OPEN HEART SURGERY

Posted on July 13, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Returning down memory lane, my husband had many interesting moments when he was in the advertising business.  He did almost everything, from a trip deep into the Wind River Mountains on horseback to flying into a remote lake in Alaska for the sake of getting photographs to sell ammunition. Those stories will come later.  Today I’m going to focus on the one that placed him the operating room of one of the early open heart surgeries.

He went through the entire process of scrubbing, donning surgical garb, getting the photographer in place and directing him where and when to take the picture. Classical music began to permeate the sterile environment as the surgical team entered the room.  They proceeded discussing last night’s opera performance and some other personal conversation, while the patient was wheeled in on a gurney.

The anesthesiologist administered the anesthetic. Music continued to swell as the patient drifted off to dream land.  The first incision was made as small talk continued.  Paul followed the procedure with great interest.

One of his earliest childhood dreams was to be a doctor.  He might have even recalled the day he did surgery on a frog, along with his best friend.  They didn’t have any anesthetic, but a small bonk on the head put the amphibian out of commission long enough to feel no pain.  The purpose of the surgery was to see how all those vital organs worked on a living thing.  During that process, the frog awoke.  Another bonk on the head enabled them to sew the poor critter back up again.  They did get a good look, the frog lived to tell his friends about his adventure, but he had a terrific headache.  I’m certain PITA would be all over him for this.

Back to the open heart surgery.  Since this was the first time the  surgeon had implanted one of these medical devices, he pulled out the brochure and began to check his work.  He asked Paul if he had pit it in right and Paul replied that he was only the Creative Director.  That surgery was successful, in spite of the confusion.

This is just one more example of the creative nature of my husband and his ability to try new things.  He truly is a Jack of all trades.

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DISTRACTIONS

Posted on July 13, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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A red herring is the description of a smoked fish that turns red and becomes very smelly during the process.  The red herring was used to divert the attention of hunting dogs from the scent of an animal to the strong smell of the fish.  It was meant to lead them away from the job at hand.  When something is referred to as a red herring, it’s usually something specifically designed to set people off track and almost always consists of something very fishy.

As we watch the media unfold, day after day, we can’t help but wonder how much of what is out there bears any truth at all.  It seems to me that the only benefit to such false information or fake news, is to take the attention away from the work at hand and the important things we should be focusing on.

We, as a nation, have been accustomed to believing everything we read in the paper, on the internet or television.  We’ve even turned our minds to the tabloids for the latest dirt.  It seems we can’t avoid any of it, because it stares us in the face on a daily basis.

Having lived through scandal after scandal proceeding from Washington has brought a sense of skepticism towards anyone involved in politics. It isn’t new, just more of it is available to us.  What do we believe?  What do we question?  What does God have to say about it?

2 Peter 3:17-18  “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

We need to be discerning in all things.  We should not be quick to judge others.  We shouldn’t be carried away by the voice of those who wish to win more than anything.  We should not waste our time on all this dissidence, but search for the truth and that truth is found only in the Word of God.  This is where He lives, where He speaks to us, where He answers our questions and where we find peace of mind and heart.

 

 

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 13, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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SURVIVING CHILDHOOD

Posted on July 12, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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My husband, as I mentioned in his story yesterday, lived above a funeral home.  In order to create a more ordinary environment for their children, his parents would take them to spend weekends at the family lake home.  It was a lovely place where Paul learned how to run a motor and navigate a small fishing boat, worked as crew on a large sailboat, was taught to fish and swim.  In spite of it being a wonderful escape for the family, Paul often thought his parents were plotting ways to get rid of him.  Here is a story he tells of just how they were going to accomplish that.

As a small child, the first requirement was to learn to swim.  It was mandatory that he wear a life jacket.  Add to that the fact that his swim trunks were made of wool (that tells you how old he is,) so they quickly soaked up the water and added extra pounds to his small frame.  For that entire summer, Paul would swim close to the dock as his parents watched from a distance.  They felt he was safe enough with that life jacket.

The summer ebbed to a close and it was time to test how much he had learned.  So his parents removed the life jacket and let the fish swim.  And swim he did – even with those heavily weighted down swim trunks.  He was so proud of himself when he jumped out of the water and accidentally pushed the life jacket into the water.  It immediately sank to the bottom.  The extra weight of the water logged trunks along with a sunken life jacket undoubtedly deterred him some, but they also made an excellent swimmer out of him.

He and I often talk about how we ever made it through our childhoods.  There were no car seats, except possibly a flimsy little plastic thing with a steering wheel on it.  We spent hours in a playpen – a cage by today’s standards.  We played in the streets by our homes all day long without coming home with more than a scraped knee or bruised elbow.  We drank water out of a hose.  We ate dirt.  We didn’t wash our hands every five minutes.  We’re still alive to tell about it.

