Tears Prayers Miracles and Laughter: (Testimonies and Stories for My Son, Scott)

By Virginia Lynn Rutenber

This book is filled with life experiences of family members; many of them, the Author's son, Scott. He was hospitalized many times growing up and she witnessed a few miracles during those times and felt compelled to write about them. The Author tried for many years to tell Scott her testimonies and stories, but for many reasons it never worked out because of the distance between them. So she decided to put her feelings and stories in writing, and hope that someday when Scott had time he would read about them. She had been involved in all the tears and laughter for many, many years. She wanted this book to be a keepsake for Scott, in the event that if she passed away, he would have something "special" to remember her by and perhaps share the book with his new family.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 18, 2012
• ISBN: 9781481708029

Book preview

© 2012,2011 Virginia L. Rutenber. All Rights Reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/21/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-3172-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0802-9 (ebk)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963481

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Image299.JPG

CONTENTS

My Dedications

My Childhood Experience

More Childhood Experiences

Growing Up With Alcoholic Parents

Lavallette, Nj

Then On To Texas

Blind Date

Our Marriage

Our Honeymoon

Other Family Weddings

Visit To Nc

First Son, Thomas

Triumph Fiasco

Hunting In Nc

John Henry’s Hammer

Wee Hours Of The Morning

Blue Marlin Trip

Tom—For Showers

Ramar Of The Jungle

Myrtle Beach Vacation

Mom’s Passing

Scott’s Birth

Scott’s Medical Problems

Dad’s Passing

Scott’s Bike Accident

Lynn’s Allergic Reaction

Letters For Our Cousin Scott

Scott’s Poster Contest

Houseboat

One Thanksgiving Time

One Christmas Eve At Mount Fuji

Hole In The Yard Or Back Flips?

2001 Reunion

Firebird

Bad Back

Jon’s Week In The Hospital

The Big Move

Arriving In Nc

Popcorn Anyone?

23 Years Later:

Tornado In Nc

The Longest Walk

More Disasters

The Rutenber Family

My Personal Feelings About Mom And Dad

My Sister Dawn

My Brothers Woody And Tom

My Friend

To My Husband, Jon

A Letter To Scott

My Prayer

Image306.JPG

MY DEDICATIONS

Jon Rutenber-To my wonderful and beloved husband who has stood by me for forty years with his patience, understanding, caring nature, capacity to always listen to me, and his unending moral support when writing this book.

Scott Rutenber-To my son who is the sole reason I am writing this book. He is also my reason for getting up each morning and starting a new day; for my smiles and laughter; for my hope and faith; for all my joy; and for my very reason for living.

Dear Scott,

For years and years I have tried to tell you my stories, but for so many reasons it never worked out. And no one ever knows how long they have on Earth; only God knows. So I decided to write my stories and someday give them to you in one form or another. Then one day when you have time; now or in the future, you will read them.

And like I said in one of my earlier emails to you, one day you’ll have a family and Church of your own. Perhaps you may want to share the stories with your family and Pastor. Remember God had a reason for letting you live and He has a plan for you. Everything in God’s Timing. The following are my stories. Read them and always save them!

I LOVE YOU MOM

My Childhood Experience

I have a sister, Dawn, and two brothers, Woody and Tom. I am the oldest. I think I can speak for all of them when I say growing up in a household with Alcoholic parents was difficult and in some ways took its toll on all of us; each differently I suppose. When Mom and Dad were NOT drinking they were kind, caring, and would do anything for you. At least I found that to be true. As we got older, they took us to Church on Sundays; and that’s where I found God and learned to Pray and haven’t stopped Praying since. But I find myself to this day trying constantly to make peace with everyone all the time because of the way Mom and Dad were. And I’ve noticed over the years, that none of us four kids really ever talk about Mom and Dad much at all; maybe because the memories are still fresh or it’s too painful. Maybe the hurt is still there. I don’t know. I do know that after Dawn, Woody and Tom moved away, Jon, my husband and I still lived in NJ and lived close to Mom and Dad, therefore still dealing with their continuous problems. So you see, it didn’t stop in school; it went on even after that.

I want to share an experience with you that affected me traumatically. When I was 4 1/2 years old, I was in the hospital to have my Tonsils out in New Brunswick, NJ. Dawn was just 1 year old at the time. I remember vividly. I was coughing up blood after the surgery. I was so scared and frightened. Mom and Dad were getting ready to leave to go home. I was crying so much; I wanted them to stay, or at least one of them. I pleaded with them. The Nurse kept saying that Mommy and Daddy have to go now, that she would be with me. They would be back tomorrow to take me home. Mom and Dad kissed me goodbye and left. Then the Nurse left me alone too. I cried most of the night. The following day I went home as promised. I found out Dawn was staying with Aunt Sis for a few days. A few years later, I asked Sis why Mom and Dad wouldn’t stay overnight with me at the hospital and she quietly said, Lynn, they wanted to go home and have their cocktails.

After knowing that and how it affected me; I vowed that if I ever got married and had a child; sick or in the hospital; that I would NEVER leave that child, no matter what. And to this day, I never did. Ask Scott.

More Childhood Experiences

Dawn was just 4 ½ years of age when Mom and Dad sent her to Kindergarten instead of 5 ½ years; a WHOLE year earlier than she should have gone. She said this affected her tremendously at such a young age and therefore affecting her reading skills in school. She would take the Bus everyday to and from school, since Mom and Dad only had one car. She would cry and cry on the Bus because she was so upset about school and she was all by herself. The Bus Driver felt sorry for her and would drop her off right in front of her house so she didn’t have to walk so far alone. To this day, she hasn’t forgotten this episode in her life, and it has bothered her so very much.

Dawn and I both remember Mom and Dad often having work done in our house on Lufberry Ave. in New Brunswick, NJ. This particular time, the work was being done in the kitchen area by their favorite Carpenter, Harvey. He was always building new shelves for them. Mom OFTEN didn’t like the way he built certain things; and after a few drinks or so; she would take a hammer and start to pound away at his work destroying it, literally! Wood and nails were flying everywhere! I remember I was about 5 years old and I guess Dawn was about 1 ½ years. Dad had just come home from work. I was traumatized by this commotion and started crying uncontrollably. Mom was SO mad that she had Dad take me upstairs and lock me in my room for a couple of hours. When I finally came downstairs, Dawn was nowhere to be found. I asked Mom, where is Dawn? She answered, we gave her away. I asked why? Mom answered, because you were a bad girl. I ran in the living room and cried and cried. Later I found out that Dawn was staying with Aunt Sis for a few days or so. This episode in my life did all but destroy me. But I never gave up somehow. Something kept me going; and I had Dawn of course.

We will never forget Grandma Hickman. She was our Mother’s Mom and indeed a sweetheart. I always remember her standing in front of her living room window just staring out, looking at everything that went by. She would have her arms crossed in front of her and a hairnet covered her hair. She was always ready with open arms for you whenever you came by.

One day when us kids learned of her passing; we really took it hard. I remember Dawn and I going upstairs on our bed and just crying for hours. Her death at a young age affected me terribly. I couldn’t stop crying. Then Dawn remembers cousin, Pat taking us to Princeton, NJ for hot chocolate to calm us down and take our mind off things for a while. Grandma was buried at Princeton Cemetery. We will always remember her always!

Growing up with Alcoholic Parents

It started when Dawn and I were very young. I remember back as far as 4 ½ years old; Dawn was 1 year old. Dad and