Sherry Regina Shickle - Home with the Lord

This afternoon I received word that my sister, just two years younger than me went home to be with the Lord. Sherry had colon cancer and it had gone into the lungs which made breathing very difficult. Last week Kentucky was hit by a snow storm that took out electricity to many and her apartment was one of the many without electric. This allowed her to enter the hospital where she did get a little relief with pain killers and removal of fluid. Yesterday she was moved into a nursing home as the care needed was greater than the family could provide. God saw fit to take her home. It was her wish not to enter the nursing home and it seems God granted her wish to not be stuck in a nursing home.

Sherry and I were the closest in age of the six siblings. We shared many experiences as we grew up. I liked to collect baseball cards and she liked to chew the gum. We both liked Pepsi, but she drank it warm and I had to have it cold. In the summer she wore sweaters and I T-shirts. Being only two years apart we almost always were in school together Irving Grade and Junior High School, I went Kindergarten through ninth grade and she Kindergarten through seventh grade. I got to go to the new Bloomington High School and she spent two years in the old high school called Bloomington Junior High School. Then my senior year she was a sophomore at the new High School.

We attended the same youth group activities and had many of the same friends. It was the fall of 1964 and both of us headed off to Bob Jones University for college. My brother-in-law and dad drove us down to Greenville, SC. Back in those days there were no Interstates and only limited four lane roads. The trip to Greenville was at least eighteen hours and winding narrow road through the middle of the Smoky Mountains was the most direct path. Sherry landed a job in the administration building as a telephone operator and I go to drive all over campus in a laundry truck picking up dirty linen.

I still marvel at that both of us were able to attend this college in spite of the fact that we were poorer than church mice. I had no idea how I was going to pay my tuition or dorm fees. I remember that I had $100 in my pocket when I arrived on campus. I am not sure that Sherry had that much money and know that she didn't have any money to pay her tuition or dorm fees either. Somehow she survived two years and I made it for one and one-half years.

In August of 2008, my oldest sister passed on leaving me as the eldest of the tribe, today I feel much older as my second sister has gone home.

It is reassuring that God makes no mistakes. He has appointed a day for each of us to meet our Maker and today was Sherry's appointed day. It is probably good that we don't know our appointed day, but it can be comforting to know that by placing our faith in the redemptive power of Jesus's death, burial and resurrection we can be assured that when our life is over we will be with Him in a place far better than even this beautiful earth in which we live.

I am reminded of a story about a doctor that had to give bad news to a older gentleman that his life was drawing to and end. The man asked the doctor, "Doc, you are a Christian, tell me what will I find on the other side?" The doctor was not sure how to answer the man and finally answered that he had no idea. As he spoke these words there was a scratching on the office door. He went to the door and opened the door and standing on the other side was his dog. As he turned back to the older gentleman he realized the answer to the man's question. The doctor then stated, "This is my dog, this is the first time he has been to my office and has never been in this room before. My dog never knew what was on the other side of the door, but he did know that his master was there and therefore he had no fear because he trusted his master. You too can know that on the other side of life awaits the Master and you need not fear."

Was the Visitor a UFO

Yesterday we had another visitor land on the fence post outside our window. The wife saw it first and as I reached for the camera the wild thing took to the air and out of view. It was certainly a predator as the size and fact that all the other birds vacated the back yard feeding center. This did not seem to be our Sharp Shin Hawk as the coloring from a quick glance was more gray in the back and less white in the front. I have heard of at least one Merlin around the area and my first guess would be a Merlin and the second a Dark Morph.

Our feeder has seemed to attract a lot of Starlings this Winter. Early this morning we had quite a few Juncos flitting about with a few House Sparrows intertwined. Later today the Crows surrounded the back yard but fortunately they didn't raid the feeder or stay around long.

The snow was a real surprise this morning, guess I should learn to watch the weather more frequently so that I won't be wake up to the unexpected.

Pictures from the missed months

Not sure what this squirrel wanted, but think maybe it missed it mark and landed on the screen. Took awhile to figure out how to get back to the garage roof.




This heron was hanging out at the South end of Evergreen Lake, trying to hide from view, it finally got out from behind the tall grass and trees and was able to take the picture.



The rest of the pictures are random shots of visitors to our Normal Back Yard.

A new posting for a New Year

My last posting was August of 2008 and then I took a long vacation! It seems I got a little lazy and a little busy at the same time. I decided to retire on September 30 of 2008 and had a lot of work to get done before I left, so many hours spent getting things caught up at work. A week of vacationing with the grandkids in Georgia in October and another week over Thanksgiving kept us busy. We all know how busy Christmas can be so it is now the 2009.