 

 

 

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BE A LIGHT IN A WORLD OF DARKNESS

Posted on July 12, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

ORIGINALLY POSTED ON ATIMETOSHARE.ME 7/12/14

Edith Wharton was a  writer from the late 18th to the early 19h Century who came from a life of privilege.  One of her contemporaries was Theodore Roosevelt.  The fact that she came from a wealthy family and lacked for nothing seemed to have nothing to do with her writing, since most of it concerned the problems of poverty in her time.   Her novel, “The Age of Innocence” received the Pulitzer Prize.

Most folks might think it easy for her to write about the ills of destitution from her ivory tower in New York.  Most of us might even express our thoughts by declaring, “Easy for her to say. ”  It’s easy to imagine being rich and having no worries about anything except being consumed with our writing.

Being wealthy doesn’t guarantee a life of comfort for us.  Money comes in handy when it’s time to pay the rent or buy groceries, but it isn’t the key to happiness.

Edith was married to a man 12 years her senior.  He was a successful banker.  I don’t think she married him out of love.   It would seem that her life just kept getting better and better.  It wasn’t long before her husband started showing his attention to younger women and squandering money on them.  His mental instability must have had a profound effect on her.  She also proved to be unfaithful to her husband with a three year affair with an American journalist, before their divorce in 1913.  Not such a perfect life.

Edith Wharton didn’t have it made.  None of us does when we rely on our own resources; our own desires; our own needs.  She went on to support many charitable  endeavors.  She was very aware of the differences in the social classes of her time and she not only wrote about them, she did something about them with the resources she had available to her.   Money is not an evil thing.  It’s the love of money that turns people into greedy individuals.

We all have our burdens to bear in life and we will have some kind of trouble and struggle as we pass through it.  We can choose to overcome that struggle on our own or depend on the one who is the true light of the world.

Lord, help me be a reflection of your bright light – the one you gave to us through your Holy Son, Jesus.  With Him as the source of my light, may I pass it on to those who have the need for it.  I have no treasures here on earth, but this precious one.  Please allow me to share it with others.  AMEN!

 

 

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 12, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

Cartoon of the Day-Writing 2

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LIFE IN A FUNERAL HOME

Posted on July 11, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

I would love to be able to include a photograph of the house where my husband spent his growing up years.  It was a typical house of seven gables – a mansion of sorts – within a decaying neighborhood.  During his childhood, this home had become a funeral business, run by his father and uncle for many years.  During the “glory” years, it was very successful and provided a good income for the two men and their families.  The upstairs living quarters became home for my husband’s parents, himself and his sister until both of the men passed away.

As you can probably imagine, there were stories to tell about that place, and my husband, the story teller lets his imagination run wild at times.  There were the jokes about “Folks dying to get in there,”Making grave mistakes,” and “Business is dying.”

Of course, his entire childhood was spent in trying to be quiet, respectful and not get in the way.  This exuberant, fun loving child often felt as though he was in a prison of sorts, but he made the most of it by finding adventure even in a place of solace and death.  Hide and seek for one – hiding in the organ room (not a place for human organs, but a musical instrument.)  He also got an early view of death and sadness.  He also learned about human compassion in times like this.

There are a million stories I could share about the funny things that happened there, but one of my favorites has to do with a biology lab Paul had in the basement of the building.  Being an artist and wanting to know how living things worked, he had a collection of snakes, frogs and other specimens to raise and study.

One morning, after feeding the snakes, he forgot to close the window well in which they were living, and unknowingly left for school.  That morning there was a funeral and in those days, there was a smoking room downstairs which allowed family and visitors to smoke.  In our world today, they would be shut down for sure.

The snakes escaped and made their way into the smoking room, where some mourning women were having a cigarette.  It was a chaotic moment and of course the end of Paul’s biology lab.  He then became interested in chemistry, which resulted in numerous explosions, causing a swift end to that interest.  No more, the mad scientist.

He never went into the family business – not because he couldn’t handle it, but because God called him to share his talents in other ways.  His family supported his decision.  I think they realized you can’t make someone into something they don’t want to be.  In my opinion, they made the right decision, because I certainly would not have made a good funeral director’s wife.

 

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TOMORROW

Posted on July 11, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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This picture was taken a few years ago, when my granddaughter appeared in “Annie, with a Twist.”  The story was an adaptation of the famous Little, Orphan Annie and Oliver Twist, who in my version turned out to be lost relatives.  Through their various adventures, they come together as a family and both show their persistence and grit.

Annie has learned, through her adversity, that life goes on and there’s always another day  – another chance – another way.  We can learn a lot from this sweet, little girl.  She never gave up hope of finding her family.  She showed great spunk as she forged a way to get out of her circumstances and push on to accomplishing her goal.

