Today I was talking to my neighbor , she was telling me about her bus trip from Florida to here in Alabama. Memories came flooding back about 48 years ago when Windy was about 2 years old and I was just pregnant with Vann. We had left Nashville Tn about 6 months before to go to Monroeville Al to pastor. The salary was $50 a week with $35 coming from the Alabama District. The church was only able to come up with $15 a week. We lived in the SS rooms of the church with a kitchen and L R added. Our bedrooms were the SS classes. So on Sundays we had to make sure there were no dirty underwear around and it was presentable for the 5 people who came to SS. With the 3 of us it made 8 in attendance. Sometimes we hit the 10-15 people... yeah.. big Sunday!!!! When the district decided not to help with the salary... Honey had to get a job grading cucumbers to supplement our income. It made enough for us to survive. But the day came when the cucumber season was over and we had to find something to do. The Panama City Church of the Nazarene was building a new church and with honeys father the pastor, honey went down to help out and make us some needed income. It was a sad time in our life, honey so wanted to preach and he was good at it but everything seemed to go against us. We moved out of the parsonage and into the home of his parents. I decided to go to Miami and see my family. I was so distressed, no money, pregnant and with one child already.
Mother sent me some money to purchase a bus ticket and bring Windy with me to see them. So we got on a Greyhound Scenic Bus...those were the kind that had a double deck on top with all around windows..Windy had a ball, she laughed, played around the seats, read her books and watched the scenery. She absolutely was a wonderful passenger. Other people around us just laughed and played with her. What an experience! We got the scenic cruiser coming back which was as nice as going down. Still had a great time with her, she was a great traveler.
Soon after that we moved to Shiloh Alabama where we had some run ins with the gophers/rats....some people who gave us fits, where honey as a young 23 year old pastor had to intervene between and older couple who were fighting and the man hit his wife..what problems we had to endure..We grew up so fast . Had someone watch us at night through our windows as we had blinds but not always as good as they should have been. Had two wonderful sons born to our family to make it complete. Honey and I had to relearn alot about people and how to live with them...and we did.
After that we moved to Ky where we endured some of the same stuff as in Alabama but only on a different level. It was good for awhile then they decided we weren't as good as they wanted for $50 a week..lol lol. My uncle Alan and his wife Aunt Patty with their 3 children, Mike, Billy and Lynne came to visit us. We took them to the Kentucky Dam Lake area where we had the most wonderful time with our family. Uncle Alan took some pictures and filmed us that day. I found out today that his daughter had that film plus the film of our wedding!!! I have been so excited to know it has been found. I have asked and asked about that for many years.!!! I am so happy! My children do not know and they don't read these blogs so they won't now until I send them a copy. Such a surprise for them...Windy used to ask us "where was I when you got married" we replied " in Gods mind" to which she would reply " I wish I had been there" .. of course she was little and didn't realize what she was saying...I am glad she wasn't there!!!! LOL LOL...
As time goes on we moved again and again finding the same problems but in a different location. Why we didn't learn and stop this I don't know. I suppose every place was a learning experience that we needed. God was with us in every situation.
Thank you grandpa for listening... I love you J
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
gatherings!
You won't believe how frustrating we were this am...it is this paper thing!!! I know you are tired of hearing about it but it is the most aggravating thing I do... we got to the last section and ready to come home and found out we had 4 YES 4 papers without the most important part...the Football section. If you don't know, Alabama is football .....doesn't matter if it is high school, college or pro.... they must have anything pertaining to football. So we had to drive to the nearest store about 1/2 mile one way buy 4 papers and then 1/2 mile back to deliver! Yep! Deliver! Honey was so mad, aggravated, disturbed, animated to say a few adjectives of his behavior!!!! He just doesn't understand why a business can't do their job right. I can't either but am not as animated as he....just more tolerant. OK now on to the next thought! lol PS note! Had 2 complaints one missed and the other a damaged paper...Hello..they are all damaged and she got the best we had to offer...it is just the way they come to us...messed up, torn and what ever....one of the other carriers said this morning " she was lucky to get what she got" they were all a mess! DITTO!
Was thinking about many things but could not decide on one..so I will sign off and think!!!lol
Well I am back and it is Tuesday morning!!! Honey and I rested yesterday while the weather was really nice to rest by, sprinkled all day on and off. We sat on the back porch, watched the hummers fly , buzz us, shoo each other away from their food and by the way, we have to fill our feeders about every other day...there are so many of them you cannot count. I tried to video them but they were just too fast for me.! We love watching those hummers, diving up to the sky then back down to the earth around and around then landing in the limbs of the maple tree chattering all the time. We imagine that they are talking to us, so we reciprocate. Talking to them as if they were our friends...lol.
When I was about 10 years old our family went for a ride in our new Oldsmobile which I loved so much, we rode to the beach then came down the causeway , crossed the bridge over the inland waterway (remember this is in Miami Florida) and my dad pulled into a drive in restaurant. We never ate out as he thought my mother was the best cook and she was of course... but this Saturday we ate out at Kelley's Drive Inn. Our hamburger, french fries was served in a green plastic basket with a paper liner and a drink! I though I was in hog heaven as I said "we never ate out". Sometimes on Saturday evenings dad would take us to the Dairy Freeze or Caravels. We would always get an hot fudge sunday...uhmm that was the best chocolate. I never thought how fortunate I was to have been born and lived in the state of Florida. I took my place of birth for granted, wondering sometimes as how the other parts of the world would be. Later we started taking some vacations and I saw a little bit of the world. When I married honey I never dreamed that we would live in 23 different places and nine different states....wow! He sure took me out in the world.! Some of the places I wish I had never lived and others I loved.
In Pascagoulga Ms, we had a wonderful pastorate, making many friends that are ours today, graduated from nursing school, starting work as an RN for the Singing River Hospital. Wow! Did I ever have some experiences. I worked on the code team and yet just a new graduate...they said I was good at what I did and wanted to make me better. One night I was called to the ER where a young 18 year old male was out with his father logging, was hit in the head by a tree and quit breathing. It took the EMS several minutes, like 30, to reach him, they got his heart rhythm back but not regular, intubated him , which is mechanical breathing machine, and tried to find out just where we stood, ever so often his heart would go into another rhythm and then we would have to shock him, then do cpr at times , this went on for a few minutes until he stabilized. I escorted him along with the ER nurse, respiratory therapist, DR and others to the Cat Scan and found he had no blood flowing to his brain, in other words he was brain dead. The decision was to ask his parents to obtain his organs for transplants and they agreed. I then went back to my unit, tired and emotionally drained. That wasn't the first time I witnessed death. On the LAST day of my rotation in nursing school my patient was not going to make it. He had Asbestosis could not breathe and refused to be put on the ventilator. He made himself a DNR....Do Not Resuscitate . Anyway, I had cared for him for about a week or so and he liked my care of him and requested that I take care of him again. I knew something was up, he wasn't breathing well, sitting on the side of the bed, struggling to breathe, I rubbed his back, washed his face, did whatever I could to make him comfortable. His wife was pacing up and down the room, so I suggested that she go and get a bit of food, take a walk and I would stay with him. She no sooner left the room than he started struggling more and more, I started rubbiang his neck and he was a very large man about 250 or more pounds, quietly telling him to relax, telling him it will be alright all the time slipping behind him to rub his back . All of a sudden he just relaxed on me falling back into my arms and he quit breathing. I thought to myself no this can't be, he relaxed just too much...I reached up and pushed the call bell asked for my charge nurse...she came in and saw what had happened , called for someone to help get him off of me! There I was pinned beneath this large man who was not breathing!!! It took 2 large men to help him of of me. I told her what had happened and she said" next time don't tell them to relax" and laughed....I called honey and told him that I would be late, I forgot to tell you it was about 3 pm when this happened and I got off at 3:30...so when I got through doing all of the paper work, helping the family, etc. I called honey to pick me up. The first thing he said when I opened the door was"you didn't kill any one did you?" I just broke out in tears and cried and cried..he just about died on me, he did not know and was just kidding me. I have to tell you he never did that again when I was late! He learned his lesson in medicine!!!!
