grandparents – Musings of a Momma

Thanksgiving snuck up on us once again. I swear the older the kids get the faster time goes. It seems like it was just summer and now Thanksgiving. I have so many things to be thankful for. I really believe we dwell on what is wrong in our lives. We are blessed with so much and we have to consciously think about these instead of complaining.

Wednesday night our church takes place in an ecumenical church service. It was very low in attendance but was just what I needed to hear. It brought me to tears. I needed to hear those words tonight. I was asked to share a testimony for our church. The following is what I talked about on Wednesday.

About a month ago Kathy approached me asking if I would share at tonight’s service. I was a tad hesitant but it didn’t take me long to say yes. Kathy asked me the question of “What has God done in my life lately” I can answer that question. He has done a lot this past year.

I will start last February. I received a phone call; I should note I am notorious for not picking up the phone unless I know the number. I did answer the call and it was truly a life changing call. I was alerted to an opening at the local radio station, KSCR. I had worked in radio before in Willmar. I loved it but hated the hours and the drive. This was 5 blocks from my house. I quickly texted a couple friends and family members and asked what they thought I should do. I talked to Chad when he got home and he gave me a smile and said well hurry up and print your resume and get it in. I sent it in and I guess the rest is history. I heard back, had a couple interviews and offered the job. It was truly answered prayer. “The Lord will guide you continually…” Isaiah 58:11

One tough conversation I have to have with an employer is letting them know about the hearing loss I have. It is like there is an elephant in the room with this until I bring it up. This task was so easy at the radio. A couple years ago I was on Kathy’s radio show, Best Life. I talked about my hearing loss on her radio show, who happened to be the producer for this show, my new boss. He knew about the hearing, he knew I could speak on the radio. Going into this new job was stressful, mind boggling but also a calm had come over my soul. I had worked these other little jobs to make ends meet. I had worked in Willmar horrible hours but I had learned from the best of how to be on the radio. These things all came into play until a job was open in town. God was paving a way for this job. I truly believe from being a guest on Kathy’s show, to working in Willmar to answering the phone that day was all in Gods big plan for my life.

I currently have two paid jobs. I am the program director at KSCR radio in Benson. I am also the morning show host which I have titled Sunrise with Sara. I love my job. What I love is that I have say on my content. I can interview people that I think Benson would like and benefit from hearing about. I can have a morning show with morals. In a bigger market that isn’t something you usually see together.

I also work for Hands and Voices of Minnesota. Hands and Voices is an organization that supports families that have children that are deaf/hard of hearing. We put on family events. To see children that usually are one of the minority at their school or town be with all these kids that are like them is a beautiful thing. We also have mentors which I am one of them. We want kids to know that they can do anything they want in life. There are very successful and well adjusted adults that are out there that grew up just like them. I have worked for Hands and Voices a little over a year. My son has had issues with his ears since a baby. We just had his 4th surgery on his ears. It helped but not to the extent that we hoped for. So again God has placed wonderful resources and families in my past with Hands and Voices that I can lean on now that it is personal in my life now. Another coincidence I don’t think so, it’s a God thing.

This past year is one that I listened for God. I waited to get his guidance and in doing that I have found joy. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5

I was blessed to talk at the service and it put the whole Holiday on the right track.

Thursday, Turkey Day, I hosted the big day. We had Chad’s family over for the meal. I am excited to host. I really enjoy cooking and am new to hosting. I was able to use my grandmothers dishes. I have so many memories of dinners at her place using these apple dishes.

Friday we headed to the farm for a little more family time. Chad welded and I helped him and enjoyed being with the farm cats. I love being out there.

Saturday we got Christmas up at the house. Always enjoy the warmth that Christmas lights and decorations seem to bring. Always a fun family memory making time.

What a fun filled family weekend. What was also nice was getting up later than 4:45am. Morning sure came early this morning.

I am BLESSED!!

This past weekend marked 16 years since my grandpa has passed. My heart still aches for him almost daily. I don’t know if I have ever felt such a strong connection to an individual than my grandpa. This was a man that was gruff, he swore, drank and smoked till that nearly killed him. He was a real man. He was a man with convictions. He was a man that had ever fiber of my being wrapped around his finger. I had the privilege of living on the same street as my grandpa from 4th grade till 10th grade when we moved. We even lived with my grandparents on two short term stints. To walk, ride my bike to their house is an amazing gift I had as a child. To see him driving down the street or come into the cafe for a cup of coffee when I was working was so special. I was truly blessed to have that time with him. He was hard on me. He would ask how my classes are going, ask about my grades. He was so proud of me when I attended college and then graduated with a Bachelors degree. I will never forget the hug and I knew you could do it kid comment I got from him.

When Chad met my grandpa I think he was in shell shock. He didn’t know how to take his abuse. If you knew Duane or Mickey as his friends called him he did give abuse and grief to you. That is how you knew he accepted you. You were one of the group and the family then. One of my favorite memories of grandpa and Chad were right after we were married. Chad got hurt at work and burned one hand pretty bad and he broke his finger and messed up the other hand pretty bad also. So he was pretty much worthless with his hands for a few days. I had invited my grandparents over to our house and I had made a ham. I watched my grandpa grab Chad’s plate and he cut up his food. A simple gesture but it made such a profound impact in my memories.

I remember the night of my grandpas death like yesterday. Our phone was down and the phone company needed to come and repair the line. I had called my parents from a pay phone that morning and alerted them we didn’t have a phone till the repair guys came. This was before we had cell phones. Chad and I went that day to Eau Claire, WI and did some shopping and I remember I bought a new spring jacket at Sears, of all the things to remember. We went to bed and Chad woke me up past midnight that someone was knocking on the door. We went to the door and there was my dad and grandma. They had driven to Hammond WI to tell me that Grandpa died that night. They knew my phone didn’t work and they didn’t want us to find out the next day. My dad driving grandma over to my house is a courtesy I can never forget. It was the saddest moment but also most touching moment in my life. They cared enough to deliver the news in person to me after they had just lost their dad and husband.

16 years ago, I can’t believe it has been that long. I so wish he could have met my children. How he would have loved Greta and Henry. How he would have loved to give them a hard time. To see them preform in band, or school activities. Maybe see them in a baseball/softball game. He would have loved to see his great grand-kids because he would have been a “great” Grandfather.

I will always have the memories or my grandfathers pants hanging from the dining room chair with his service gun sitting on the table. It was a ritual for him and one I miss seeing.

I have had several dreams with grandpa in them through the years. They bring such comfort but also really mess with my head for days after those dreams. They are so real, it is as if he is talking to me about a situation in my life now. I really believe grandpa has helped me with numerous decisions in the past few years. He visited me in a dream most recently after I accepted the job at the radio. He told me to go for it. He told me that I can talk crap and I can be anyone’s friend and that is what I needed to be a local voice on the radio. I was very conflicted when I got the offer of the job and this really made my heart go in agreement with my brain. Grandpa said go for it. I am so glad I did because I am so happy and I hope to God he knows that!

Musings of a Momma

hard of hearing mom living in a small town

Category: grandparents

Thanksgiving 2017

16 Years Since We Have Talked