Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah wishes 2019 from Jeff Schrembs

 

My prayers, thoughts, heart, and soul always go out to my daughter who recently turned 12 years old. She is a beautiful girl and I applaud her; mother, brothers, grandparents and uncle each of which are…exceptional.

This is not directed to my beautiful 12 year old daughter as there have been things this year that have saddened me greatly. Decision and acts I prayed about intently and though it pains my soul I do hope that my prayers will be answered (i.e. the care she needs to battle her dependency and her horrific; language, inability to provide stability, and her mental instability). Also, I learned of a good man who I’ll always love – pray for – care about – etc. who, like one of my own battles with cancers, has throat cancer. I pray he recovers fully and that his, and that of his family members, life is long and full of happiness, love,  and stability. Battling cancer(s) is a terrible taxing ordeal and the only thing that truly makes it “worse” is to go through it…alone. As my brother battles his own terrible disease(s) I pay for him and his family 24/7.

I’ve been blessed to know/have known the love of a great woman. The everlasting love of each of my children. The eternal love of my grandchildren. Success in my chosen profession. The beauty of friendship and of family. I am humbled and grateful.

Life is never guaranteed in length, or qualify, of.  But if we chose to dwell on the past we lose the ability to appreciate the moment. The day. The week. The month. The years.

I wish everyone a blessed and Happy Hanukkah and a Merry Christmas 2019.

Take care and may God bless each of you and yours…always.

 

Jeff Schrembs

 

 

Simpler life & happy Thanksgiving 2019 wishes

Some of the greatest songs I love have lyrics such as these: the heart gets weary, nothing every changes, heartache I knew, always on my mind, you took my one ray of sunshine, there is something wrong here, I just can’t fake it, I wish it would rain, gave me a mountain, etc. What do these songs have in common? Man, I don’t know but they left/leave a lasting impression and trends may come and go but quality man quality can never be substituted. Real voices with real experiences singing real songs. It’s in my DNA and courses through my veins and in some cases has been passed along to my children. Yeah, your welcome.

Back in the 1970’s seems like every girl has the album Tapestry by Carole King. That album, and those songs, were at every dance. At every roller skating rink. And, due to the wonderful technology in those days, on a device the size of a platter and thicker than the California redwoods, known as the 8 track tape. Hey kids give up your modern technology and try listening to songs only on an 8 track. The struggle(s) were…real and yeah we walked to school for miles in the snow, rain, thunderstorms, heat, and guess what? We had to repeat, this what would now qualify for a weekly show on National Geographic, endeavor to get back home. Hurray.

Back to Carole King. I have watched, and re-watched as that is just who I am, the 1971 concert of Carole King and not only did I learn she wrote one of my favorite songs of all time “will you still love me tomorrow” but she sings the hello kitty out of it. But the secret gem is her voice, passion, and throaty remembrance when she sings “up on the roof” co-written by her (by 2 years) ex-husband (note: if you get a chance check out him singing this song and he had a good voice in his own right) the multi-talented songwriter Gerry Goffin. Not to be outdone when she sings “a natural woman””, made infamous by Aretha Franklin, her version is just as honest. Just as soulful. Just as haunting. Just as soul provoking.

Simpler times are part of the title of this post but it is also a reference to life in times past that was life…more abundantly. Much more abundantly and I miss it.

From me to you via YouTube comes the incomparable Carole King raw and beautiful and as a footnote, it took place during the spring of my youth.

Take care and may God bless you

Jeff Schrembs

Stunningly beautiful…

To say I was shocked by the acting performance of Lady GaGa, the singing of Bradley Cooper, the guitar playing by Bradley Cooper, the beauty in their words, and the movie itself would be a vast underestimate.

One of the few times in decades that I have been hoping that people, especially the youth, still yearn for excellence in music. Real singers. Great acting performances. When you contrast this song, the song Shallows, and the song always remember us (in the movie A Star is Born) to the; glitz, distracting dancing, changes of the hair/clothes/looks/etc. in the other songs, Lady GaGa sings it’s comical. These songs are real. They stand alone beautiful masterpieces. They touch the soul. They are special. Man, I love these songs and the movie was moving on numerous levels.

 

Jeff Schrembs self pic October 16 2018

For my little girl. I love so very very much. 

Running in potholes

Nightmare. Websters defines it as; Definition of nightmare. 1 : an evil spirit formerly thought to oppress people during sleep. 2 : a frightening dream that usually awakens the sleeper. 3 : something (such as an experience, situation, or object) having the monstrous character of a nightmare or producing a feeling of anxiety or terror.

Well ladies and gentlemen one can have a nightmare during the day such as been the case for far too long. However, thanks to my God given will to confront a nightmare is the recipe for waking up to a new day with less drama and stress. One where the sunlight seems more beautiful. The clouds dance in the bluest of blue days. The air smells not of pollen or pollution but of life. Or the patterns of the wind with that “after rain” scent.

I have some upcoming medical procedures, tests, etc. but I will awaken these days with a calm. With a focus. With unrelenting love for my sons and my little girl.

Man, it seems like I had been running in potholes causing all days to be painful mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. and I am very thankful to my therapist of 8 years and my Psychiatrist of 6 years for battling cancer, Parkinson’s, PIDD, and other abnormalities seriously take their tolls in every imaginable way.

To break ones spirit. To dampen ones resolve to continue on with the knowledge that I pray for my children – their children – their mothers – and their mothers family. I always will. I think God for each moment even when I am locked in torturous pain. Even when my mind says my eyes can’t possible produce any more tears and yet through bloodshot eyes…they do, It is the soul that has been hurt and the side effect is tears.

