Charles Craig Justice-Obituary

 

  Charles Craig Justice passed away Friday, June 11, 2021 after a long illness in St. Cloud, Fla. He and his wife, Penny, had resided there for the last several years. 

  Charlie was born April 22, 1945 and raised in Cadillac, Mi. He graduated from Cadillac High School.  He joined the Air force shortly after graduation during the Vietnam Draft. Charlie was a career Air Force veteran.  He served 22 years of active duty and was stationed all over the world. While in active duty, he also served as the Air Force recruiter for the greater Wexford County area of Michigan from 1981-85. He retired from active duty in 1989 and then worked for many years at Meryl's Auto supply in Cadillac.  He then retired to move with his wife  downstate to live near the grandchildren.  After moving to the Lapeer County area, Charlie worked for NAPA Auto Supply of Capac and Almont for many more years. During his tenure in the area he was very active in his church, especially with youth programming. Eventually Charlie retired once again to move with his wife  further south to enjoy the weather and be with yet another set of grandchildren. There he worked for a few years again in an auto supply environment in the St. Cloud, Fla area and was also involved in church activities.

  Charlie will always be remembered as the big guy with the big heart.  He was always an advocate for children and his children,  grandchildren and now great grandchildren remember him as the BEST ever! He truly loved people and he loved life.

  Charlie is survived by his wife Penny, his children Cyndy Kalinowski (Matt), Kerry Lirones (Monty), Dan Ide (Lisa) and Tammy McComber (Ken), 6 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. There are also several step grandchildren and great grandchildren. 

  A memorial service is planned for Saturday, August 28, 2021 in Imlay City, Mi.  Please contact Cyndy Kalinowski at 810-724-2912 for further details.

Condolences may be sent to: Penny Justice c/o Cyndy Kalinowski 960 Brown City Rd, Imlay City, Mi 48444. 

This Is What Happens When Boys Play With Danger!

This post needs no further clarification.  Have a great day everyone!😀

Life in The Fast Lane

  I inherited an Eagles greatest hits CD when Merry and Sr. bought a family trickster  to cart the baby and baby junk around.  It had gotten left in the cd player.  "Life in the Fast Lane" was released when I was still a very young girl and I don't remember being really emotionally attached to the song.  I did have an Eagles album but I was a little older when I got it.  Anyway, while listening to this cd in the car I have gotten to know the words quite well.  It seems to be the perfect song for a certain group of people I know. 😉

 

Life in the Fast Lane

Eagles

He was a hard-headed man
He was brutally handsome,
And she was terminally pretty
She held him up, and he held her for ransom in the heart
Of the cold, cold city
He had a nasty reputation as a cruel dude
They said he was ruthless, they said he was crude
They had one thing in common, they were good in bed
She'd say, 'Faster, faster. The lights are turnin' red."

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane

Eager for action and hot for the game
The coming attraction, the drop of a name
They knew all the right people
They took all the right pills
They threw outrageous parties, they paid heavenly bills
There were lines on the mirror
Lines on her face
She pretended not to notice
She was caught up in the race

Out every evening
Until it was light
He was too tired to make it
She was too tired to fight about it

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, yeah
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane, uh huh

Blowin' and burnin', blinded by thirst
They didn't see the stop sign,
Took a turn for the worse
She said, "Listen, baby.
You can hear the engine ring.
We've been up and down this highway
I haven't seen a goddam thing."
He said, "Call the doctor. I think I'm gonna crash."
"The doctor say he's comin', but you gotta pay him cash."
They went rushin' down that freeway,
Messed around and got lost
They didn't care they were just dyin' to get off and it was

Life in the fast lane
Surely make you lose your mind
Life in the fast lane, uh huh
Life in the fast lane
Everything all the time
Life in the fast lane, uh huh

Life in the fast lane
Life in the fast lane

Songwriters: Don Henley,Glenn Frey,Joe Walsh

© Universal Music Publishing Group,Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

For non-commercial use only.

Data from: LyricFind   

Rainy Day Chores

 

 I usually do not get involved with arguing with Mother Nature about the weather because I enjoy being outside and Michigan really does have pretty nice weather, BUT trying to deal with chores in this stuff gets pretty rough.  This year is especially bad because there are no square bails to be found.  That means I have to run the tractor every day and I have to wrangle the big round bails to get the hay off to control the feeding.  I look pretty much like a muddy drowned rat after each feeding.  The horses hate being cooped up for more than a day but if it isn't sunny by tomorrow, things will be so slippery they will slide all over the place if I do put them out.  So....what's a farm girl to do?  Pray for sun!  Otherwise our hopes for a nice fall will be quickly ruined by MUD season.