Many times I witnessed death in nursing career. One more I have to write about was when we lived in East Gadsden Alabama and I worked in Anniston at the East ALabama Hospital in the ICU. My patient that night was 50 year old male who had had many heart attacks, had the open heart surgery but then his arteries clotted again , had severe pain and was admitted to the ICU after having a heart cath. They could not do any more on him and was sent to us to die. The Dr came in and told me to make him as comfortable as possible left me with plenty of ordesr for pain meds but did not make him a DNR. I ask the patient if he wanted to be rescuited if his heart stopped and he said NO. I called his family in , they cried and made over him until he looked at me and said, send them home! I quietly ushered them out to the waiting room. That was very hard to do.He asked me to sit in the room with him and I did. I got up to wash his face, give him some pain medicine, then asked him if he was ready to die, he replied" Yes Yes Yes, I made my peace with God many years ago." I asked him if it was ok if I prayed and he said YES, please do. As I was praying with my eyes closed, I put my hand on his forhead, asking God to heal this man if it be His will. I felt something beside me, assuming that it was his family or another worker checking on us as they will do sometimes, saw only a bright white something then it was gone. It was an ANGEL I am sure. I have never felt anything so precious, soothing, reassuring as that was. He lived that night until the next nurse came on and coded when my foot stepped off of the hospital ground. She figured it out how long it would take me to get out and that's how long he lived. I have never felt that same feeling as I did that night. I met an angel! God used me over and over again in the hospital and to which I am grateful. To HIM BE THE GLORY! AMEN!
Thats enough of the hospital, I have many other stories and will tell them some time.
Thank you grandpa for listening, I love you J
Was thinking about many things but could not decide on one..so I will sign off and think!!!lol
Well I am back and it is Tuesday morning!!! Honey and I rested yesterday while the weather was really nice to rest by, sprinkled all day on and off. We sat on the back porch, watched the hummers fly , buzz us, shoo each other away from their food and by the way, we have to fill our feeders about every other day...there are so many of them you cannot count. I tried to video them but they were just too fast for me.! We love watching those hummers, diving up to the sky then back down to the earth around and around then landing in the limbs of the maple tree chattering all the time. We imagine that they are talking to us, so we reciprocate. Talking to them as if they were our friends...lol.
When I was about 10 years old our family went for a ride in our new Oldsmobile which I loved so much, we rode to the beach then came down the causeway , crossed the bridge over the inland waterway (remember this is in Miami Florida) and my dad pulled into a drive in restaurant. We never ate out as he thought my mother was the best cook and she was of course... but this Saturday we ate out at Kelley's Drive Inn. Our hamburger, french fries was served in a green plastic basket with a paper liner and a drink! I though I was in hog heaven as I said "we never ate out". Sometimes on Saturday evenings dad would take us to the Dairy Freeze or Caravels. We would always get an hot fudge sunday...uhmm that was the best chocolate. I never thought how fortunate I was to have been born and lived in the state of Florida. I took my place of birth for granted, wondering sometimes as how the other parts of the world would be. Later we started taking some vacations and I saw a little bit of the world. When I married honey I never dreamed that we would live in 23 different places and nine different states....wow! He sure took me out in the world.! Some of the places I wish I had never lived and others I loved.
In Pascagoulga Ms, we had a wonderful pastorate, making many friends that are ours today, graduated from nursing school, starting work as an RN for the Singing River Hospital. Wow! Did I ever have some experiences. I worked on the code team and yet just a new graduate...they said I was good at what I did and wanted to make me better. One night I was called to the ER where a young 18 year old male was out with his father logging, was hit in the head by a tree and quit breathing. It took the EMS several minutes, like 30, to reach him, they got his heart rhythm back but not regular, intubated him , which is mechanical breathing machine, and tried to find out just where we stood, ever so often his heart would go into another rhythm and then we would have to shock him, then do cpr at times , this went on for a few minutes until he stabilized. I escorted him along with the ER nurse, respiratory therapist, DR and others to the Cat Scan and found he had no blood flowing to his brain, in other words he was brain dead. The decision was to ask his parents to obtain his organs for transplants and they agreed. I then went back to my unit, tired and emotionally drained. That wasn't the first time I witnessed death. On the LAST day of my rotation in nursing school my patient was not going to make it. He had Asbestosis could not breathe and refused to be put on the ventilator. He made himself a DNR....Do Not Resuscitate . Anyway, I had cared for him for about a week or so and he liked my care of him and requested that I take care of him again. I knew something was up, he wasn't breathing well, sitting on the side of the bed, struggling to breathe, I rubbed his back, washed his face, did whatever I could to make him comfortable. His wife was pacing up and down the room, so I suggested that she go and get a bit of food, take a walk and I would stay with him. She no sooner left the room than he started struggling more and more, I started rubbiang his neck and he was a very large man about 250 or more pounds, quietly telling him to relax, telling him it will be alright all the time slipping behind him to rub his back . All of a sudden he just relaxed on me falling back into my arms and he quit breathing. I thought to myself no this can't be, he relaxed just too much...I reached up and pushed the call bell asked for my charge nurse...she came in and saw what had happened , called for someone to help get him off of me! There I was pinned beneath this large man who was not breathing!!! It took 2 large men to help him of of me. I told her what had happened and she said" next time don't tell them to relax" and laughed....I called honey and told him that I would be late, I forgot to tell you it was about 3 pm when this happened and I got off at 3:30...so when I got through doing all of the paper work, helping the family, etc. I called honey to pick me up. The first thing he said when I opened the door was"you didn't kill any one did you?" I just broke out in tears and cried and cried..he just about died on me, he did not know and was just kidding me. I have to tell you he never did that again when I was late! He learned his lesson in medicine!!!!
Many times I witnessed death in nursing career. One more I have to write about was when we lived in East Gadsden Alabama and I worked in Anniston at the East ALabama Hospital in the ICU. My patient that night was 50 year old male who had had many heart attacks, had the open heart surgery but then his arteries clotted again , had severe pain and was admitted to the ICU after having a heart cath. They could not do any more on him and was sent to us to die. The Dr came in and told me to make him as comfortable as possible left me with plenty of ordesr for pain meds but did not make him a DNR. I ask the patient if he wanted to be rescuited if his heart stopped and he said NO. I called his family in , they cried and made over him until he looked at me and said, send them home! I quietly ushered them out to the waiting room. That was very hard to do.He asked me to sit in the room with him and I did. I got up to wash his face, give him some pain medicine, then asked him if he was ready to die, he replied" Yes Yes Yes, I made my peace with God many years ago." I asked him if it was ok if I prayed and he said YES, please do. As I was praying with my eyes closed, I put my hand on his forhead, asking God to heal this man if it be His will. I felt something beside me, assuming that it was his family or another worker checking on us as they will do sometimes, saw only a bright white something then it was gone. It was an ANGEL I am sure. I have never felt anything so precious, soothing, reassuring as that was. He lived that night until the next nurse came on and coded when my foot stepped off of the hospital ground. She figured it out how long it would take me to get out and that's how long he lived. I have never felt that same feeling as I did that night. I met an angel! God used me over and over again in the hospital and to which I am grateful. To HIM BE THE GLORY! AMEN!
Thats enough of the hospital, I have many other stories and will tell them some time.
Thank you grandpa for listening, I love you J
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Birthdays
Now to the celebration. It was our niece's birthday and she had come home to celebrate it with her family. We were invited to have dinner with them and away we went! What a great feeling to be able to be out , see others, laugh, talk and just have fun. Not being in a hurry as honey likes to go in eat and get out! Only when we go out with others that we can have a leisure dinner, talk and not be in a hurry. Cindy went on the 127 yard sale with us stayed in the same room with us and we got to know her pretty well and have become closer as family. Her family ( Wayne is her father and honey's brother) always make a big deal of birthday's and holidays, something we did when our children were home as youngster but in the years of growing up and moving away those times have changed much to my dismay.
When the children were little I would have their present on their bed when they woke up, starting their day off on a good note, of course that is depending if we got them what they wanted!!!! Then they were allowed to choose the meal of their choice and did not have to do dishes that night. It was a good day....Windy told us one time that she knew she had grown up when at college and it was her birthday, she woke up and there wasn't a present on her bed and she cried.
My mother always made our dinner of choice and give us a present after dinner. I think I liked my way better.My mother had other ways of doing things to make us feel special.
When my children were at home and young we had a plan of getting the dishes done each night, one week each one had the job of either washing dishes, drying the dishes ( no D W) putting them away and the third had to clear the table and empty the trash . They did it for a week then rotated to the next round. At Holidays or special times, they were not responsible unless asked to help. It worked pretty good for many years although they complained of each other NOT doing their job right. But that is children!!!! My plan was for them to learn to be responsible for things in their life. Beds were to be made each morning and rooms cleaned each week. They complained always but again "that is children" , I did the same thing when I was a child.
I miss those days of doing special things for my children but as they grew up they moved farther and farther away. Only regret I have is that I should have let them cook more. I didn't like anyone in my kitchen...my mistake. As I found out later they became good cooks but had to learn on their own!!!I am sorry for that.
