Songs I Sing to My Sweetheart

Thought I would write down some of the lyrics of songs that I sing, to my darlin,’ Billie, when I am taking care of her. Sometimes she just doesn’t want to talk, nor even answer questions, so I go about checking her vitals and doing what is needed and sing her a song or two. I realize I have changed some of the words just to fit us, so don’t worry if they are not exact.

Hey Good Lookin

Hey good lookin'

What ya got cookin?

How’s about cookin' something up with me

Oh, sweet baby

Don't you think maybe?

We could find us a brand new recipe

I’ve got a hot-rod Ford and a two-dollar bill

And I know a spot right over the hill

There’s Sodie-pop and the dancin’s free

Won’t you come along and go with me

I said hey good lookin'

What ya got cookin?

How about cookin' something up with me?

[My first car, bought during my senior year in GHS, was a hot-rod Ford and Billie was with me when I bought it. She snuggled up to me when we drove it away from the dealer ship, after we got out of sight of my Grandmother. J]

Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Five foot two, eyes of blue

But oh what those five foot could do

Has anybody seen my gal?

Turned up nose and turned down hose

Flapper yes sir one of those

Has anybody seen my gal?

Now if you run into a five foot two covered with fur

Diamond ring and all those things

Bet your life it isn't her.

Could she love could she woo

Could she could she could she coo

Has anybody seen my gal?

                   [If you knew Billie, you would know this song fits her to a T.]

Let Me Call You Sweetheart

Let me call you sweetheart

I’m in love with you

Let me hear you whisper that you love me too

Keep the love light glowing in your eyes so true

Let me call you sweetheart

I’m in love with you

Let me call you sweetheart

I’m in love with you

Let me hear you whisper that you love me too

Keep the love light glowing in your eyes so true

Let me call you sweetheart

I’m in love with you

I’m in Love with You, Honey

I'm in love with you, hon-ey.

Say you love me, too, hon-ey.

No one else will do, hon-ey;

Seems fun-ny, but it's true.

Loved you from the start, hon-ey.

Bless your little heart, hon-ey.

Ev'ry day would be so sun-ny,

Hon-ey, when I'm with you.

You Are My Sunshine

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

So please don't take

My sunshine Away

The other night dear

As I lay sleeping

I dreamed I held you in my arms

When I awoke dear

I was mistaken

And I held

My head

And cried

You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy

When skies are grey

You'll never know dear

How much I love you

Please don't take

My sunshine Away

New Year's Resolutions

Bill called his parents to wish them a happy New Year, and his dad answered the phone. 
"Well, Dad, what's your New Year's resolution?" Bill asked him. "To make your mother as happy as I can all year," Dad answered. 
When mom got on the phone, Bill said, "What's your resolution, Mom?" 
She answered, "To see that your dad keeps his New Year's resolution." 

Granddaddy's Musings

Granddaddy’s Musings

I will do my best to do this chronologically, but at this stage of life, I'm sure that will not be the case. God has given me a full and blessed life and for any victories or successes, I may have enjoyed He gets all the Glory. For all the failures and defeats I bear total responsibility. So, I will start with some basic personal history.

One of the fondest memories I have is growing up in the small town of Garland, Texas. Didn’t realize it at the time, but I was truly blessed. Garland was a peaceful place for a boy to grow into manhood. The year I started Elementary School, 1940, the population was 1941, that's one thousand nine hundred forty-one. Hard to believe since now the population is perhaps more than 200,000.

My Grandmother, Cora May Schafer, my Dad’s Mom, raised me from the time I was about 18 months old. My Mother (Gladys Faye McGee) and Father (Roy Leonard Schafer) were both young and found it difficult to take care of a little boy. Also, as I have come to think in later years, my Grandmother probably pressured them into giving me to her. She was a strong-willed woman who pretty well ruled the whole family. I have no complaints about that, although I did miss having a family with Father-Mother. My Grandmother, who will be known from this point as Mama did a good job providing for us and keeping me in check.

I can remember as a little boy going to visit Mother & Daddy in Dallas. They had an apartment somewhere off South Harwood. I would spend a week or two with them and then go back to Mama's. I remember our visiting a tent revival near Fair Park. We walked to get there and sat not too far from the front. There was sawdust under the chairs and over the ground. They had a choir up on a platform, but I can't remember how large a crowd they might have had, nor do I remember anything else about the service. As I think back now it would have been great if they had gotten saved at that time and put our family together for good, not to be. Besides, God had different plans for my life.

I have been surprised to find out that I happened to be at Mother and Daddy's, in Dallas, when the 1940 Census taker came. When the Census taker in Garland, came to Mama's, Willie Maud and Glen was living in the house with her. That caught me by surprise when I saw the record.