 

LOVE

  Love is one of the most complicated and yet simple words we humans have. Since the beginning of time wars have been started, murders have committed and countless other heinous acts have been carried out all because of LOVE that was unresolved and it became twisted into a negative passion, selfishness or hate.  At the same time, a simple glance to an emotionally wounded person, opening the door for a person who is handicapped and smiling and saying hi to a stranger are all deep acts of love.
  Obviously I am not talking about "Hey Baby" kind of love.  (Remember I have peeps of all ages reading.) I am talking about the deep love that cries out from  the soul that EVERY human yearns and deserves.
  That is why a person can feel another's crisis across many miles or even continents.  That is why a person can feel when another is close by emotionally.
  When circumstances force things to become unresolved in an emotional relationship, no matter how simple or short or long or complicated, it can tear the soul apart with an anguish that just won't leave no matter how hard you try to run from it.
  I personally see Earth as a sort of boot camp.  I have also seen Hell on Earth so I KNOW we have lessons we have to learn here. I believe very strongly that if things can't be resolved between 2 parties on Earth, it has to bee resolved  upstairs and if it can't be resolved upstairs, there probably has to another try here on Earth again.  Yes, I am a strong Catholic, but I have seen enough that I really do believe in reincarnation.
  So, when appropriate, sometimes it can be many, many years later, it is best to resolve things. Some circumstances dictate for all kinds of safety that the peace can only be in your heart. The New Testament is full of  advice on forgiveness.  I don't have time to look for the scriptures  at the moment-maybe later.
  This is Christ's message of Love.  He isn't saying "Continue to walk on me and beat me up" he is saying "Find a way to make peace so you don't stay stuck".   Have a great day everyone!

The family has grown and grown!

 This is Merry and her beautiful family.  Make no mistake about who the most favorite man in my life is!😉

Matt, Jeni, her husband and me

 Well my first attempt at a real post since 2012 is going pretty well.  High speed helps and the insert picture part is simpler. Anyway, the pictures say it all.  One daughter moved to Texas. (2012) One daughter got married (2013) Grandson born (2017) Second daughter got married (2018)  In between and during all this we had 4 exchange students, expanded horse camp and continued working with all the "Just Dance" kids.
  Unfortunately no more trips to Africa.  There is a lot of danger-between Isis and the germs that our bodies just can't fight well, and the expense.   So for now we just correspond with and sponsor Rakieta and her gang.  I'll write more on that later. Well time to post this to see how it looks.

Long Time No Post!

  Well, hello everyone!  Long time no post.  A lot has happened since I last wrote 6 years ago so I will update slowly and in an organized fashion.  I will just say this.  The last 6 years are a blur.  I was always afraid that I would be lonely once the kids were grown, BUT that just did not happen.  Instead my family grew and I long for loneliness now and then.😊  I've been thinking of writing again for several months but I am just now finding the time.  I had to dust the cobwebs out of my memory to see if I could remember my username and password.  Luckily my memory did not fail me. Well, that is enough for today as I have several things I have to relearn as it has been so long since I was on.

Lightworker

Last week someone called me a lightworker. I hadn't heard that term in a long time. I did a little research when I had time. I am not sure I buy into some of the rhetoric, but if knowing 1. that you have a mission or purpose 2. knowing what your purpose or mission is 3. are driven to act on it 4.It helps mankind and humanity 5.It leaves your corner of the planet a little better off 6. You seem to be at peace with or connected to the afterlife/angelic/God side of things, then I guess I probably am a lightworker. It actually makes sense. I will still live my life exactly as it has been, mundane drudgery, busy, busy and the stresses all people endure, and I love every minute of it, but I did come to realize through that conversation that I need to nurture my spirituality more. Iget so busy taking care of everybody I forget to nurture me. So that is one of my Lenten sacrifices.

Have a great day everyone.

Trust

Long time no talk. It has been a very active, busy time for the Kalinowski Clan and company. Everyone is doing really well. The empty nest isn't very empty and Matt and I are learning to deal with all our new "family" members and simultaneously enjoy our lives as a couple who are finding each other once again. Most of the time it is busy and noisy at our house as usual and then we get nice breaks like this weekend where we had the house entirely to ourselves. It is a neat thing. Going from "parents" to patriarch and matriarch takes a little getting used to and it hasn't always been an easy adjustment, but now that we are all getting the hang of things, I am really enjoying this part of my life. Matt still misses the way things used to be, but is embracing and adjusting to the way things now are pretty well also.