Back to the celebration, we had dinner at Rosie's a local Mexican restaurant. They had been to Cathedral Caverns, did some shopping and then met us at the restaurant. It is kind of hard for honey and I to get out for a full day so we do a dinner date. Fun! We got to telling stories of times when Cindy's family would come and visit us as we always lived somewhere away from them. One time when they came to visit us in New Mexico, honey and his father had gone to Camp and I went with Wayne and his family to the Carlsbad Caverns....it was really neat, cold and dark....won't forget that. another time they came to see us and all went to the Grand Canyon, another time to Taos.
When honeys parents came out we would take them out in the desert to see the trails of the pioneers..that was always an interesting trip. One time we took our children to Arizona showing them many things and telling them some history of our nation. We gave them many history lessons so guess what became their favorite class in school? You guessed it! History!!! Times were good for our children. God Bless them I love them so much. Vann I miss you.
Grandpa thank you for listening. I love you J
Friday, August 27, 2010
August 27 2010
It has been several days since I posted some writings...several things on my mind and cannot decide which way to go. Well our miracle with Miss Minnie ended Monday am when she blew her radiator or as the saying goes "she blew a gasket!" lol. Honey worked for 2 days working on that radiator. He got it out and had a shop to repair the leak. then worked furiously getting it back in...well, it works very well, no leaks, the hot engine light does not come on , just the usual popping and creaking that God had taken care of but seemed to be back! Guess He decided that he had done all he could! We will put up with it for the time being. Really had a smooth move (!) this am, but when we unloaded our Sunday inserts which are in a mess that the Huntsville Times lets us fix, we found 3 papers left over! oh no! did we forget someone? Don't think so just over runs! We will know soon enough. PS: late note..no calls YEAH!!!
Now about thoughts of other things. Dad came to mind and his life as a child. He wrote a short bio once didn't give too much info, wished I had interviewed him, but he probably would not tell me much. I have noticed that generation didn't want to talk about things of the early life .But he did speak of living with his father ( my favorite grandfather!) his 3 brothers and an uncle now and then. He spoke of how rough life was, having only one good set of pants and shirt that he had to wash out each night so they would be clean the next day for school. He graduated from high school and vowed that his children would go to college. He spoke of how he delivered papers ( humm) sold vegetables, sold salt, worked for a cleaners and held many odd jobs as a teen just to earn enough to buy things he needed. He and his family lived in a 2 rooms shack and I mean a shack down from where he later purchased a lot and built the home that I was born in.
That home was all they had, grandpa being a well driller which was hard work, did not make alot of money and I am sorry to say that he used alot of what he earned on alcohol. Mother told me it was home brew that he drank and that is what took his life. Evidently got some bad white lightening which poisoned him. That was in 1947 when my world came to an end with my grandpa. How I missed him.
Dad tells of surviving the hurricane of 1923 or there about. The winds were so strong, batting the house which began to come apart at the seams, that his dad and uncle took the 4 boys out to the old truck that they owned got the boys inside and then his dad stood on one side of the truck on the side board and his uncle on the other side board, to hold the truck from blowing away. Dad said the winds were whipping their clothes off when they stood up or tried to get in the house.
The Red Cross came by later told them they could have money for their home but had to pay it back in a few weeks. Well did they have any money? No No...so they just put it back together best they could.
There wasn't any help in those days other than family working together.
When I was about 8 years old we traveled to Jasper Alabama where one of dads uncles lived. I look back at how ironic honeys and my paths came close to passing. In fact they probably did and we didn't know it. Honey was from Winston County which is right next to Jasper. Many of my ancestors are buried there in Jasper or Walker County. One of our friends was named Jack Frost , who with his family lived in Miami but was from Walker County. We went to the Frosts home when we visited our family. I remember them living by a Rail Road track and in a home that was kind of run down. Honey said that he also visited in their home many times. My thinking was that they lived in Miami for awhile then would go to Aabama for awhile. So ironic!
The uncle that we visited in Jasper was very ill so that was the reason we visited them. Dad wanted to reconnect with his family. Uncle Bascom was his name ( I think), his father was a Dentist, another uncle was an educator along with other family members having other professions. They lived in a large home that was built on a hill with a number of steps leading up to a porch. There was where we found Uncle Bascom lying there. He didn't live too much longer after our visit. Many years later when my nephew got married in Cullman Alabama, we drove over to the cemetery and checked out our ancestors. You get a sense of kinship when you visit the burial ground knowing that they paved the way for the family.
Dad died in 1997 too soon for a great man. He had many stories to tell and I believe that he shared many of them with my brother and sister. I will share them here when I get more insight.
Our heritage is is behind us and before us in our children and grandchildren. We must preserve the future by speaking of the past.
Grandpa you were in my life just a short time but left a big imprint on me. I love you J
Now about thoughts of other things. Dad came to mind and his life as a child. He wrote a short bio once didn't give too much info, wished I had interviewed him, but he probably would not tell me much. I have noticed that generation didn't want to talk about things of the early life .But he did speak of living with his father ( my favorite grandfather!) his 3 brothers and an uncle now and then. He spoke of how rough life was, having only one good set of pants and shirt that he had to wash out each night so they would be clean the next day for school. He graduated from high school and vowed that his children would go to college. He spoke of how he delivered papers ( humm) sold vegetables, sold salt, worked for a cleaners and held many odd jobs as a teen just to earn enough to buy things he needed. He and his family lived in a 2 rooms shack and I mean a shack down from where he later purchased a lot and built the home that I was born in.
That home was all they had, grandpa being a well driller which was hard work, did not make alot of money and I am sorry to say that he used alot of what he earned on alcohol. Mother told me it was home brew that he drank and that is what took his life. Evidently got some bad white lightening which poisoned him. That was in 1947 when my world came to an end with my grandpa. How I missed him.
Dad tells of surviving the hurricane of 1923 or there about. The winds were so strong, batting the house which began to come apart at the seams, that his dad and uncle took the 4 boys out to the old truck that they owned got the boys inside and then his dad stood on one side of the truck on the side board and his uncle on the other side board, to hold the truck from blowing away. Dad said the winds were whipping their clothes off when they stood up or tried to get in the house.
The Red Cross came by later told them they could have money for their home but had to pay it back in a few weeks. Well did they have any money? No No...so they just put it back together best they could.
There wasn't any help in those days other than family working together.
When I was about 8 years old we traveled to Jasper Alabama where one of dads uncles lived. I look back at how ironic honeys and my paths came close to passing. In fact they probably did and we didn't know it. Honey was from Winston County which is right next to Jasper. Many of my ancestors are buried there in Jasper or Walker County. One of our friends was named Jack Frost , who with his family lived in Miami but was from Walker County. We went to the Frosts home when we visited our family. I remember them living by a Rail Road track and in a home that was kind of run down. Honey said that he also visited in their home many times. My thinking was that they lived in Miami for awhile then would go to Aabama for awhile. So ironic!
The uncle that we visited in Jasper was very ill so that was the reason we visited them. Dad wanted to reconnect with his family. Uncle Bascom was his name ( I think), his father was a Dentist, another uncle was an educator along with other family members having other professions. They lived in a large home that was built on a hill with a number of steps leading up to a porch. There was where we found Uncle Bascom lying there. He didn't live too much longer after our visit. Many years later when my nephew got married in Cullman Alabama, we drove over to the cemetery and checked out our ancestors. You get a sense of kinship when you visit the burial ground knowing that they paved the way for the family.
Dad died in 1997 too soon for a great man. He had many stories to tell and I believe that he shared many of them with my brother and sister. I will share them here when I get more insight.
Our heritage is is behind us and before us in our children and grandchildren. We must preserve the future by speaking of the past.
Grandpa you were in my life just a short time but left a big imprint on me. I love you J
Monday, August 23, 2010
new thoughts
Today as I was having some tests done (nothing wrong) thoughts began to come to me as a child. Going to church camp was always fun as a teenager. Vickies father was our pastor and on Sunday night after the evening service, he would load us up and away we would go. It took us about 9 to 10 hours maybe more. Vickie, Kaye (Vickie's sister) and I would sleep in the back seat with all of our pillows. I wonder how many times he fought sleep driving us to camp. We were so watched over by our heavenly Father, thank you God for caring for our pastor. When we got to camp, such fun we had, running around, watching the boys and even going out for rides with them, yes we were NOT suppose to do that but we did!!! One time when I was about 14 or so I must have picked up a virus. I threw up so many times, stayed in my upper bunk with no AIR CONDITIONING...oh how miserable I was. The virus must have stayed with me for awhile as I threw up alot for several months. Dr Carr could not seem to find what was wrong...so I just drank ice tea and very little else for several months. I lost alot of weight. My sophomore year of high school was good as I met a young man named Jim who would talk to me, make me feel good about myself. He sat in front of me in Algebra and I must confess he helped me with my tests...I made good grades in Algebra...lol lol..Mr Darrow was the teacher and I am sure he knew but never said a word..smiled and told me one time" you are the bane of my life" ......had no idea what that meant and still don't care as it made me feel good at a time when teenagers do not feel good about themselves...Jim graduated that year and off he went and I never had another friend like him.
