Joy Neal Kidney's Blog, page 3

So far, nothing has eased the misery

– Reassigned to the MD who diagnosed Crohn’s– nothing so far has helped, but she’s responsive– first biologic infusion today– praying that it will give relief even earlier than the suggested 2-6 weeks– thankful it’s not winter– finding God’s blessings, big ones and small ones, all around me in the middle of this summer of misery#inflectra

Carry on, friend. Keep writing.

I just discovered this poignant review on Amazon for Leora’s Letters, but it sounds like Heidi D. has read them all! Heidi D.5.0 out of 5 stars I wept when the story ended….

Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2025

Format: KindleVerified Purchase

“Oh Joy – what a journey I have just taken with Leora, Clabe, the twins, the girls, the boys, the farm, the old John Deere….I can see Leora’s chickens and smell Clabe’s pipe in my dreams.

“I wept throughout the stories. And then, I wept when I had finished all the books. I felt like I had closed a chapter on my own life. It was bittersweet. Our stories are our greatest gift. A legacy is an inheritance of the most holy. Thank you for the painstaking research, the documentation and finally for the closure the boys deserved and the family (and I) needed.

“Thank you for sharing the strength of the American spirit, especially demonstrated by the Wilsons and their mammoth heartbreaking sacrifice in the name of our country. I was especially impressed by the utter generosity of all the children to their parents. Whether it be financial or just working to keep the family afloat in good and bad times, the children were obviously raised with generous hearts.

“Carry on, friend. Keep writing. I would love to read more and more about the mid-west and the backbone of the US. Thank you again and again.

“When I retire, soon, I want to visit the graves. I want to see Dexter, Perry, all of Guthrie County[,] the land Leora and Clabe finally owned. I feel like I know all of them and it has been my honor to learn about them and share in your story. What a gift! Thank you.”

What an encouraging review, Heidi D. Bless you for this!

Not ready for the woodpile yet – guest post by Shane Goodman

This piece by Shane Goodman, Editor and Publisher of the [Guthrie] Times Vedette digital newsletter, stuck with me after I’d read it. The compelling similarity to the human body, experiences, and memories as we age. Shane gave me permission to share it:

From the Publisher: Not ready for the woodpile yet 

I inherited some old Adirondack chairs a few years ago. At the time, I reasoned that with a light sanding and a new coat of paint, these could be nice chairs. When my light sanding peeled off sheets of paint, I knew I was in for more work than I had planned. I persisted, though, using a power washer to take off the large stuff and an orbital sander to smooth it out. After two coats of oil-based primer, two coats of top paint, and many hours, my wife asked why I didn’t just buy new chairs. Fair question.

The answer was that this became a challenge I had to conquer. The amount of time or money I was putting into the chairs quickly became irrelevant. I simply had to win. Something was pushing me to save these chairs.

While power-washing, sanding, priming and painting, I couldn’t help but think about what these old chairs had been through, and I smiled as I thought how similar they are to the human body.

Each layer of paint represents memories for someone. These are the experiences the prior owners had, much like the clothes we choose to wear on our bodies. Sometimes old and worn. Sometimes faded. Sometimes needing repaired. Sometimes needing replaced. But we also sometimes hang on to them, often by needle and thread or with a new accessory to make the old appear new again. Even so, each layer — each color — represents a specific stage of life.

Underneath those layers of paint, I found a few damaged boards that needed repair — broken bones, you might call them. Despite the fix, they are not quite the same. The repaired pieces don’t blend in with the others, but they do keep the old chairs usable, at least for a while.

Securing these boards were a bunch of rusty screws — the joints of the chairs. At first, they were shiny, new and sharp, made to hold the bones together. Over time, they weakened, became discolored and even broke off. So, in a surgical DIY effort, I took a few of the worst ones out, and I screwed in shiny, new, sharp ones again.

While putting in the new screws, I realized that some of the core wood was soft and rotten, no longer able to do what it was intended to do. The shiny, new, sharp screws couldn’t hold that mush together anymore. Repair was no longer an option. These vital boards — the organs of my chairs — needed replaced immediately.

I did the work to these chairs a few years ago, and I am proud to say they are still standing today. Sure, the paint is peeling in spots again, and a few more repairs are needed, but they are usable. My wife says they need to be discarded, maybe even set aflame. I am not ready to throw them in the woodpile just yet. Like most of us, with a little TLC, they have a few more good years left in them.

