played golf; did work for ELou and baby; rained in the evening

May 24, 1969 - Still hot, not out of the house, Frank and Ed McO in golf tournament, not too good, we drove out after them; they and ELou to club for supper; I'm just resting

May 25, 1969 - Rained last night, slept until 9:30. Frank and Ed McO out at 6 to play golf; ELou and Lisa slep late too. Dale called at 9am, in Little Rock to rest all day; Frank and ELou left at 7pm to get Dale, I baby sit

May 26, 1969 - Enjoyable day with children, left 3pm for Little Rock, window shopped

May 27, 1969 - Got hair done, got new heeled shoes white and yellow; rested, left 4pm, at Holiday Inn, stayed until 9pm with Papa, he's better

May 28, 1969 - Spent day with Papa, house and lawn cleaned; we took Carl to birthday dinner, watered lawn, hot day

May 29, 1969 - Good to be home, watered flowers; dropped thank you notes, going to Springfield, Dale's car at airport

May 30, 1969 - Carl's birthday; we took it easy; lawn work; washed and unpacked

May 31, 1969 - Took it easy-like again; worked in lawn, Dale purchased yellow and pink roses, goldilocks, set out buds on daylilies, set out morning glory and put up fence

My Thoughts after typing the first 3 months of 1969

As I have been typing the first few months of my grandmother Dena's life in 1969, I realize how appreciative I am to have not typed these words until now. For the last 10 years or more it has been my goal to get these memories of Dena's into an electronic format. Little did I know that God had a master plan and that it would be in HIS time that I would make this a priority in my life. My last year has been challenging, stressful, and very busy. God had it in his plan to give me a reason to SIT. To be quiet. And to appreciate the most simple of lives...the one my grandmother led. Typing her diaries has given me a new appreciation for the years that she spent teaching me, my brother, and sister; for helping us practice our learning abilities with games, puzzles, school lessons, etc. And as she writes of the dresses, capes, and outfits that she spent hours sewing for me, I can recall each article with a vivid, colorful memory, the first day that I tried on each and planned with excitement the first time I would wear them. I thank God for giving me this gift of her life all over again; for blessing me with the memories, the experiences, the love of the simple things like whether it is snowing or raining, or whether she had the opportunity to rest. I hope the remaining 19 years are equally as inspiring.

April 1969 - The month my sister was born!

April 1, 1969-Windy, windy, Sun out at 9; had egg hunt at 10:15 at Snake's

April 2, 1969 - Lou called and is OK, waiting on baby; at Kindergarten did circus cage animals, good job, attractive in lunchroom; prayer meeting "Last Words"; beautiful day, like spring. Watered plants

April 3, 1969 - Warm, good day at school, drove to Arkadelphia- left at 2pm, visited Papa, Lorene ill, Dale went to Walnut Ridge until Friday, called Frank and he had to get Hazel Ann as they were all out there

April 4, 1969 - Slept until 9am, with Papa until 5pm; Homer came at 3; Dale at 4; Lorene pretty ill, nerves, Doctor was out; drove to Little Rock (9-5:30) called Lou, she went to doctor at 8 and said they will take the baby tomorrow

April 5, 1969 - TRICIA'S BIRTHDAY - Saturday, left Little Rock at 6, see Lou at 7:30 - she saw dr at 8-delivery room at 11 and Patricia Ann born at 1:09, 7 lbs. 10 oz. We saw her at 4 (fat and black hair) Took Lou chocolate pie

April 6, 1969 - Lou's folks came, all ate out; Taylors all to church - Easter, Dale to Hot Springs at 2, Frank and Ed McOwen played golf at 3; ladies drove to see Lou and Patricia Ann; took Lou pecan pie; Mr. and Mrs. Lowery over that nite.

April 7, 1969 - Worked at home; went to see Lou at 2, took pie; Janette got dogwood and bulbs, watched tv until 10pm

April 8, 1969 - Cooked pie and fried chicken; cleaned kitchen, clothes, packed; Dale left home at 1:45, stopped in Conway for sherbet, at Papa's for 30 minutes, home at 10. Lorene better, Papa not well has cold

April 9, 1969 - No good news on Halfway; School, was tired; Darren's birthday, clown party, turtle cake; later soup and to bed until 3:30 then yardwork; dogwood out; pm cleaned kitchen; Dale worked, Lou and Patricia to come home

April 10, 1969 - Clown dress up at school; cloudy; did pictures; at home did yard work and rested

April 11, 1969 - Circus all day

April 12, 1969 - Sewed for Papa, ironed, picked up, slept a few hours

April 13, 1969 - Early church and Sunday School; rainy and bad

April 14, 1969 - Letter from children, "Thanks" for our help with Patricia Ann's arrival; Dale to Columbia; I worked in lawn, did file on Kindergarten; box to Papa and wrote Lorene