This post is about trust. First of all, trust is something that must be earned. Second of all, even those who you trust dearly can surprise you and do something you would never expect. So for me I trust cautiously until someone gives me a reason to distrust, and even in those I do trust, I always am wary that something unexpected could happen. That way when or if the shoe drops, in most cases the relationship can be salvaged. In those cases where the relationship needs to be severed, it can be done without as much trauma as there otherwise might be.

I am always saddened when humanity takes the low road and each heartbreak hurts as much as the last, but at least I can keep my faith in human goodness by not trusting rashly.

Have a good day all!

Up For Air

Well howdy everyone. It has been a very long few months. The dance group has grown up some more and it is requiring a lot of attention. I really enjoy what I do so I am glad about that, but I am pretty tired and ready for some down time.
I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks to do very little in the way of mental work. By then hopefully I'll be rejuvenated and ready to go once again.

Alas summer is almost over.

I have a lot of pictures and news but no time to write. So........ I do promise to sit down and begin catching up as soon as we get a not so nice day.
Hope everyone is staying safe and doing well.

Finally Up for Air!

Well, the air has reached disgustingly uncomfortable. Something like the deep south. We are to be in the 90's all week and of course it is muggy too. We got a lot of drama and theatrics this afternoon , but just a few dribbles of rain....so it was pretty much a non event. Hopefully it watered the trees enough so that I don't have to water until at least tomorrow.
I am slowly but surely settling into my summer groove and I really like it a lot. I have 3 tutored kids and 9 horse camp kids. It is keeping me busy but I really love what I do. The horses LOVE it. They aren't getting their weekly trail rides right now because Jeni has been so busy, but the are getting handled by the kids every day. It is working out great!
All is well in the chicken coop. The lazy silkies finally began laying.
After a lot of budgeting, it was decided that it was much more economical to get busy on the barn than it was to add on to the current studio again so.....we are deep into construction on the barn.
While my mom is home for the summer we are working on scanning and cataloging family photos. It is a project I have been working on for many years, but now with my new hard drive it is making it a joy.
Everything is fine with all the daughters. Lots of nice memories and opportunities. My tutored kids are enjoying Mrs. Cyndy's home-school of hard knocks and I love seeing their academic challenges melt away. Mrs. Cyndy's driving school has gotten 2 students street legal this summer. 1-2 more to go and then I may be retiring for a bit. Things in Africa are going well. A little more illness than normal, but I think everybody is on the road to recovery. Thankfully Rakieta is as healthy as a horse.
Yes, all in life is good at the Kalinowski Ranch!
Now, about the multitudes of cats produced by one "Mama" alias "Fertile Myrtle".............
(By the way, she is now fixed.)

Don't Know Whether I am Coming or Going!

I do have a lot to share. i just have no time to sit and write. I'll be back soon. Promise!

Long Absence

Long time no post. I will catch everyone up later. Things are good, just hectic and busy as usual.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Today I will gripe about the rain! The studio has had rain seep in twice. Tonight looks like it will be the 3rd. I just can't take it anymore. The barnyard is under water. It is never under water. The temps are warm but we put the critters in anyway just to give them a break from the sogginess.
Upside, all the trees I planted are blooming up a storm. Downside, we will NEVER get cought up on the mowing.
Hopefully it will be a good hay year.
Well, I am tired of sulking and complaining so I guess I will close the post for now and watch Magnum while getting ready for bed.
Adios!

Milemarker!

