Who gives themselves with their gift feeds three

Two posts ago I shared the giving spirit of Ramona Karen Rye Perkins.I am now at a computer that I can share her image with you. Of course I chose and image that included one of Ramona's best friends, our Tam.Some 30 years after this photo was taken she is now the charge nurse in E.R. on the night shift at Wm Beaumont hospital in Royal oaks, Michigan.Her love of aminals now is as great or greater than her love of our beloved Tam. She now has two dogs and if she devotes too much time on the phone to anyone her dogs let her know about right smartly. I visited her in Michigan and as we sat in the living room all of the dogs were vying for her attention. Then one of the dogs, Ginger, I believe ran to the front door and barked as if to alert us to company calling. When the other two dogs rushed to the door. Ginger quickly returned to Ramona and had her complete attention for a while until the other dogs caught on. Some love, some dog!
if you check back to an earlier post,1/24/06 you' share some of her other admirable traits.
She did have a horse also,Katie was her name and she was boarded out at the Kolowaskis. The first time she rode she fell off and I put her right back on but I believe that she was spooked for a time. One of the most exciting times were when we were riding double, without a saddle, and would go down the steep bank into the free flowing irragation ditches and then up the sharp bank on the other side.
After a while when Ramona was able to go riding I had an apppointment and when I was able to go riding Ramona had another activity so we decided that it was unfair for Katie not to have regular visits from us so we sold her.

On my January 9th post I was going to write and honor Greg's 41st bithday.I got the picture transferred and then my hands hit the wrong key and the picture disappeared and all I could see was the title on the dashboard so I tryed again and again and ended up with 9 pictures of Greg and no text. Many of us wish that there were 9 Greg's because he also is the apple of our eye.
We salute our two caregivers, Greg and Ramona. Well done thou good and faithful servants.

On his blindness

My neighbor in Sun City was a POW in WWll. His wife is nearly blind and last year she spent six weeks in Oregon at a guide dog training school. She was dismayed when at the end of the period she was denied a dog as her blindness was not severve enough to warrant the dog.
To empathize with her I shared with her John Milton's poem. I will share it now with you.

When I consider How my light is spent-John Milton, Sonnet 19

When I consider how my light is spent,
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged within me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve my Maker, and present
My true account, lest He returning chide"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"
I fondly ask; but patience, to prevent
That murmur, soon replies "God doth not need
Either man's work or His gifts. Who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve Him best. His state
is kingly:thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest;
They also serve who only stand and wait."

The neighbor lady is now walking very well with her white cane . Yesterday she brought over a nice article for me. I would like to share it with you.

HORSE SENSE

Just up the road from my house is a field, with two
horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other
horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one
will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he
is blind, His owner has chosen not to have him put
down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is
Amazing.
Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell. Looking
around for the source of the sound, one will see that it
comes from a smaller horse in the field. Attached to
her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know
where she is so he can follow her.

As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees
how she is always checking on him, and that he will
listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is,
trustling that she will not lead him astray.

Like the owner of those two horses, God does not
throw us away because we are not perfect or
because we have problems or challenges.
He watches us and even brings others into our lives
to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horses being guided by
God and those who he places in our lives. Other times
we are the guide horse, helping others see God.

Good friends are like stars......You don't always see
them, but you know they are always there.
Author unknown

Who gives himself with his gift feeds three

One of my favorite verses is from the middle age story of the seach for the Holy Grail, the cup from which the Christ drank at the Last Supper. It goes like this;

The Holy Supper is kept indeed
With what we give for another's need.
Not what we give, but what we share
For the gift without the giver is bare.

Who gives himself with his gift feeds three
Himself, his hungering neighbor and THEE

All of our children give freely of themselves and their gifts span the whole rainbow of other people's needs. For this precicous gift we are especially blessed. Today I would like to dwell on the special gifts of love and caring of Ramona Karen Rye Perkins.

A post in December showed Ramona and Greg's picture of some 35 years ago. Her road of life since those earliest days has not always been a bed of roses. I have taken the liberty of quoting from a couple of her Christmas letters from the past that touches her depth of humanity.

"It has been the most difficult year of my life. I lost my best friend and husband on February 6th,2001. I still find myself looking for Scott to come driving up the driveway, or answering the phone expecting to hear his voice on the other end. My heart has this incredible void where he used to live. He was a wonderful husband, son, brother,nephew,grandson and friend. This was evident at his funeral; there were so many flowers and cards. At the viewing family and friends sat around talking about the good times they had with Scott. The most vivid memory I have is of the funeral procession. When I looked back all I could see were cars with their headlights on. They were driving to the cemetary to say goodby to their friend, loved one and husband. Thank you all for your love and support."
She ended her letter by saying;
"Say I love you as much as you can. Let your family and friends know how much you care about them. Get together and make new memories because you will treasure them more than any
tangible item. May God bless and keep you safe during the holidays and in the coming year!"

And this last year, 2005, her letter ended with this adomonition;

I hope that this next year is full of greatness for you and your loved ones. Spend time with your family and friends, tell them how much you love and treasure them!"

This is the Ramona who has to have nerves of steel as she faces crisis after crisis in the E.R. room.This is the Ramona that spent two weeks in December as care giver for her Mother.This is the Ramona that reached out to me after Christmas after I experienced a shortness of breath while in Colorado. When I returned to Arizona there was a message on my machine
expressing her concern.
Surely one of the most blessed events in the life of our family was that day some 36 years ago in California when Ramona Karen entered our lives. I hope that we are worthy of her love and heed her admonition to spend time with your family and friends, tell them how much you love and treasure them.
Ramona, we love and treasure you. You give yourself with your gifts and feed, three
Yourself, your hungering neghbor and THEE, the Christ. Love,Dad

Gregory Nelson Rye turns 41 today

Gregory Nelson Rye turns 41 today

Caregivers-Ramona Karen & Gregory Nelson Rye

Ramona Karen, some 35 years after this photo was taken, served as favorite nurse and caregiver for her Mother, Donna, from December 20th to January 2nd after Donna's double knee replacement surgery. Ramona is the Charge nurse at the Wm. Beaumont hospital in Royal Oak, Mi. She returned to her duties on January 3, 2006. Serving in her stead is number two son, Daniel Gene, of Phoenix, Az.
Donna, by all reports seems to be doing well.

Ramona was admitted to the veteniary medicine school at CSU after two years at Ft. lewis, college in Durango, Co. After one year she switched to nurses training at Northern Colorado college in Greeley. She first served in the hospital in Dallas where JFk checked out, although way before her time. She has since served at hospitals in Mi.She also teaches the in service programs in the hospital.

Gregory is the other caregiver in our family.While on the swim team in Loveland his back begin to become painfully impaired. He was fortunate to go to DC, Dr.Jack Anderson who gave him relief and befriended Greg and became his mentor. jack and his wife were the one's who inspired Greg to enroll in training to be a DC. Greg practiced briefly in Phoenix and then in Albuquerque before opening his own practice in Loveland, Co. He is a devoted and compassionate caregiver as is Ramona Karen and we couldn't be more proud of both of them.
He also practices the art of acupunture and when I am in Colorado I take advantage of his skills.

You can see the joy, pride and love in his eyes as he is pictured here with his little sister, Ramona. The joy and love of serving still shines brighlty in Greg's eyes and Ramona's smile still charms all of ou who are priviledged to be in her circle of interest.

I should note that Greg and Randy who live locally are also important care givers to their Mother in this time of need.

Blessed are the caregivers.