April 15, 1969 - 2 - 7:30 yard work; pretty; worked on debris pen, mowed, Dale to Columbia, beautiful weather

April 16, 1969 - Frank called at 7:30, Patricia in hospital with upset stomach; Spring day, top curls and hair do, Dale to Springfield; Carl's death in 1973

April 17, 1969 - Yard work

April 18, 1969 - Relaxed, Dale and I went to Springfield and ate shopped

April 19, 1969 - Slept late, I work in lawn and mowed; Dale worked in office

April 20, 1969 - Went to early church and Sunday School, slept a while, Dale went to Jefferson City

April 21, 1969 - Beautiful day, Betty Hall and I went to Springfield for VBS in the evening; nite council meeting on zoning; learned no home ec job at Fairplay; wrote letter to Lorene to hospital 4th

April 22, 1969 - School picnic 10-11; played games in the evening; did yard work; bouquet of iris and lilac blooming too

April 23, 1969 - Halfway news, Betty Hall and I called Mr. G; 3 neighbors in for tea

April 24, 1969 - Enjoyed the day; letter from Lorene, she's not well and Papa is weaker; cooked pie and pound cake; going down Friday evening, Irene in hospital; new hairstyle ok

April 25, 1969 - Irene surgery No? Hair comb?! Went to see Papa, weak Wednesday and Thursday, Lorene better, spent nite with her

April 26, 1969 - visited Papa andhome at 7pm

April 27, 1969 - Rany, Dale preached here; Felix for cabbage and corned beef lunch; rested

April 28, 1969 - Rotary; beautiful day; worked all evening in the yard

April 29, 1969 - What a beautiful day, worked in yard; iris blooming, did house, too for company coming

April 30, 1969 - Kindergarten then to Springfield; airport, zoo, Mrs. Raymond Smith; good time, Rotary planning 8pm

March 1969

March 1, 1969 - Going to see children and doctors March 4-9; Papa fell

March 2, 1969 - Sunshine, Cold, Dale has toothache - early church, rested, did school work, Lorene called about Papa's fall.

March 3, 1969 - Sun shining, pretty but cold; School, to grocery, pretty for a walk, worked on Food unit and train (for school), hair done, Dale to dentist - better, packing to go see Lisa Tuesday to Saturday.

March 4, 1969 - Sunshine, left at 1:30 for Arkadelphia, spent hour with Papa, Stopped in LR, purchased coat and saw doctors

March 5, 1969 - Cold saw Dr, left at 5:30, rainy before 6, got to Lisa, Dale to Dallas thru Shreveport in snow

March 6, 1969 - Rainy, stayed in all day; Lisa dn I did school. Frank home at 4pm had good supper

March 7, 1969 - Snow again; Frank to Little Rock and got Dale at 6:15. Beautiful sun, went uptown got printing strips, saw friends Nettie, Jeanette, Lou, Lisa and I to Holiday 6pm to eat; Dale and Frank in at 8

March 8, 1969 - Slept late, pretty but cold; Dale worked on income tax; Lisa and I worked on school and dresses. Cut Lou's out. Delicious big dinner, up until 11pm

March 9, 1969 - Left Lisa's as they went to Sunday School (10:15 by time car packed) to Papa's by 5:15 then home by 8. Enjoyable trip

March 10, 1969 - Helen's birthday; Cold 12 degrees, snow added to snow of Friday. School fine, rested in evening, unpacked. Dale and Darren gave me big bear hugs, glad I was back.

March 11, 1969 - Still cold and 12 degrees and snow, Mr. Hankey to make copper bracelet

March 12, 1969 - Still cold and 12. Sun out, good day at school

March 13, 1969 - Still cold but most of the snow is gone; did Lisa's yellow and bluedresses of Helen's scraps

March 14, 1969 - Sunshining; went to Harrison 3pm stayed until Sunday, stayed at Lorene's; Dale did tax report here, Papa better but weak, took a few steps to wheelchair

March 15, 1969 - Sunshine spent 11-6 with Papa; got him pound cake; he walked across the room

March 16, 1969 - A beautiful day; spent 11-2 with Papa, took him wheelchair, cake, he got bath and we visited, he is feeling better; got home at 5:30, wrote gals

March 17, 1969 - Beaufiful day, school fine, enjoyed outside yard work 1-6pm, set out dogwood and cleaned beds

March 18, 1969 - Johnny Hughes called; beautiful day, college boy Bruce helped 1-4pm; set out shrubs and cleaned yard and garage; letter from Lou

March 19, 1969 - Beautiful day, children to the Post Office, good lecture and trip. Lawler ill substitute 3rd and 4th grades; visited Lame and Otis

March 20, 1969 - Cloudy with spring winds; Talked to Lisa, had on yellow dress, blue for Easter; finished cape; talked to EL and Frank, hope baby may be sooner than Easter

March 21, 1969 - CH Birthd

ay; Beautiful but windy

March 22, 1969 - Beautiful day; Dale home, worked on trellis, I cleaned yard, enjoyable day together

March 23, 1969 - Wrote Frank, went early service, slept noon - 3pm; rainy and cooler, relaxed, ate popcorn, stayed home

March 24, 1969 - Snowed last night like frost, 30 degrees, cold, too; so pretty; decorated for party

March 25, 1969 - Frank turns 32; faculty women's party, very nice and 45, cut out Lisa's dress and lace top

March 26, 1969 - 30 degrees at 7:30am, sewed for Lisa and stayed home in the evening; Dale in office working on tax budget; Betty Hall at Halfway?