Back to camp....mother used to tell me that when I was a baby, her and dad would take us young children to camp which was located in Swanee Florida , the same camp that Rev Frederick would take us as teens. Once we were at camp, I was about 5, Shirley was 3 and Charles was a baby...we visited the Wheelers who were our former pastors and friends of our family. They had an outhouse ( you know what that is don't you!!!:) Shirley and I were going to the bathroom and guess what happened...she dropped her doll baby in the hole!!! Then cried and cried until mother HAD TO HAD TO get it out of the HOLE!!!! that was the smelliest doll I have ever smelled...it didn't matter to my sister, she loved her baby doll... I remember that doll and the smell!!!! Remember mother putting a whole can of Johnson;s Baby Powder...yes cans!!! over and in that doll! lol lol
When our children were small we would take them to our camp in Millport Alabama. There we would give them some money for the "snack shack" and if their money ran out, we sent them to their granfather Shirley!!! we have laughed and laughed about that. Another time ..I was working at WT GRants and could not go, so I packed the suitcase with clothes; underwear, sock,shoes, outer clothes and pajamas for each child enough for 5 days. Each child was lined up in order in the suitcase. But when they got home, they would have 4 days worth of clothes still clean! Why??? I would implore of their father who said" I just turned them loose and rounded them up at night!!! lol lol Windy would tell of having so much fun with the teen girls and of course Vann and Jeff with other boys. Even though they were small
they always found someone to pal around with... teens would tell us later of how much fun they had with the kids..now about this day? Ummm don't think that would happen...would be afraid of what might happen. God cared for our children and to Him we are thankful. They were in camp from the time they were small until through their teen years until they left home for college. They loved camp...we had the privilege of taking our grandchild to camp several times while they were small. Those are treasure days.
Camp is where you are renewed in your faith, being with others who share your faith. Would not take anything for those days.
Thank you grandpa for listening.... I love you J
Back to camp....mother used to tell me that when I was a baby, her and dad would take us young children to camp which was located in Swanee Florida , the same camp that Rev Frederick would take us as teens. Once we were at camp, I was about 5, Shirley was 3 and Charles was a baby...we visited the Wheelers who were our former pastors and friends of our family. They had an outhouse ( you know what that is don't you!!!:) Shirley and I were going to the bathroom and guess what happened...she dropped her doll baby in the hole!!! Then cried and cried until mother HAD TO HAD TO get it out of the HOLE!!!! that was the smelliest doll I have ever smelled...it didn't matter to my sister, she loved her baby doll... I remember that doll and the smell!!!! Remember mother putting a whole can of Johnson;s Baby Powder...yes cans!!! over and in that doll! lol lol
When our children were small we would take them to our camp in Millport Alabama. There we would give them some money for the "snack shack" and if their money ran out, we sent them to their granfather Shirley!!! we have laughed and laughed about that. Another time ..I was working at WT GRants and could not go, so I packed the suitcase with clothes; underwear, sock,shoes, outer clothes and pajamas for each child enough for 5 days. Each child was lined up in order in the suitcase. But when they got home, they would have 4 days worth of clothes still clean! Why??? I would implore of their father who said" I just turned them loose and rounded them up at night!!! lol lol Windy would tell of having so much fun with the teen girls and of course Vann and Jeff with other boys. Even though they were small
they always found someone to pal around with... teens would tell us later of how much fun they had with the kids..now about this day? Ummm don't think that would happen...would be afraid of what might happen. God cared for our children and to Him we are thankful. They were in camp from the time they were small until through their teen years until they left home for college. They loved camp...we had the privilege of taking our grandchild to camp several times while they were small. Those are treasure days.
Camp is where you are renewed in your faith, being with others who share your faith. Would not take anything for those days.
Thank you grandpa for listening.... I love you J
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Miracles
I don't know if you believe in miracles...I DO! Yesterday I posted that our car which is necessary for our work, was giving us some problems....I went out to the car yesterday afternoon, laid my hand on the car and ask God to heal this car. Do Not Laugh! This morning was as smooth as it has ever been. I heard a few pops but nothing like the ones it made yesterday...which sounded like it was going to fall apart any minute. I mean that.!!! I also prayed for a miracle in the weather. About 4:30 pm and than later on about 8 pm the biggest lightening, wind thunder and rain storm came our way..In fact, a skunk come and rested on our porch during the storm!!! He did not spray, thank goodness or thank the Lord...but a miracle for no rain this am...when it rains we have to double wrap our papers and then tie them. Do you realize how long it takes to roll, stuff, insert into a plastic bag, tie then ,try and get into another bag and then tie!!!! Yeap about 300....then go and throw them to people who do not do anything but gripe and complain!..... It did not rain and was as clear with millions of bright stars!!! THANK YOU MY HEAVENLY FATHER.!
All through the many years of pastoring many churches and hearing thousands of testimonies of how God has performed miracles , helped them through many dangers, trials and tribulations. One lady testifies of how God had healed her washing machine, of course you could hear the snickers through the audience but I believed her. They were going through some rough spots, no money and had small children, needed the washing machine for diapers, it went kafluy and quit! She prayed that God would heal it and HE DID!!! Amen and Amen!!!!
God has touched our daughter when she was born, I have written about that in earlier blogs. She is a miracle blessed by God and of God. We love her.
Our tires are not so good and God blessed us with dry roads so we could perform our duties as paper carriers. Thank you God.
I could write of other blessings, surely you can relate as you read this. When we were pastoring in Shiloh Alabama, I was pregnant with Vann, Windy was about 2 years old, money was tight as we made only $40 a week and a car payment of $50 a month....we were suppose to go to the Preachers and Wives Retreat that November , the church did not believe in helping in any way, gas was about 50 cents a gallon and we needed money to go. We had gone to the bank that Monday morning, depositing our meager salary, bought a few groceries, got Windy an ice cream cone which she enjoyed while we drove home wondering how we were going to get the money to go the next day. How sad and despondent we were as we drove up the long driveway to our home ( which I described earlier) saw the postman put something in our mailbox. Honey backed up the car, got out and got the mail...he just handed the letter to me. Oh no! another bill! What were we going to do? I opened it up, read the letter and cried. Honeys Uncle Earnest, his mothers brother, had sent us $100.00....you would have thought we had won the lottery!!! He said that he was lead of the Lord to send his tithe to us! You see God knew what we needed and provided the Lamb.....he did that several times over the next few years and after he passed away his wife would send tithe to our churches which were small and needed the tithe. God knows and He cares.
I am now believing on Him for many things today. One had been answered this am. God was with us, kept us from harm and danger, providing a safe car and no rain....AMEN!
Luke 11:9..."Ask and it shall be given unto you...." it is yours for the asking.
Grandpa you have been a great listener. I love you J
All through the many years of pastoring many churches and hearing thousands of testimonies of how God has performed miracles , helped them through many dangers, trials and tribulations. One lady testifies of how God had healed her washing machine, of course you could hear the snickers through the audience but I believed her. They were going through some rough spots, no money and had small children, needed the washing machine for diapers, it went kafluy and quit! She prayed that God would heal it and HE DID!!! Amen and Amen!!!!
God has touched our daughter when she was born, I have written about that in earlier blogs. She is a miracle blessed by God and of God. We love her.
Our tires are not so good and God blessed us with dry roads so we could perform our duties as paper carriers. Thank you God.
I could write of other blessings, surely you can relate as you read this. When we were pastoring in Shiloh Alabama, I was pregnant with Vann, Windy was about 2 years old, money was tight as we made only $40 a week and a car payment of $50 a month....we were suppose to go to the Preachers and Wives Retreat that November , the church did not believe in helping in any way, gas was about 50 cents a gallon and we needed money to go. We had gone to the bank that Monday morning, depositing our meager salary, bought a few groceries, got Windy an ice cream cone which she enjoyed while we drove home wondering how we were going to get the money to go the next day. How sad and despondent we were as we drove up the long driveway to our home ( which I described earlier) saw the postman put something in our mailbox. Honey backed up the car, got out and got the mail...he just handed the letter to me. Oh no! another bill! What were we going to do? I opened it up, read the letter and cried. Honeys Uncle Earnest, his mothers brother, had sent us $100.00....you would have thought we had won the lottery!!! He said that he was lead of the Lord to send his tithe to us! You see God knew what we needed and provided the Lamb.....he did that several times over the next few years and after he passed away his wife would send tithe to our churches which were small and needed the tithe. God knows and He cares.