Sure it’s just a story and great fodder for the same, but how often are we called on to do just that in our own lives?  We face difficult times.  They might seem impossible to overcome.  We feel we just can’t continue this way.  Some even give up in despair. Many assume that God doesn’t love them anymore and has deserted them.

Our God isn’t like that.  There will be times in our lives when we hurt, suffer, are anxious, depressed, lonely and even wanting to end it all.  That’s just the time when we need His tender care the most.

I’m reminded of the story of the  shepherd who breaks the leg of his sheep in order to keep it from wandering away.  Our Good Shepherd sometimes does the same for His sheep to keep the close to Him.  Sometimes we need to be broken before we can be fixed.  We need to be put back on course.

Like Annie, we can remain hopeful, knowing that God has the reins and He isn’t going to let us fall.  He’s in control and has even provided for all of our tomorrows.

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 11, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST

Posted on July 10, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Paul Boecher, carving the Mermaid for the Newsroom Restaurant in Minneapolis, MN.

My husband has had a number of careers in his 75 years.  After losing his successful advertising agency back in 1991 he had to look for new ways to make a living.  This very talented man of mine turned back to his roots, and began a new business creating original wood sculptures for restaurants, homes and various properties in our area.

When he was commissioned to create an old fashioned ship’s mermaid for the Newsroom Restaurant, I had my concerns.  Not only was this piece the most risqué he had ever created, I was thinking about the possibilities of questions about who posed for the piece.  I had no conception what would unfold once it was completed.

The commission came in the summer of 2001.  His new business was really taking off and it actually provided enough income for us to survive.  Evidence of his sculpting ability first surfaced when he was a kid, doing small carvings out of wood and, as a teenager, creating the head of a ram out of limestone.

He had to purchase a hoist to be able to work on this piece with ease.  As the weeks went by, a huge lifeless hunk of wood was being transformed into a beautiful half woman/half fish.  I was getting a little jealous of this inanimate creature. The piece was to be installed for the restaurant’s grand opening in October.

The week of the installation occurred just after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  The police were on high alert for any unusual activity.  So when Paul pulled up to the front of the restaurant with his covered pick-up truck and a blue plastic tarp covering something rather suspicious, the police pulled him over.  My innocent husband was quite sure he hadn’t been speeding, but nonetheless he stopped.

The police officer asked him what he had in the back of his truck.  Paul answered,
“A mermaid.”  The officer immediately ordered him out of the truck, put him hands up against the side of it and, as he was about to frisk him, the other officer took his keys to see what was in the back cargo area.  He uncovered the statue and to his amazement discovered what was there.  The first officer shouted back to him, “What’s back there?” and the second replied, “It’s a mermaid and she’s really good looking!”

My husband proceeded to thank the officers for their diligence and service and went about the business of setting the mermaid in her proper place.  You never know what you’ll find in the back of an artist’s truck.  It was good to know that the police were looking out for us and it added another chapter in the life of ARTMAN for future telling.

MORE TO COME!

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Finished Product

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WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH

Posted on July 10, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th.”   Julie Andrews

The world is full of a lot of unhappiness and many people aren’t even sure they will have enough money to make it to the next pay check – if there is one. The economy seems like it’s in the pits. Work is hard to find. So what is a person to do?

We could throw up our hands in despair. We could moan and complain about our problems. We could drown our sorrows with alcohol or drugs. Or we could go to our heavenly Father and ask for His help.

God sometimes sends these tough times into our lives so that we remember who is in control, and like the prodigal son, return to Him when there is no other way out.  The dad never gave up on his child, just like our Heavenly Father rejoices when His children return to Him. We should remember that His will is always designed for our good – even when we think the cards are stacked against us.  If we follow our own path, it might lead to destruction.

Maybe if we didn’t wait so long to communicate with Him, the troubles would be less, but I believe that God allows them so that we always know that He is there to help. When things get tough, we should arm ourselves with the breastplate of righteousness and get tough too. God will give us the stamina, the resources, the promise, the Savior, the right path, the answers and all that will get us back on track.

He gave us the power, strength and drive to do great things.  He also gave us the ability to rise above adversity and a mind to figure things out and move on.  So when life gets tough, think of all that God has done for you.  Your temporary suffering won’t last forever.

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 10, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

cartoon

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HOME SWEET HOME

Posted on July 9, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

A house is just a dwelling place, a place to sleep and eat,

A set of rooms to roam about, to gather and to greet,

Each filled with lath and plaster, with paint and other things,

It soon becomes inhabited and that’s when life begins,

The walls could tell us stories of who these people were,

By things they said, the hugs and joys and words that would occur,

Of broken hearts, of emptiness, of loss and loneliness,

Of joyfulness and goals achieved, of peace and happiness,

It’s  just a simple shelter made of brick or wood or stone,

But when a family lives there, it soon becomes a home.

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 9, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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I LOVE A PARADE!