Well good morning everyone.
Most of the eastern US appears to be under water. A lot of water. I am dreading going out to the studio because of the mess I have to deal with. But I will gripe about the large quantities of water and the huge sewing load later.
Today I want to briefly say how happy I am to report that ALL of our orphan girls are checked in and accounted for.
Our relationship with Rakieta and ever growing family continues to be stable. The only crisis there is that Rakieta complains when I do not call enough.
All of our host daughters but one have checked in and are in regular contact. The only one left out there is Chikako who is in Japan. I assume that she too will check in when she finds her way to facebook.
The reason I started this blog was to help those on the other side of the ocean feel connected to those of us on this side of the ocean. I originally wrote of one Russian daughter. I am happy to report that the little gal, Natasha, who started our whole orphan adventures has also made her way back to us. It has been a long and difficult struggle for her but she is back with us once again and over the last 6 months has begun the long journey of trying to get her life and her daughter's where she would like things to be.
Also, today one of the 3 African girls, who had moved to Benin, Delilah, checked in on facebook finally. It is a huge relief to have contact once again. And an added bonus is that she now has a good working English vocabulary.
Lastly, all the American girls we helped parent over the years have all checked back in over the last year and 1/2 or so.
Of course Merry and Jeni are doing well. Things are pretty status quo for them at the moment.
It truly makes my heart sing to have so much love in our lives and to see the blossoming as a result of our efforts when it mattered so much.
Looking back I wouldn't change a thing. In some situations, we actually had to make huge sacrifices and went through a lot of agony, but it has all been worth it!
I have always said "There is always ENOUGH love. No matter how short everything else may be, there is always enough LOVE. " I think we have proven that that statement is very true.

Update at last

It has been a little while..........
The snow never seemed to stop, the mud never dried up, the rains began and made the mud worse, Burkina began to have civil unrest, show season began to take over and now my house is being overrun by an 18month old. Natasha and Abby have taken up at least part time residence. The adjustment has been pretty good, but definitely exhausting some days. Good thing we haven't had too much time to get used to life without Grandpa. At least she is shorter than he was and can't open doors. On the other hand she needs her diapers changed and throws her food. Oh well, such is life.
In other news, all the trees did get planted, the driveways have been restoned and so we are not drowning anymore, I have more kids than I know what to do with for horse camp, and costumes are clicking along. The chicks were finally able to move out to the nursery pen, Thank Goodness.
Rakieta is graduating sewing school this spring and her sister Gemilia got married this weekend.
Merry has a new beau, Jeni had to get a new car and Natasha thinks boys are stupid.
Matt is FINALLY able to ride his motorcycle to work.

I really LOVE my life. Every hectic, zany, messy, loud minute of it.

Mother's Day was absolutely awesome here. I hope all of you had a great one too.
Well, I am off to do laundry before we all pile on the couch for Desperate Housewives. (Or as Natasha puts it: Desperate Wife's House)

Stardate 8:25 am Wednesday

I am sitting in the den. The sun is up and out, the chickies are starting to ask for breakfast, I am sitting on the computer listening to Fox News and the rest of the house is starting to wake.
The news is startling to say the least these days, but under Obama, there have been a lot of shocking news days. I try to stay up to date but I can not let myself lose sleep over all this stuff.
Show season is ramping up which means the percentage of time I spend on costumes is growing. that is ok. I LOVE sewing season! I get a little stressed over the long days and hours, but the amount of creativity that flows is very good for the soul!
The snow is almost gone, Thank God. Mud is still prevalent, but it isn't as bad as a couple of weeks ago. If we hadn't had the ice storm we would have no mud at this point.
I can't wait to have the driveways done. I really have spring fever.
Things are clicking along with all the girls. Jeni is still car shopping, Rakieta is getting ready to graduate, otherwise everyone is status quo.

March, what a month!

The weather this month has been interesting to say the least. We had one day in the 60's and yet it is a low of 7* tonight. This is one March I will not miss.

Personally I am very tired of the slop, wet and cold. Thankfully we are on day 3 of a long sunny streak. I don't know how much more of the dreary cloudy days I could have taken.

This has been a very busy but rewarding weekend. Bridal shower, driving lessons, dinner out with family and lastly, the "Before Easter Easter".

There has been some demonstration trouble in Burkina but I think things are quieting once again. Olga has discovered how great facebook is for keeping in touch. It is great to have day to day contact with her finally. Now to just get Rakieta to get things figured out.
Olga is our Chevosh region Russian girl. We have had an extra twist in this story. Natasha, the girl we actually hosted who went on to be adopted has been reunited with us. It has been great to have a conversation with both girls together.
Having all these girls sure does keep life interesting.

Saturday!

I am sitting in my den where I like to do my morning stuff. It is quiet for the rest of the house and I get to see the sun moving around. Today I am looking at NO SNOW. And no soggy ground...for the most part. Spring has officially commenced and this year it is very welcome. We just finished quite a winter.
So I am about to call Rakieta, do chores, head out to run errands and then begin working like a fiend on costumes for the spring show.
The kitchen is full of chicks. I need to find a larger container since it is still to cool to move them even to an out building.
Continue to pray for Japan and their people and we all need prayers regarding the situation in the middle east.