I am now believing on Him for many things today. One had been answered this am. God was with us, kept us from harm and danger, providing a safe car and no rain....AMEN!
Luke 11:9..."Ask and it shall be given unto you...." it is yours for the asking.
Grandpa you have been a great listener. I love you J
Saturday, August 21, 2010
What messes!
This morning the sky was clear , filled with stars, a three quarter moon. Route went smooth, papers flying out of our hands like saucers! We have a problem with one street, paper was taken from one of our customers. The other day a neighbor of this customer jumped out of his yard, stopped us ( we thought we were going to hit him!) and asked for a paper "free" . He evidently thinks that we have papers to give away. We told him that we don't give free ones out as we don't have them always, sometimes we do and sometimes we don't ..So he took it upon himself to take his neighbors... now we have to spend extra time to take the paper up to our customers front door..making the paper harder to take~!!~~~ then honey decided to give him a free paper for the next few days .....then see what will happen.....had some papers taken on another street but got that taken care of! Saw a walker out and made friends of her, offered her a free paper several times and the "taking" of paper has stopped...Hopefully!
It is amazing what people will do..lol . It is the farthest thing in my mind to do anything to another person.Our car began to pop more this am...it has always had a pop but now it is getting worse...I wonder what honey will do about it? Wait until it stops and we need help to get home in the middle of the night? Guess we are in the beginning of car trouble. Miss Minnie has been with us for 14 years, I guess she is tired! Miss Maxie will have to step up to the plate soon. Thank the good Lord we have AAA..but will have to call our manager to get our papers if we breakdown in the middle of the night!!! I hope not...that will not be fun at 3 am out in the country!!!! Our route takes us 71 miles from home to home!!!!We go almost to within 15 miles of Tennessee!~ yuck!
I think we have always had some kind of car trouble, as we have only bought used cars, someones elses trouble. Bought only 5 new cars in 51 years...wow, what a record! The rest "used"...I remember one time in Florence Alabama, we were going to go to Washington DC to the Smithsonian. needed brakes or something like that...and of course didn't have the money to get done so we did it ourselves....if it takes 30 minutes to fix you can bet it will take us 5 hours! We just take a longer time as the tools are not there or the wrong size, just something to make us unhappy.
Another time we had gone to the Smithsonian and had a garage fix the muffler..of course as we were making a turn in the middle of Washington DC, the muffler fell, YES FELL OFF!!!!! Honey was so mad, he said a few words, that I won't repeat, pulled into the employees parking lot behind the Smithsonian and took a clothes hanger and wired the thing up himself!!!! Wasn't that neat...it stayed that way until we got home and had them to repair their damage!!!!! Honey took ALL OF OUR CLOTHES AND SUITCASES out of the trunk and began to repair...I told the kids, "if you were ever good this is the time" and they were, sat quietly and waited until their father fixed the muffler...lol funny now but not them. In those days we could park right in front of the Smithsonian and walk in to the exhibits, can't do that now can you??? Remember parking in front of the building that had the Declaration of Independence...walked up the stairs saw the document and walked out to the car!!!lol...can't do that now!!!! Many times our car would not work as we needed but got through those times without a hitch, just a few words spoken, hollering and stating some facts that could not be done!!! lol lol
We have been to alot of places, saw things that were so interesting keeping those memories in my heart and mind to ponder over and over....traveled to the New England States, took a ferry across the Hudson into Vermont from New York. New York is so beautiful I wish we could go back, but doubt it very much. We took a trip to the Midwest, Minnesota, Iowa,among others..spent the day at the Mall of America, I recommend that highly!! Nice, but didn't have any car trouble then. Had a new car!!! lol
Guess I will go to bed now and think some things over..love you grandpa and thanks for listening. love you J
Friday, August 20, 2010
Cars
- Over the years there have been numerous cars in our family. First in the Leonard family then the Shirley family. The first one I can remember was the 1949 Oldsmobile, green in color and so sleek! Traveling to Michigan was a pleasure. I loved the hunchback that it had.
- Then in 1953 dad bought a 1954 Chevrolet station wagon which became mine and honeys car...oh the traveling we did in that car...no heat or air conditioner..just a car...lol .Oh it did have automatic transmission...it had another name..will try and remember.
- The next car that mom and dad bought was a yellow 4 door 1957 Chevrolet..how little did we know that that car would become a classic...I went with dad when he purchased that car...it was really nice. He later gave it to my Aunt Berta Lee....then she wrecked it and off it went to car heaven! Later in the 80"s he bought another 1957 Chevrolet but it was red and a 2 door. My son, Vann, bought that car from mother after dad died , he kept the car for several years, traded it for a truck!! Even steven!!!
- After that I was married with the 1954 station wagon in tow...mother and dad bought a Cadillac, Oldsmobiles the settled on a Toyota in their later life. Dad passed away in 1997.
- Now for the Shirleys...alot more to write about. First was the 1954 Chevrolet, it died and a
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Fun times
One time when I was about 12 or 13 we took a trip to Okeechobee Florida for an outing with the Ferguson's. Mr . Ferguson worked with dad and they made a good pair...each knew what to do and they did it. I like that also...do what you have to do and do it! Well, we took our boat and they took theirs, loads of drinks and food...but guess what we didn't take or if we did, I didn't use it!!! Sunscreen!!! I got the worst burn that my eyes were swollen shut almost. Mom covered us in vinegar, oh how it smelled like rip but it did work. We stunk but the burn didn't hurt as bad...didn't go to the Dr or I guess it wasn't too bad. I just remember the pain...we had such a wonderful time, riding in the boat, eating sandwiches, chips and drinks and cookies for dessert...the Fergusons had children about the same age as us and so we got along very well...we only stayed one day and drove home that night. We sure were tired at Sunday School ...
Sunday School...that is another story. Debbie reminded me of the songs that dad would sing in the opening exercises of Sunday School. He would try his best to make Sunday School as interesting as he could and I applaud him...At his funeral, we as his children sang those songs in honor of him..."you can smile when you cant's say a word"... "when your up your up" ...."heavenly Sunshine" were some of the songs he just loved...he and mother would sing "I come to the Garden alone" as a special alot of the time..We had a wonderful church, full of people that loved each other and God.
Some of the members were family but alot were not. I remember one lady that was a little heavy set(Yes) and when she stood up she always pulled her dress our of her crack (sorry to be specific..)!!! I would just laugh and laugh...thinking does she not wear underwear???? One lady had the squeakily voice and she would always sing" Were you there when they crucified our Lord" ..I am sorry to say I would have to get up and leave many times when she sang or laugh uncontrollably...one time , three of our ladies would sing in a trio and I would have to say they did a beautiful job. Very good singers but one of the ladies got tickled one time and she laughed so hard she had to leave the platform....I missed those days in the old Uleta Church of the Nazarene. Dinner on the ground, singing's, revivals, VBS are some of the memories that I have tucked in my heart. that is where I got married, had dad's funeral there but so sorry we could not have mothers there. She was a charter member of that church and so proud of that . She should have been.
Another time dad took some of us kids out for a ride in his boat which he was proud of. I think my Uncle Alan was with us also. Well a storm came up, the winds were blowing , waves washing over the boat, the boat tossing us around, dad put us kids with our life jackets on under the hull and then manned the wheel. Soon we heard a call "may day may day" over the radio...another much larger boat had lost power in the storm and was drifting out into the ocean. Dad turned our boat toward the distressed vessel and the vessel tossed a line to us and dad turned the throttle full blast and headed to the cut. We didn't make too much progress but kept them from going out to sea. The Coast Guard arrived and took the line and we made it back into port safely. I cannot tell you how scared I was, praying for my dad and then how proud I was of him for what he did. If he got any thanks from anyone I don't know as he never spoke of it again. He was a very brave man. On other trips we would catch "kingfish" and mother would fry it when we got home. Oh how I loved fried fish and grits!!!! Good days.
On another trip after we were married, I began to get sick to my stomach, mother said "you are pregnant" ..."how did you know mother"! I said. "well you never get sea sick and so you must be pregnant!!!!lol she was right and I was pregnant with Vann.!
When dad would go hunting and fishing on Saturdays with the boys, us girls would have a good time eating what we liked..dad hated chocolate pudding, tuna fish, spaghetti, they didn't have pizza that we knew of in those days. So guess what we would have...big pot of spaghetti with chocolate pudding then another Saturday we would have tuna fish!!!lol Later on when honey and I were married and pastoring, she would come to visit and the first thing she would say is" where's the pizza!!!" so away we would go!! Pizza Hut was the place!!! Oh those days....