March 27, 1969 - Warmer, hom in the evening, Dale at meeting

March 28, 1969 - Dale in Springfield, I cleaned school room for new unit. Ike died

March 29, 1969 - Did school work; Frank called

March 30, 1969 - Sunday School again enjoyable; Easter, etc., worked on arts and crafts

March 31, 1969 - Somewhat warmer, 40+, Enjoyable day, school expo, fire unit, firemen; Dale working in evening; I sewed on checked coat, cooked 2 raisin pies, shared with Velma and Helen

February 1969

As I continue to write/type Dena's diaries, I realize that to an unfamiliar reader, a lot of her words don't make sense. In fact, much of it doesn't make sense to me either. However, I am so enjoying seeing into the life of my grandmother; a woman who cared deeply about her faith, her husband, the kindergarten children she taught each year, and who took the time to do simple things like sewing a dress for me or cooking pumpkin bread on a day that she said to be "taking it easy". This process is giving me a whole new appreciation for the life she led, the love she gave to those around her, and the words she left behind.

February 1, 1969

Flu, sick

February 2, 1969

sick sick

February 3, 1969

Snow and I'm in with sunshine, beautiful but cold. Snow still on north lawn. Wilson topped trees, Dale busy in office, I have right side pain.

February 4, 1969

Sicker, flu, slept all day

Sick, sicker, went to dr. for difference medicine

February 5, 1969

Both in with flu, sunny out, pretty; Dale has cold in chest and cough and backache, up and down trying to get strength

February 7, 1969

Out of school the week with flu, Dale better and stayed home, too.

February 8, 1969

Went to Dr Crippin, backache, legs, Dale to dr got shot; both are sick

February 9, 1969

Sun shining both feel better, had good meal; chicken, peas, rolls, set in sunshine. Some guy ran through tulip bed last night.

February 10, 1969

Beautiful sunshine, both went to work; Frank called, ok, Lisa asleep, coming March 10

February 11, 1969

Beautiful day, did valentines for school, Sandy earache, vexed at substitute teacher's mess on ABC play?!

February 12, 1969

Beautiful day, out of system at Collins, Halfway board nice, hopeful

February 13, 1969

Feel better, Dale weak and cough, Miss Early talked to Halfway, looks favorable

February 14, 1969

Clean room at school, Did heart tree ready for party. Had good night rest, Dale still weak

February 15, 1969

Went to Springfield, Velma, Nellie, and I; Darren out, nice party. Miss Early & hall bath gave encouragement on Halfway

February 16, 1969

Felix for cornbeef and cabbage, white coconut cake, delicious meal all "pigs"; looks like snow

February 17, 1969

4 inches of snow pm, beautiful sunshine, both feeling better, went to Springfield, got lizard, shapes, and cloth

February 18, 1969

Still have snow but sun beautiful; flowers in living room in full bloom, beauties; cleaned kitchen and house, sewed, did school jobs, wrote Fairplay

February 19, 1969

Snow on North and shade, rested in pm, no prayer meeting for us; 2-4 Nellie, Velma and I at Blanche; sewed, cut out white, red, & blue; school jobs

February 20,1969

Cloudy, achievement test to kindergarten

February 21, 1969

Rainy, started late at school, Dale in noon meeting, sewed all evening, did Lisa's 2 in green and fuscia, and my red outfit

February 22, 1969

Took it easy, baked pumpkin bread; school items, rainy and cloudy, no Harrison letter from Fairplay

February 23, 1969

Early church and sunday school, rested, cloudy & rainy, took pretty pottery plants to church

February 24, 1969

Worked on school art all evening; train for foods, laundry and house cleaning; rainy and cloudy, put pussy willows in water, 5 stalks of Amaryllis in bloom

February 25, 1969

Dale and men to Columbia, I did school until 11pm, prayer meeting

February 26, 1969

Cloudy, windy, cold; Dale home; I went to prayer meeting; Darren can't shake off headache

February 27, 1969

Cold, cloudy, rainy, Darren wouldn't walk plank and balance-jump, I said No-sit by wall, he said "sometimes I can't hear good"

February 28, 1969

Wayne and Darren out with Flu; colder, pretty snow flakes, Franks sent papa's pants; cut and sewed Lisa's tan and yellow jersey dress.