Have a terrific Tuesday [July 8, 2025], and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707

Shane Goodman is also the publisher of Cityview, “Central Iowa’s premiere monthly magazine,” according to John Busbee of the Culture Buzz. President and Publisher of Big Green Umbrella Media.

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Johnston office8101 Birchwood Court, Suite DBirchwood Crossings Business ParkJohnston, Iowa 50131515-953-4822, ext. 305Guthrie County office104 Industrial RoadGuthrie Center, Iowa 50115641-332-2707www.biggreenumbrellamedia.com

Paper Dolls through the Generations

When my mother was little, her Aunt Georgia
sent a Dolly Dingle paper doll with clothes to change,
along with a story poem about Dolly.

When I was a girl, my sister and I cut out ladies
from the Sears catalogue, then chose catalogue clothes
for them to wear. Gloria’s doll was named Luanne.

When granddaughter Kate was here we played paper dolls
with a kit gifted by friend Lynne, who has lots of granddaughters.
The two cardboard girls have stands so they can model
what we cut out for them–dresses, rompers, costumes.

Kate drew a backdrop for them from a file folder,
then cast them in a video skit of knock-knock jokes,
complete with her mother’s laugh track in the background.

Dolly Dingle

Little Doris Wilson’s aunt Georgia Goff sent her this Dolly Dingle paper doll, along with a hand-written poem.

Des Moines, Ia.
Mch. 3, 1920 (or 1921)
1322 - 40 St.
Doris' Dolly Dingle
I
Please accept Dolly Dingle
Whom you may spank
With her little shingle
If she should show her spunk.
II
Her dresses too I give to you,
pretty hats, & playthings.
Yes, she has a cat.
III
I must explain
So you can change
Dresses on time
Lest she whine.
IV
She wears green on Sun.
And plays with her cat
Would you believe it?
Just look at that.
V
A pink little dress
For morning wear.
A sack of cookies?
Why! that's her fare!
VI
She plays with her doll
In the afternoon.
Listen! and hear
The bye-bye tune.
VII
Her Sailor Suit for any day
When she wants to look
At her story book,
Or play in the sand
Oh! isn't that grand?
VIII
Ah! her party dress
Isn't it dainty?
(I'm afraid she looks a little bit painty.)
Why, she wears that
When she dances with Jess.

To Doris - From Aunt Georgina

The Dolly Dingle paper dolls were designed by Grace Drayton, who also illustrated children’s books, fashion pages, and magazine covers. The paper dolls appeared in the women’s magazine Pictorial Review. Considered as one of the first and most successful American female cartoonists, Grace Drayton created the Campbell Soup Kids.

Doris Laurayne Wilson, August 1921, Stuart, Iowa

Claiborne Junior Wilson born 100 Years Ago, Dallas County, Iowa

Grandmother Goff’s low voice early in the morning meant a new baby. Such an exciting time! Claiborne Junior Wilson was born July 6, 1925, at the Hemphill place, the first Wilson born in Dallas County. It was so hot upstairs with no fans so they slept downstairs. 

The Ringling Brothers circus came to Des Moines ten days later. Grandmother and Leora, mother of the Wilson kids, stayed home with baby Junior, two-year-old Danny, and the five-year-old twins, who’d be too hard to keep track of in a crowd. 

The circus-goers were up before daybreak. The kids headed outside even before the roosters crowed. Leora fried chicken for their dinner, to enjoy with buttered bread. They drove the Model T to Des Moines. Once inside the circus area, Clabe told Doris to hang onto his finger so she wouldn’t get lost. 

They watched the circus animals in their cages before the big show started. Grandfather bought pop for everyone. With seats near the middle of the tent, they could watch the acts in all three rings. Back home, the boys could hardly wait to tell about the fat clown, who opened a door in the front of him and a little dog jumped in and came out at the back. 

And when they got home, they had a new grandmother. Leora had given her a new modern haircut. 

 

Back: Delbert, Clabe holding Junior, Leora, Donald. Front: Danny, Dale, Doris (her 7th birthday), Darlene. Near Dexter, August 30, 1925

Leora’s Early Years: Guthrie County Roots

How are we doin’?