Childhood memories are good. Thank you grandpa for listening..love you J
Sunday School...that is another story. Debbie reminded me of the songs that dad would sing in the opening exercises of Sunday School. He would try his best to make Sunday School as interesting as he could and I applaud him...At his funeral, we as his children sang those songs in honor of him..."you can smile when you cant's say a word"... "when your up your up" ...."heavenly Sunshine" were some of the songs he just loved...he and mother would sing "I come to the Garden alone" as a special alot of the time..We had a wonderful church, full of people that loved each other and God.
Some of the members were family but alot were not. I remember one lady that was a little heavy set(Yes) and when she stood up she always pulled her dress our of her crack (sorry to be specific..)!!! I would just laugh and laugh...thinking does she not wear underwear???? One lady had the squeakily voice and she would always sing" Were you there when they crucified our Lord" ..I am sorry to say I would have to get up and leave many times when she sang or laugh uncontrollably...one time , three of our ladies would sing in a trio and I would have to say they did a beautiful job. Very good singers but one of the ladies got tickled one time and she laughed so hard she had to leave the platform....I missed those days in the old Uleta Church of the Nazarene. Dinner on the ground, singing's, revivals, VBS are some of the memories that I have tucked in my heart. that is where I got married, had dad's funeral there but so sorry we could not have mothers there. She was a charter member of that church and so proud of that . She should have been.
Another time dad took some of us kids out for a ride in his boat which he was proud of. I think my Uncle Alan was with us also. Well a storm came up, the winds were blowing , waves washing over the boat, the boat tossing us around, dad put us kids with our life jackets on under the hull and then manned the wheel. Soon we heard a call "may day may day" over the radio...another much larger boat had lost power in the storm and was drifting out into the ocean. Dad turned our boat toward the distressed vessel and the vessel tossed a line to us and dad turned the throttle full blast and headed to the cut. We didn't make too much progress but kept them from going out to sea. The Coast Guard arrived and took the line and we made it back into port safely. I cannot tell you how scared I was, praying for my dad and then how proud I was of him for what he did. If he got any thanks from anyone I don't know as he never spoke of it again. He was a very brave man. On other trips we would catch "kingfish" and mother would fry it when we got home. Oh how I loved fried fish and grits!!!! Good days.
On another trip after we were married, I began to get sick to my stomach, mother said "you are pregnant" ..."how did you know mother"! I said. "well you never get sea sick and so you must be pregnant!!!!lol she was right and I was pregnant with Vann.!
When dad would go hunting and fishing on Saturdays with the boys, us girls would have a good time eating what we liked..dad hated chocolate pudding, tuna fish, spaghetti, they didn't have pizza that we knew of in those days. So guess what we would have...big pot of spaghetti with chocolate pudding then another Saturday we would have tuna fish!!!lol Later on when honey and I were married and pastoring, she would come to visit and the first thing she would say is" where's the pizza!!!" so away we would go!! Pizza Hut was the place!!! Oh those days....
Childhood memories are good. Thank you grandpa for listening..love you J
Sunday, August 15, 2010
vacations
When I was a child we would take vacations during the first 2 weeks of June. One time we went to Michigan, remember picking blueberries, seeing the steel mills in Pittsburg, other cities that I really don't remember. I think I was about 10 or so. We had a 1949 Oldsmobile..I loved that car. We took our former pastor and his wife so they could see their home state. If I am correct they were not able to drive and dad wanted to go to Michigan and away we went. If you remember those cars DID NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONERS!!!!
And we traveled in the hot summer to the North...I don't remember being too hot so I must have used to the heat. But I was really impressed with the blueberries, they were delicious. Remember seeing the lakes and not realizing that it was one of the Great Lakes. Later on when honey and I went to New England and to Niagara Falls, counting the lakes as we passed them...being very impressed with them.
In 1970's honey and I went to Chicago Ill. We parked at Lake Michigan and took the train into downtown Chicago...loved it..want to go back one day...but it will be only my dreams...
Back to my childhood....we went to the Smokey Mountains. Several times different things happened worth mentioning. One time we were in road work, mother was driving, I was reading (which I did all the time) and all of a sudden I looked up saw a semi truck in front of us and in my mind I saw him coming backward to us...wow.".are we about to be hit?" was my thought...mother appeared to be just sitting and not doing anything...so I grabbed my purse, opened the door and jumped out and ran as far as I could...was my parents mad or what...and they should have been...mother didn't know what to do next, could not pull around him as they would not leave me... apparently I came back to the car ...she then pulled around and off we went...but boy did I get an ear full!!!! I would not do that again!!! So I stayed in my book and shut out the world...mother would say to me" Judy look at the mountains" and the reply from me .."if you have seen one you have seen them all" famous quote that my mother used over and over when telling that story!!! I was into reading at that time of my life...mysteries, nurse stories...anything I could get my hands on...my daughter was the same way...
During that same trip we saw some bears ... actually stopped , sat on the rocks,then put our feet in the cold stream...that was a fun trip. Dad loved the mountains so much that he later purchased the top of a mountain in Suches Ga...that was a trip in itself. He built a cabin, had running water BUT no indoor plumbing...no hot water heater ...a outdoor shower as us girls HAADDD to have our showers!!!! I would get Shirley to hold the shower curtain for me then I would hold it for her.... we would play games at night when the nighttime temperature would drop and on went the sweaters...which we were not used to being raised in Miami Florida. Times were good, food was good and we had such fun, running in the woods, putting our feet in the cold streams, walking up the road after dinner to walk off all that good food...dad eventually put in a large garden, built a 2 story home which mother insisted it be brick! As in Florida everything is cement block and painted light colors...since mother had a bad knee he put in a elevator which my children loved to play on and dad would have fits!!! I too would love to play on it also if I was a child. I stood up for my kids many a times...when other grandchild came along they did the same~!!!
After dad passed away mother sold that place of solitude. Such a mistake but it wasn't mine to to as I please. Memories cannot be erased of those wonderful years. Although tears do appear when we think of what could have been...we go on with life and thank God for those memories..
As an adult I took many vacations with my honey and children. Had some good time, stressful times but all in all it was good times . Amen.
Thank you grandpa for listening to this little girls chatter. Do you remember when you drove us to Anniston Al and the wreck? I love you J
And we traveled in the hot summer to the North...I don't remember being too hot so I must have used to the heat. But I was really impressed with the blueberries, they were delicious. Remember seeing the lakes and not realizing that it was one of the Great Lakes. Later on when honey and I went to New England and to Niagara Falls, counting the lakes as we passed them...being very impressed with them.
In 1970's honey and I went to Chicago Ill. We parked at Lake Michigan and took the train into downtown Chicago...loved it..want to go back one day...but it will be only my dreams...
Back to my childhood....we went to the Smokey Mountains. Several times different things happened worth mentioning. One time we were in road work, mother was driving, I was reading (which I did all the time) and all of a sudden I looked up saw a semi truck in front of us and in my mind I saw him coming backward to us...wow.".are we about to be hit?" was my thought...mother appeared to be just sitting and not doing anything...so I grabbed my purse, opened the door and jumped out and ran as far as I could...was my parents mad or what...and they should have been...mother didn't know what to do next, could not pull around him as they would not leave me... apparently I came back to the car ...she then pulled around and off we went...but boy did I get an ear full!!!! I would not do that again!!! So I stayed in my book and shut out the world...mother would say to me" Judy look at the mountains" and the reply from me .."if you have seen one you have seen them all" famous quote that my mother used over and over when telling that story!!! I was into reading at that time of my life...mysteries, nurse stories...anything I could get my hands on...my daughter was the same way...
During that same trip we saw some bears ... actually stopped , sat on the rocks,then put our feet in the cold stream...that was a fun trip. Dad loved the mountains so much that he later purchased the top of a mountain in Suches Ga...that was a trip in itself. He built a cabin, had running water BUT no indoor plumbing...no hot water heater ...a outdoor shower as us girls HAADDD to have our showers!!!! I would get Shirley to hold the shower curtain for me then I would hold it for her.... we would play games at night when the nighttime temperature would drop and on went the sweaters...which we were not used to being raised in Miami Florida. Times were good, food was good and we had such fun, running in the woods, putting our feet in the cold streams, walking up the road after dinner to walk off all that good food...dad eventually put in a large garden, built a 2 story home which mother insisted it be brick! As in Florida everything is cement block and painted light colors...since mother had a bad knee he put in a elevator which my children loved to play on and dad would have fits!!! I too would love to play on it also if I was a child. I stood up for my kids many a times...when other grandchild came along they did the same~!!!
