Happy Fathers Day

Dear Dad....you are with our heavenly Father today. the last words I heard you say after I asked you "dad are you in pain?" was "no" you said. And you were not as you were in your mind with the Father in heaven. God gave me to you as your first child. I wasn't planned...but there I was. You were so pleased that a girl child was given you that she was named for the person that had helped him to survive as a young boy. He didn't have a mother to raise him, she left his father after the fourth boy was born. I am so pleased that I have that name. It didn't mean a thing to me until  adult thoughts were installed. thank you dad for the name, but mostly for the Godly heritage you gave me. You prayed, gave, read your bible, worked tirelessly to make a living so that your children would have what you didn't have.
  I remember him going to work on the church after working 10 hours a day with the Service Station Maintenance company, that he organized. Our church was his second home, where he could find solace with his God and savior.  He was a bit strict...Yeah! strict... so that we could and would know what clean living was all about.
Hunting or fishing was his thing on saturdays...thats when us girls could have our chocolate pudding , pizza or tuna fish sandwiches...he did not like those foods....He wanted meat, potatoes, vegetables and dessert. Nothing was to be eaten after dishes were done....something I changed for my life !!!!!
When I  was a baby, mom and dad went to Swannee River Camp , he searched the country over to buy me fresh milk.....no sodas for me only milk and did I drink it? NO NO NO...I wanted coke!!!lol
So many  memories are precious and tucked away in my heart. Only to be remembered often.
I love you dad. Put your arms around your grandson, my son, Vann. You called him as a baby, Duncan Hines, "only the best will do"....and he is with you, mother,  Charles my brother ,grandmothers and grandfathers on both sides of the family.
God bless your memory on this Fathers Day.

Pictures of Mom and Dad

William posted this picture on FaceBook and I could not let it go without being noted. My parents were God fearing parents who loved us very much. I think they did the best they could with what they knew. I love you Mom and Dad.

Time

Time comes and goes ....can't stop it except in death. God know the time we don't. Windy left today, sadness overcame me when she stepped out of the car. Windell and I drove around, not going anywhere and then came home. We are  by ourselves again. And that is ok as we have raised our children as best as we could  for what we knew at that time. God blessed us anyway. Out children have blessed us with their love,  for which we are thankful. God will bless them for their honor.
Friends have blessed me with their comments and they truly were received with honor. I am so blessed to have such good friends. That is what makes life as it is. My husband is my gift from God. I know sometimes I get so angry and that is the ugly word, angry, when he does what I feel is not what should be or could be . But with the love that I have for him, i go on and forget what is said or done and the feeling of angry is gone. That is love...forgetting the former and going on to the better. I thank God for him. He has needs as we all do and I hope that I can help him to fulfill those needs.
I want this celebration of my 70 years on this earth to be remembered as good. A person who loves God and serves Him. May God bless me and give me as many as He sees fit.

Psalms 84:11 " The Lord God is a sun and a shield and NO GOOD thing will he withhold from him who walk uprightly...." may I always walk upright...

Windy is here!

The feelings I had when I saw my daughter this afternoon was so over whelming that I cried. She is so beautiful having taking control of her life...she had always been a determined person and I am proud. God gave her to me on the 27thof June. I remember being awakened by an angel of a nurse named Judy and saying "Mrs Shirley you have a baby daughter" and I clapped my hands and said " Yeah"!!!!
We are so pleased with her. She was a gift from God. God has used her because she has allowed Him to do so. When we are at our lowest point, God takes what w have and uses it. I love her and am so proud of her...Thank you God for giving her to me!!!!
 We will have a great time together. I remember when we would go to Orlando that we would go from one Michaels to another and Joannes to another Joannes...we did that when she was in college in Birmingham and we would go from one Gayfers to another Gayfers across town...fun fun fun!!!! Shopping , a girls thing!!!!
She has been given the gift of being so wise in things of God. She uses her talent so well in helping others to see the way of God. God bless her to the fullest...

Birthday thoughts

When I was born seventy years ago little did I know of what the future held. I remember my grandfather Leonard who loved me so much, would just sit  and listen to a little girls chatter, while opening a Hershey's chocolate bar. After the chocolate bar was devoured, he would take out his big red handy, wipe my mouth, tell me to swallow good and then spit out the rest. He said" Jukee, don't tell your mother that you had a chocolate bar" and I didn't...mother later said when she found out about these bars..."I wondered why you didn't eat your dinner like I know how you liked to eat" lol. Memories are good. They come flooding back when times are needed. I love my family, miss my son who is with God. He would be here for my birthday saying," now you know I can't let something important keep me away" such a good son but "why" is something that I struggle with and will the rest of my life. God knows and He cares. I trust Him and His infinite wisdom. Our daughter Windy in on her way home , she said" I can't let my mother have a birthday and not be there" . When I found our that I was pregnant for a third time, my heart was happy yet hesitant of a third child. "What were going to do?" We can't afford another child, but GOD knew the future, if it had not been for our third child, we would not have enjoyed our retirement, traveling to and fro visiting each one and seeing God 's world. He would be here also but I understand his commitment to his family providing a living so they can be productive in this world. God knows and cares for each one . I love you, Windy, Vann and Jeff.   God knows their hearts and He cares for them. Thank you God for giving them to me. Humm...girly chatter...thanks grandpa Leonard for listening.

today

Walked 1.6 miles in hot humid maybe rain today...wow...then made us a milkshake with no added sugar ice cream...wow is that a contrast ....but it was good.....then noticed a flat tire...that is 3 times in a week...does that seem strange..there was a nail in the spare and some kind of a wrench/tool  in the other. God blessed us this am on our route and didn't  let it go flat until after we got home...Thank you God for your care.

Vann has been on my mind for the last few days....that isn't strange as he is always on my mind. BUT God is good and knows why he is gone. I shall never get over this tragedy. Happy day to all...