And now that I have taken reasonable steps to ensure I have protected locks on my laptop, tablets, iPhone, etc.. As this dawn breaks forth I am thankful.

Lastly I’m going to have to get some new shoes that should allow me to expertly use my athletic skills (by the way…where did they go?) not fall into potholes of all shapes, forms, intents, etc. At almost 56 years on this earth, in 2 weeks AAAAAGGGGGGHHHH, I think with the proper outlook, support, my ever handing reading glasses, and some smooth Nike’s I will be able to see the potholes beforehand which I believe with each passing day will become less of a hardship. Less of a nightmare. And less reactive approaches to things/life.

God has blessed me all my life including these last two decades of life. Growing up I never believed I would live past 30 or 35. I shall make the most of these days, weeks, months, and years for after all if I don’t then the status quo will remain and I think it is time for some true, and beneficial, resolution. Man, it’s been far too long.

Enjoy your weekend.

Take care and may God bless you and yours… always.

Art. One of my passions since childhood

I have been blessed dating back as far as I remember to be able to draw. Whether it is charcoal, pen and ink, pencil, etc. I put my all into my artwork and it was my love for art that took me from Kentucky to the Art Institute. Man, it’s been quite a …while.

In October of 2017 I picked up a pencil and an artbook and started to draw. My intent was to see if I could control the coordination necessary to put onto paper, in detail, whatever subject I was focusing on at the time. After a month of practice I decided to try and draw from one of my favorite photographs of my oldest daughter when she was little. After many trials I was able to complete the drawing and gave the original to my daughter for Christmas.

It is my hope that I will be able to do a drawing of my little girl who is growing up to be a fine, smart, funny, and wholly beautiful soon to be 11 years old. Nonetheless  she will always be my little girl and one of the greatest loves of my life. Fortunately the time is upcoming when she can voice her desire for our relationship and I will surely embrace, and enjoy, every moment for there is no one else on earth (sans her mother) that loves her as much as I do. I have. And I always will. She deserves to have a positive relationship with both of her parents and God willing we will see one another sooner rather than later and find out firsthand about me.

*** Note – I have had to watermark my drawing, as I have all my others, as others have tried to pawn it off as their work(s).

 

Attuned to the soul

An incredibility beautiful song.

To my little girl August 2018 edition

 

I love, think of, miss, want the best for, etc. for you.

I hope you are enjoying this summer. That you are having fun. That you are getting ready for another school year. That you are healthy. That you laugh. That you read. That you mind you mother and let her know how much you love her. That you never hesitate to use the passions, and talents, that you have. That you always try. No one in this world is like you and you truly are a miracle child.That you let your Uncle, Brothers, Grandpa, and Grandma how much they mean to you. And that you know that you are loved to infinity.

I will this day as I do all days and that is waking up praying for you and go to sleep praying for and our family and in some cases (i.e. I love all my children and this sentence is ONLY to include their own families) their spouses and children.

No matter how old you become you will forever be my little girl, and like all of my children, one of the greatest loves of my life as well as a, in many ways, lifelong blessing.

Love always,

Dad

 

To friends and family I hope that you have a great weekend

The last rays of light on this Friday the 10th of August disperse on the horizon. The majesty of the stars increase with each passing moment. The summer air is tamed and scented by the recent rain storm. I try to take it end and then…………… I walk into the house and I see floors needed to be cleaned. Clothes to be washed. Dishes to put away. Unwanted “guests” courtesy of my grandchildren (aaaaaaaaagggggggghhhhhhhhhh). But then I see them. The framed photographs of my children. Each/all of them. I see their faces when they were two years old and many years later including many as recent as last month. I also see them in photographs with loved ones, friends, etc. who have (sadly) passed away but frozen in time. I love and miss them. I love and miss them all. I don’t want any of their loved ones who have passed, including so many who I was related to by marriage, to be forgotten. To be removed from the eyes, ears, memories and photographs. For it is important for my children and theirs to know the full story of where they came from. That they were loved and always will be. That the (wholly) uniqueness of each of these people have helped to make my children and theirs who they are. What they believe in. And who they will become. Man, I truly have been blessed. I am humbled. I often cry missing my little girl, yeah real men do cry, but I know she is surrounded by her mother – grandparents – brothers – etc. and as much as I am thankful but there is no substitute, never has and never will be, for children and theirs to have a relationship with their parents/grandparents as quickly and often as possible for tomorrow is never guaranteed.

I wish you all a great weekend and regardless of the weather, the surroundings, your depression and/or happiness I hope you create memories while you can in photographs and in the heart. To make amends . To let others know how much you appreciate them.

Take care and may God bless you.

 

 

Weekend wishes

Love to all my family, friends, loved ones, etc.

May you enjoy this weekend and time spent with those you care about.

I hope my children, and grandchildren, are all; in good health, happy, successful, thankful for the love they have for others and others have for them, reading the Bible and having their own relationship with God/Jesus for the time on this earth is fleeting, working hard, and enjoying new things and things that make them happy.

I am very blessed that the mother of my children loves, and cares for, them so. That I hold their mothers family in the greatest of regards and my children are blessed to have them in their lives. That each of my children have a plethora of talents. They work hard. They are passionate. I love them near and afar. It is my prayer that there will come the opportunity of travel allows me time to tell them. Nonetheless I am proud of them individually and collectively for they are my heart, my blood, and my greatest loves. I wish them the best in life…always.

Take care and may God bless you always.