I think my last posting talked about the hawk returning and today he made another vivid visit. This time he caught and devoured a Starling. You saw the pictures above and a video showing the action is below. The video is graphic. As an update the pacemaker is working and I am enjoying retirement. I especially enjoy Wednesday and Friday afternoons as I am able to bowl with other Seniors. As the young kid on the block at 64 I get the privilege to bowl with both men and women from 65 to 93 and they bowl pretty good!

Going at a different pace

The last six months have been a struggle as my congestive heart failure was beginning to show itself present. Since 2001 I have had this CHF condition but I have, as the doctors stated, "been well compensated". Late in June I realized that the time had come to switch doctors and find out what more could be done. I selected a doctor and my wife called for an appointment. I think she was afraid that I would never get around to calling. The receptionist told her that it would be the next Tuesday before she could get me in, but if it was an emergency another doctor in the office could take me the next morning. I told my wife I could wait until next week. The next morning I woke up and decided the Emergency Room might be a good place to visit. The wife reminded me that I could get into to see a doctor that morning and I agreed to go.

By 11am I was walking out of the medical complex having had all kinds of blood tests, EKG, Xray and sonogram of my heart. Even had an appointment to see a cardiologist, first time since 2003. By the end of June I had seen the cardiologist and had a stress test and heard a recommendation for a Bi-ventricular Pacemaker.

August 7, 2008 I had the Bi-ventricular pacemaker and ICD implanted in a 24 hour hospital stay. It didn't come to soon! By Friday the 8th my wife had received notice that her aunt has passed away and the funeral would be Monday in Northwestern Illinois, then I got phone call that my oldest sister in Avon, Indiana was in the hospital and not doing well. The first test of the pacemaker was taking place and it had only been implanted about 20 hours. Sunday we spent the day driving up to Northwestern Illinois for a Monday funeral. While I probably shouldn't have been driving I drove the final half of the trip. The darn seat belt crossed the shoulder just above the incision and certainly made the trip a little less comfortable.

Monday morning as we were getting ready for the 10:30am funeral, I received another telephone message that my sis had passed away. This Friday and Saturday we had the visitation and funeral in Indiana and today I spent the time in church and resting.

God certainly has perfect timing! The pacemaker has been working fine, I have had the energy to make the three hour trips to two funerals and back. I really doubt that I would have been able to endure the stress and travel with out this new devise.

Thus I have entitled this posting "Going at at a different pace"

The pictures above are a few photo taken since my last posting. The hawk was a visitor this afternoon.

Where have you been Danny Boy, Danny Boy

Kids! This is a real windmill! It is located in rural Eastern McLean County.

My dad use to tell the tail of him climbing the ole windmill on the farm they lived on when he was young many times, but his favorite was when he took his sisters shoes up to the top.

Andy, here is a little green from the country side just for you to enjoy while you are in the desert!




Windmills gone modern! Not just one but a field of Wind Turbines creating electricity for McLean County.


Bambi I and Bambi II along side of the road and cornfield near Evergreen Lake.



Bambi I or II posing for its first picture. Probably a female as I had to take three pictures before it decided I had finally got the right one.



Bambi I or II finding the safety of Mom, but still standing out in the road.



In a different field a six point buck stands guarding the herd. Now you hunters know that they do exist! This buck is about 90 yards into the field, thanks to telescopic lens.



The field with the buck and does at normal distance.





Even the Immature Carinals are visiting. This are up close and personal poses just outside the window.




The sparrow visit the backyard, don't believe this is a common sparraw, but once again the software is lacking and I keep forgetting more and more.





Friendly visitors to the Back Yard

Lot's of good food on the menu here in Normal!



I would like to get to the berries on the ground, but you keep wanting to take my picture! LEAVE ME ALONE!!!



A Wild June and July brought a couple of Blue Jays and even a couple of youngens!



Robins were also bring their young out for their first pictures as we see an Immature Robin



Probably a Red Headed House Finch, I got a new computer and need to reinstall my Guide to Birds Software again.

Thanks to all those who serve and have served on this Memorial Day.

Dwarfed by the Hostas this bird appears to be looking for a shady place to hide.



The Catbird has been hanging around visiting the orange, bird bath and feeders.



This White Breasted Nuthatch has been making good use of the nuts, being careful to share with the Downeys and Red Bellied Wood Peckers, even the starling and Grackles.



A Hummingbird made it back this year, but only stayed a few days. Being here at the right time and in the right place allowed these pictures.