Posted on July 8, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Just a few days ago, we celebrated the birth of our nation in our new home town of Anoka, Minnesota.  When we moved here last fall, we also moved to a new church so that we could attend services with our daughter and her daughter.  Since that time, our granddaughter has been confirmed in her baptismal faith and we’ve grown even closer as a family.

Today, our church home town of Andover, Minnesota will participate in an old fashioned parade with floats and marching bands and treats being handed out to the crowds of children.  So, we’re going to be riding atop our church’s float.  The float has a western theme because our one day vacation Bible school also has this theme. By being a part of this event, we’ll be inviting children to attend VBS and their families to come and see what our church is all about.

I’ve never been on a float before.  I’ve been involved in building them though.  When I was in high school we created some of the most amazing floats you’ve ever seen (at least we thought we did) out of crepe paper and chicken wire.  Since my class had an abundance of artistic and creative kids, you were never quite sure what the float had to do with the celebration, but they definitely were different.

As we’re becoming acquainted with a new town in our new “old” house, we’re also becoming a part of a new church family.  This has always been the way for us.  Whenever we’ve made a move from one town to another, we’ve also changed churches.

This church is lots smaller than the one we left, but we feel there’s a place for us here.  God has work to be done everywhere and we’re glad to be a part of building His kingdom.  Who knows who we’ll meet today?  Just pray that I don’t fall off the float!

 

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WHAT IF …

Posted on July 8, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Repost from 7/8/16

ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

What if humanity was more like the animal kingdom,

Carefree and unconcerned about where to find their next meal,

What if we lived in harmony without prejudice, violence, hatred,

What if our leaders really cared about those they lead,

What if the people once again had confidence in them,

What if our true leader were to come to earth again,

What would His thoughts be about the state of this world,

Would He accept what we’ve become,

Would He forgive what we’ve done,

Would He sentence all humanity to eternity in hell,

What if we were just like the animals?

What if our minds weren’t so full of thoughts, hopes, dreams,

What if we had become so full of hatred, violence and sin,

That God stopped loving us,

What if God never sent His Son to save us,

We’d be no different than the beasts of the field.

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 8, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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SILENCE!

Posted on July 7, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.”  Mother Teresa

“The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.”                Charlotte Bronte

The idea of silence being golden is true on so many levels.  When we are in the midst of an argument and suddenly become absolutely silent, the power of that moment can be immense.  When we keep silent about something that can change the way people think, we’re withholding a great treasure. When we are silent as someone else pours out their heart to us, we are being empathetic and encouraging.  When silence becomes a tool to become more powerful, it is a waste of precious energy.

God tells us to be still and recognize that He is God. When all the prayers have already been said and there is no visible answer it’s hard to remain silent.  We feel we should step in and do something to force the issue.  Silence is a great commodity when turned over to God and His amazing power.

With each prayer, we should be assured that the prayer will be answered.  God does that all for us.  He tells us to be quiet and let Him do what He does.  That means, our input is no longer needed.  It’s now in the hands of the One who created the universe.

Lord, today remind me that you are in control of all things that occur in my life.  You’ve got my back and I am confident that you will lead me in the right direction.  Help me to place my complete trust in you and to be still.  Amen!

 

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TODAY YOU ARE TWENTY TWO

Posted on July 7, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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Where did the years go? It seems only yesterday that you and I were playing drums with the pots and pans and you were chasing the dog around the table.  You – the first of my grandchildren – the brainy one, the serious one, the dedicated, structured, play by the rules one.

We always expect the most from the first – the first time we encounter a change in our lives – the first words out of our mouths – the first date – the first job – the first kiss.  God gives us a whole lists of firsts to greet each and every day. Finding the balance is the hard part.  Expecting too much from those first times can lead to high expectations, but also allows us to reach for the stars.

You are now a man – not the little boy anymore – but I still treasure so many of your growing up moments.  When you first discovered the bugs living under a rock and how upset you got when I stepped on one of them.  Your compassion for that bug should’ve been a clue as to the man you’d some day become.  There were the laughs we shared, the disappointments, changes, goals accomplished, hopes and dreams, all things that helped to shape you into who you are now.

You’ve been blessed with wonderful parents, who love you and have always given you an opportunity to grow in your faith and trust in the Lord for all things.  Your love for Him is so evident in all that you do.  I pray that you will continue to depend on Him as the guide for each event that carries you through life.  With Him at your side, you can’t lose.

You are at a point now, where you will soon be making career choices and life changing decisions will be almost a daily occurrence.   I am confident that you are on the right path.  There will be many more “firsts” coming your way.  Embrace them, greet them with high expectations, allow them to continue to shape you.  You are God’s child and you are loved by many.

Happy birthday, Jordan!

 

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WRITERS’ FUNNIES

Posted on July 7, 2017 by atimetoshare.me

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