A recent photo taken by daughter-in-law Renee: Joy, Dan with extra needy rescue dog Luna, Guy, and Kate (her parents don’t want her darling little face on social media). Yes, that’s an old wash tub holding this year’s fern.

My Favorite Guy just had a checkup with his neurologist. There’s no blood test for Parkinson’s Disease, no CT scan, no MRI. It’s mostly Dr. Kahout’s experience, observations, and intuition about how Guy is doing. This is a season of losses for us both. Guy can no longer take his extra walk (without his slower spouse), hasn’t gardened for the first year ever, and wears out more quickly.

He learned during his last checkup at the blood+cancer center that now he’s a little anemic, so they adjusted his chemo meds. That explained his extra exhaustion.

Dr. Kohout also asked how I’m doing. I’ve recently been diagnosed for Crohn’s but the first medicine didn’t work, so I started on prednisone this week. It looks like we’ll be adding trips to an infusion center when that gets okayed and set up.

But even with the unwellnesses we’re dealing with, we’re both thankful we didn’t develop them earlier in life. And we’re in a “good place,” with a comfortable home to feel crummy in, each other, and appliances that work (thanks Brian). If/when I get to the place where I can have meals out again, we’ll be able to enjoy breakfast or lunch.

God is weaning us from earthy delights, turning our attention toward the other side where Christ has prepared a place for us. A place without diseases and steroids and IV infusions. 

On this side of heaven, Meadowlark Songs was published in the middle of my quest to find out what was causing my miserable middle. 

I’ve not had the energy to enjoy radio interviews, which are my favorites. The new book has only a few reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and BookBub. I’m so grateful for two faithful bloggers who have featured Meadowlark Songs on their websites. 

Meanwhile, would you believe that I’m praying for enough energy to pursue the next book? Or two? Oh, wait. I’m supposed to be downsizing.

Freedom–guest post by Hoang Lam

Hoang Lam’s parents

Freedom, to my parents, isn’t just a word, it’s their entire story. Many know of their great escape from communism in Vietnam during the 1970s, leaving behind everything: no money, no English, no family, only each other and the will to survive.

They found freedom through the kindness of Oklahomans and the strength of the United States military. From a refugee camp to mowing lawns, cleaning offices, and learning English, they worked relentlessly for several years to earn their citizenship.

My dad’s first W-2 job was as a busboy then onto as a CnC machinist; my mom worked over 25 years on an assembly line. Freedom is unshakable, and this country gave my parents everything they have. I am forever grateful.

My duty is to honor their sacrifice, respect this great nation, and be a citizen worthy of the opportunities America provides. Truly love your freedoms, this country makes you better.

You got this.

Hoang and his dad

You might like to follow the delightful Hoang Lam on Twitter/X. His family’s excitement about becoming American citizens is so compelling!

When the wheels begin to come off

Early in this journey of life
you think you have plenty of time
time to go places, see people, do things

then a flat tire needs patching,
there’s rust in the pipes,
That chassis could use some duct tape,
your engine is faulty.

Open heart surgery is the only remedy
the surgeon says, but not an option for you,
things are unfixable,
your plenty of time is running out.

When the wheels begin to come off,
this journey of life begins to shift
from thoughts of this side of heaven

to what lies beyond, to the One who
numbers the stars and calls them each by name
and who knows the day my warranty expires.

Front Porches

Farmhouse along Old Creamery Road south of Dexter, Iowa

I grew up in a big ramshackle farmhouse with a porch. Not a wrap-around porch, but a porch nevertheless. My sis and I played there a lot, with pet dogs, cats, even a squirrel that liked lemon drops.

Gloria and Joy with Snowball

When it rained, without lightning and thunder, we’d wrap up in blankets and watch it rain. When we were older, we gathered there with our folks to wait for time to to watch for Sputnik to arrive over Iowa.

After living in two dorms, two trailers, two apartments, and two houses, I still longed for a home with a porch. So when Guy was nearing retirement, we added onto the back of the 1957 brick one-story house. And a porch on the front!

Our home before remodeling.

The new porch has a railing and is much nicer than the one I grew up with, but it’s wonderful to live in a house with a porch once more. My Favorite Guy especially enjoys listening to the radio and even napping on the porch swing.

Sometime Murphy waddles over from next door to see if my Favorite Guy has something interesting to share.

Have you ever lived in a home with a front porch?