After dad passed away mother sold that place of solitude. Such a mistake but it wasn't mine to to as I please. Memories cannot be erased of those wonderful years. Although tears do appear when we think of what could have been...we go on with life and thank God for those memories..
As an adult I took many vacations with my honey and children. Had some good time, stressful times but all in all it was good times . Amen.
Thank you grandpa for listening to this little girls chatter. Do you remember when you drove us to Anniston Al and the wreck? I love you J
Saturday, August 14, 2010
August 14th
- Honey and I were married 51 years ago in Uleta Florida at 8 pm on Friday night. It was misty raining, the photographer was late as he was shooting a launch and forgot he was supposed to be at our wedding! So we had to wait a few minuted until he arrived....they say that if you are married in the rain you will have lots of tears..We had our share believe me!!! We had our share of alot of things but mostly we had alot of love for each other...we never thought of divorce...felt like hitting him over the head several times but that was it!!!He would liked to have strangled me! But didn't!! He never, not one time hit me or even tried to hit me abuse me or mistreat me. He thinks too much of me and loves me very much...I know and feel his deep commitment to me...I am committed to him as well. How can we show the world the true love of God if we do not show it to each other .
- Back to the 14th...we had a beautiful ceremony at the Uleta Church of the Nazarene with his father and our minister officiating. I remember looking at him and thinking "how serious is this man" Lighten up" it isn't the end of the world just the beginning!!! The church that we belonged to would not allow the ministers to use the ring ceremony or allow the pair to exchange rings. So, when the ceremony was over and we went out side and then around the church to come into the front for pictures, we stopped under the biggest oak tree and he put the ring on my finger, we kissed and pledged our love forever. I shall never forget that part of my life until my senses take them away. I thought it was fun, laughed alot and was very excited to be Mrs.Windell Shirley, wife of Rev Windell Shirley. Amen! In fact I was so excited I forgot to eat!!! We had some cake and that is what we had for our wedding supper...I had the most beautiful blue dress with the white orchids off my bible as a corsage as a going away dress...
- As newlyweds in the 50's, things were looked upon differently. Women were to be followers and make her "man" the man!!!! And I did. Actually I mothered him so much and now 51 years later he expects it!! Now you just wait and hear what he will say!!!!lol lol His mother was an excellent example. God rest her soul. When she passed away on Oct 6 1996, I was as devastated as my husband.
- I remember our first fight....it was about 3 months into our marriage...and he thought he had to have white bread at every meal ...and I didn't....and I forgot to buy white bread but served him the best dinner without the bread and you can imagine what happened next!!!!wow....I think God had to close his ears to that conversation!!!!lol The end of the story...he got up and walked to the store ( about one block away) and got his bread...BUT you know I never forgot his bread again! He was my man!!! Later on in our marriage he got over that as I weaned him ever so slowly from that notion!!!!! He didn't even realize it!!! Sorry honey!!! I love you...
- I learned to make biscuits and cornbread , actually made biscuits every morning of my children s young lives...stopped when they entered high school as they became picky eaters! Teens!
- So today, 51 years later, I wish my sweet honey, who does not feel well today and is kinda cranky from not feeling well , a Happy anniversary and hope for many more. I love you Windell, my honey.
- So grandpa you have heard the story and you would have loved being at my wedding..I love you J
Friday, August 13, 2010
Friday the 13th
I didn't think anything about it until we hit a skunk!!! We had just started our trip of the morning of delivering the paper!! Honey turned the corner and "bump" hit the skunk! We had to smell the horrible smell all the way...Yuck! Bummer! Then we turned another corner and there she was..a most beautiful female dear....she looked at us then turned away like a flight in the night! Traveled a few miles , honey swerved and said" look an opossum" ...not cats, dogs or foxes. Saw one walker who we see every morning. She has become our nightly treat to see someone who smiles and waves...we give her a free paper sometimes...our treat. So our Friday the 13th has started.
Honey pulled a muscle in his hip about 2 weeks ago and really has trouble walking. The sciatic nerve is giving him so much pain. So when he tried to bring in the inserts for Sunday, he had to stop and lay down...I really feel sorry for him. I have had that pain. If our son, Jeff, lived close he would take care of this problem...
Today is a rest day in between doing the inserts. Yesterday was a good day...we went to Rosies for lunch with Shirley and Wayne . Wayne is doing really well just give him a few more weeks and he will be almost new. God is good to us all. We talked and talked...good for all of us. They came over to the house and that was a nice treat. We don't have many visitors any more. Had alot when we were pastoring. I miss seeing people but then again like our privacy. Honey and I talked about how when Vann passed away the only visitors we had was Karen our precious neighbor and our District Superintendent....our leader when we pastored...we never failed to visit the loved ones of those who passed away. Guess it doesn't matter any more...
Karen, my neighbor, reminded us of the meteor showers tonight but with the head hanging out the window all night, I did not see one meteor shower.. and I even took my camera to catch the rays ... I really like to see the wonders of the sky. "The heavens declare the glory of God" ....Ps 19:1. I was watching TV news this am and saw them on TV...so they were there by my eyes did not behold their beauty!!!!lol
Thanks for listening grandpa..I love you J
Honey pulled a muscle in his hip about 2 weeks ago and really has trouble walking. The sciatic nerve is giving him so much pain. So when he tried to bring in the inserts for Sunday, he had to stop and lay down...I really feel sorry for him. I have had that pain. If our son, Jeff, lived close he would take care of this problem...
Today is a rest day in between doing the inserts. Yesterday was a good day...we went to Rosies for lunch with Shirley and Wayne . Wayne is doing really well just give him a few more weeks and he will be almost new. God is good to us all. We talked and talked...good for all of us. They came over to the house and that was a nice treat. We don't have many visitors any more. Had alot when we were pastoring. I miss seeing people but then again like our privacy. Honey and I talked about how when Vann passed away the only visitors we had was Karen our precious neighbor and our District Superintendent....our leader when we pastored...we never failed to visit the loved ones of those who passed away. Guess it doesn't matter any more...
Karen, my neighbor, reminded us of the meteor showers tonight but with the head hanging out the window all night, I did not see one meteor shower.. and I even took my camera to catch the rays ... I really like to see the wonders of the sky. "The heavens declare the glory of God" ....Ps 19:1. I was watching TV news this am and saw them on TV...so they were there by my eyes did not behold their beauty!!!!lol
Thanks for listening grandpa..I love you J
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
August 11
Eighty eight years ago my mother was born. The second child of William Allen Hull and Ailene Victoria Banks....times were hard, grandpa worked as a drag line operator working on the Tamani Trail in Homestead Florida. He had been in the Navy, met my grandmother and then married. They didn't tell alot of their life, wish they had as I would have loved to hear their stories...do know that life was hard. I remember the home that grandpa built where 9 children were born. My mother and her older sister were born in Arch Creek Florida, which is an historic place now. Dr. Dupree birthed each of her children and then birthed my sister and I. He retired after that. He had delivered over 5000 babies in his medical career...operated a dairy until the 1950's or so I understand.
I loved to go to my grandmothers home....that is where she would fry us potatoes with fried spam...it was good. They had to stretch dollars with 9 children and potatoes and spam was plentiful and cheap. Later on after the 9 children had married and left home, Dad built them a new home where grandpa had the most beautiful roses. They were his pleasure ....later he became ill where he lost the muscle tone of his jaw, drools alot and was very miserable. He lived for a few years until his lungs filled up with fluid and he passed away. My grandmother, God bless her, was a strong woman, loved and stood by her man!
She was a gentle woman made homemade vegetable soup every Wednesday and all who could would come for lunch and the soup was served with cornbread. How I loved that soup. Most of the kids who lived nearby would come over for lunch. My grandmother loved God and served Him faithfully until she too passed away. She had had a stroke which was her second or third one and decided not to live any more. My mother visited with her, then grandmother sent my mother home for her favorite white sweater...when she got back grandmother had passed away. She wanted to be buried in the sweater....and she was.