• I'm going to insert a bit of history/trivia here about Billie. We knew her biological Father's name was Nelson Barton. That's all we knew about him, her mother would never talk about him. Papa Dewey adopted Billie when she was a little girl and her Barton birth record was closed/removed or something, so she was only known as Thomason on her Birth Certificate. Anyway, in researching the 1940 Census for her I found that she and Mama Lucille lived together with Pampa and Mamma McWhirter in Greenville. Both their surnames were Barton in 1940, so we are not really sure as to the exact date she officially became a Thomason. She could not have had a better Daddy than Dewey Thomason.
  

To be continued..........

Pictures not yet discussed

FB Posts about Billie’s Failing Health

Flickr Tags: Hospital,Illness,Hospice

James-Billie Schafer

August 3, 2012 ·

First, I want to thank ALL my friends for your kind words of encouragement and for your prayers. I am overwhelmed with your outpouring of love to the darling of my life and to me, too.

Yesterday, was a long and difficult day. We admitted Billie to Odyssey Hospice. This morning, I am awaiting the arrival of the Hospice Nurse, whose name just happens to be Billy (a male nurse). So Billy will be taking care of Billie.

Yesterday she was not as responsive to us as she had been. However, when our Doctor Chad Hammett, came into her bedroom and she heard his voice, she perked up with a smile all over her face. She responded to him and for this I am grateful. For the many of you who do not know him, Chad is a young man, a great doctor, who has shown us nothing but love and care. Not many doctors still do house calls, especially the younger set. BTW, he has been the Physician of the Year at Christus-St Mary's here in Port Arthur, loved and respected by all the staff at the hospital. Believe me, I've talked to many of them.

The doctor discontinued much of her medications that she no longer needed since she does not get out of her bed. I'm doing pretty well with her feeding tube and learning every day under the tutelage of our daughter Deb. I appreciate so much her coming each evening to help get her mother ready for the night. It's a blessing to see her and I find we do better when there are 2 of us.

Bridget has been good to come see her Grandmother and try to get responses from her. Sometimes she is successful, sometimes not. Thanks to Brandi for her daily calls and for her knowledge as a dietician that is helping me get Billie's blood sugars back in line. Also, thanks to Jim for his calls to check on his Mom and Dad. I'm so blessed with the family the Lord has given me. They have really stepped up to the plate for Billie and me.

Above all, I thank my Lord for the ways in which He has kept His Word to "never leave me, nor forsake me." His mercies are indeed new every morning. His grace is all sufficient. His love is overwhelming. Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV) "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

Another post from FB during Billie’s last 2 years

James-Billie Schafer

July 31, 2012 ·

Update on my sweet wife, Billie. Brought her home last Thursday evening. Debbie and Bridget had made everything ready at the house. Debbie, with her experience, had set up the feeding pump, so that really went well. I have learned how to administer the pump and that's good. Yesterday was the best day for communication we have had in some time. She does not carry on a conversation, but at least she answers some questions with a brief word or two.
She melts our hearts when she says "I love you!" and causes us to laugh when she answers me with a cute word, like, yesterday I was trying to get her to tell me if she was comfortable (we had just changed her in the bed). She just looked at me, finally I said "answer me 'yes, or no' and with a slight grin and a twinkle in the eye she responded "yes, or no." Couldn't help but laugh and I'll take all those I can get since there hasn't been a lot to laugh about lately.
We are still much in need of your prayers. I met with a representative of a Hospice company yesterday. In the process of discussing all this with family, our Doctor and Druggist. Hardest decisions I suppose I have ever, or will ever make.
Now, in spite of all this, or maybe I should say, through all this, the Lord has been so gracious. He doesn't always remove or take us out of the valley, but His Presence is all sufficient. My prayer is that He be glorified in our lives by our responses to His guidance. May our attitudes be detected by those around as ones who, although sometimes filled with grief, yet manifest a pure trust in Him.
God bless each of you for your faithfulness to pray and for your many kind words. You'll never know how much they mean to us at this time. We love each of you in Christ our Lord.

In the Hospital with Billie

James-Billie Schafer

July 19, 2012 · Port Arthur, TX ·

Not very spiritual, but I woke up this morning, looked over at my Sweetheart in her hospital bed and from out of the blue the following lyrics came into my mind. Do you remember Ricky Nelson singing this?
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When the skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
So please don't take
My sunshine Away
The other night dear
As I lay sleeping
I dreamed I held you in my arms
When I awoke dear
I was mistaken
And I held
My head
And cried
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When the skies are grey
You'll never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine Away
Please don't take my sunshine away