Now to my mother...she was a good mother, she loved her children, made some of our clothes, kept a clean house ( most of the time with help from another lady) as my mother helped my dad with his business. She made sure we had bountiful food, clothes and love. She was so busy most of the time that we got lost in time I am sure...doesn't that happen too much in our families? She had periods of being sick at times, lost her vision for life at times and then survived the passing of her husband. then for ten years lived by herself until she fell and had to be put in a nursing home. It was a tragic time for all ofus and mostly her...I have wished that I could have done more but she would not allow it. She had a stubborn streak! Thats where I get my stubborn streak and from my dad...double whammy!!!!! lol
My mother loved to crotchet afghans, tissue holders and doilys...I have some of all of them. Her handiwork was perfect...no mistakes. She did not like mistakes....that would bother me as I am not perfect. I like imperfections in life, "character" is what I call imperfections...She made me a dress for a party that was help at the Fountainbleu Hotel....it was made from a Vogue pattern...very upscale...can you believe there are no no no pictures of me and that dress. I was working for Burdines and they had a party for all of the seniors who worked for them.... it was nice....had a good time. Usually my mother took pictures of everything but I think that did come later. When I was pregnant with Windy she made all of my clothes for my growing belly! I have a few pictures of those... I had a good mother. Sometimes we don't realize how fortunate we are until we loose that which we love.
So Happy Birthday to my mother who is with Jesus, Vann, Dad, Charles and all of Windells family. i love you mother.
Thanks for listening grandpa Leonard..I love you J
I loved to go to my grandmothers home....that is where she would fry us potatoes with fried spam...it was good. They had to stretch dollars with 9 children and potatoes and spam was plentiful and cheap. Later on after the 9 children had married and left home, Dad built them a new home where grandpa had the most beautiful roses. They were his pleasure ....later he became ill where he lost the muscle tone of his jaw, drools alot and was very miserable. He lived for a few years until his lungs filled up with fluid and he passed away. My grandmother, God bless her, was a strong woman, loved and stood by her man!
She was a gentle woman made homemade vegetable soup every Wednesday and all who could would come for lunch and the soup was served with cornbread. How I loved that soup. Most of the kids who lived nearby would come over for lunch. My grandmother loved God and served Him faithfully until she too passed away. She had had a stroke which was her second or third one and decided not to live any more. My mother visited with her, then grandmother sent my mother home for her favorite white sweater...when she got back grandmother had passed away. She wanted to be buried in the sweater....and she was.
Now to my mother...she was a good mother, she loved her children, made some of our clothes, kept a clean house ( most of the time with help from another lady) as my mother helped my dad with his business. She made sure we had bountiful food, clothes and love. She was so busy most of the time that we got lost in time I am sure...doesn't that happen too much in our families? She had periods of being sick at times, lost her vision for life at times and then survived the passing of her husband. then for ten years lived by herself until she fell and had to be put in a nursing home. It was a tragic time for all ofus and mostly her...I have wished that I could have done more but she would not allow it. She had a stubborn streak! Thats where I get my stubborn streak and from my dad...double whammy!!!!! lol
My mother loved to crotchet afghans, tissue holders and doilys...I have some of all of them. Her handiwork was perfect...no mistakes. She did not like mistakes....that would bother me as I am not perfect. I like imperfections in life, "character" is what I call imperfections...She made me a dress for a party that was help at the Fountainbleu Hotel....it was made from a Vogue pattern...very upscale...can you believe there are no no no pictures of me and that dress. I was working for Burdines and they had a party for all of the seniors who worked for them.... it was nice....had a good time. Usually my mother took pictures of everything but I think that did come later. When I was pregnant with Windy she made all of my clothes for my growing belly! I have a few pictures of those... I had a good mother. Sometimes we don't realize how fortunate we are until we loose that which we love.
So Happy Birthday to my mother who is with Jesus, Vann, Dad, Charles and all of Windells family. i love you mother.
Thanks for listening grandpa Leonard..I love you J
Wednesday morning frustrations!
Well being a paper carrier has all kinds of requests from the public. The phone rang this morning at 7:15 am , I was sound asleep after being out since 1 am throwing papers, the voice on the other end said " HAVE YOU SEEN MY CAT?" well, THE FIRST thought I had was "DID I MISS YOUR PAPER? I calmed down and said "where do you live" When she told me I realized she doesn't even get a paper on week days! "I thought you might have seen my cat who sits on the back porch and NEVER leaves"...yeah right! Cats don't leave? Don't believe that in a heart beat....well, she had called the paper for our number (thank goodness she was a customer and could have our number) "he is gray and about 8-9 years old. " I told her we had seen lots of cats but did not remember seeing one in her neighborhood. One black cat had darted in front of us somewhere and I told her. She said "where?" I replied, "somewhere up on Holman?" :where is that?" Oh up in the country, we go about 70 miles each morning...to which she replied "you don't make any money!" I laughed and agreed... so we are now cat watchers that don't make any money!!! I told her I would watch this am for her...
About two weeks ago, I got another call from someone about 9 am and of course the first thing in my head was "DID I MISS YOUR PAPER?" She proceeded to ask if I had some end rolls? "End rolls" are the rolls of paper left on the rolls that your newspaper is printed on. Now how would I have those as they are about 25 lbs and 4 feet long! How did she get my phone number? Said she called the paper and they said we would have them! US? Don;t think so! Told the manager and he was appalled that the paper would give out our number and by the way, she wasn't even a paper customer!!!!! We got charged for that but Denis took care of it for us! I think they are stupid at that paper or am I stupid or what!
(I should explain that if we miss a paper or it is wet the paper calls us to redeliver and then they charge us $5 if they redeliver ....and it goes against our record and we do not get a bonus at the end of the month...so I hate to hear the phone ring before 10am!!!!!!
They even called us one Friday morning to tell us that we had missed a tv guide (which we do on Fridays and it is extra work) to a customer who ONLY TAKES THE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PAPER!!!!! when I told the customer service lady that they do not get a paper on Friday, she said"ut oh!" and hung up..of course we got charged for that complaint until the manager took care of it!!! Do you see how stupid they are? Or am I for doing this paper thing!!!! God help us!.
About that black cat that darted in front of us, he must have brought us bad luck!!!! Found out we had left a bundle of papers at the shop, Denis had to bring them to us and that was nice of him because he didn't have to....then had to finish throwing our regulars and then some free papers to people who do not pick them up...not even a free paper..they lay in their driveway until we stop throwing them!!!! The cat had nothing to do with the left papers!!! I was just kidding...but honey was definitely NOT in a good mood when he found out we left papers....it put us late finishing up, that is for us, as we usually get done about 4 and it was 5:15 before we got through. Honey was not a happy camper and he let me know he wasn't...am I stupid for doing this paper thing? Don't answer that, I know the answer....lol lol
Enough about the paper route...could tell more things!!! Like getting stopped by the police 5 times for weaving and going from one side of the road to the other...thank goodness when they get close they realize what we are doing and off they go wishing us a good day!!! They think we are drunk!!!! They are always nice, Oh last week, one stopped us because an old lady saw a white pickup truck with a white female in front pulling up in a driveway!!! Hello, we drive an SUV which is white and I am white!!!
The police office turned his lights on, we stopped and then he saw that we are carriers and he turned off his lights came up next to us and said...had we seen a white pick up truck? then he laughed and said "those old ladies who stay up at night have nothing better to do than to call and report all kinds of things" We laughed but weren't too happy that we got stopped again!!! OLD LADIES PLEASE GO TO SLEEP!!!!!!!! lol lol
Oh well, rambling is enough...Thank you grandpa for listening and I needed you today to listen...I love you J
About two weeks ago, I got another call from someone about 9 am and of course the first thing in my head was "DID I MISS YOUR PAPER?" She proceeded to ask if I had some end rolls? "End rolls" are the rolls of paper left on the rolls that your newspaper is printed on. Now how would I have those as they are about 25 lbs and 4 feet long! How did she get my phone number? Said she called the paper and they said we would have them! US? Don;t think so! Told the manager and he was appalled that the paper would give out our number and by the way, she wasn't even a paper customer!!!!! We got charged for that but Denis took care of it for us! I think they are stupid at that paper or am I stupid or what!
(I should explain that if we miss a paper or it is wet the paper calls us to redeliver and then they charge us $5 if they redeliver ....and it goes against our record and we do not get a bonus at the end of the month...so I hate to hear the phone ring before 10am!!!!!!
They even called us one Friday morning to tell us that we had missed a tv guide (which we do on Fridays and it is extra work) to a customer who ONLY TAKES THE SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PAPER!!!!! when I told the customer service lady that they do not get a paper on Friday, she said"ut oh!" and hung up..of course we got charged for that complaint until the manager took care of it!!! Do you see how stupid they are? Or am I for doing this paper thing!!!! God help us!.
About that black cat that darted in front of us, he must have brought us bad luck!!!! Found out we had left a bundle of papers at the shop, Denis had to bring them to us and that was nice of him because he didn't have to....then had to finish throwing our regulars and then some free papers to people who do not pick them up...not even a free paper..they lay in their driveway until we stop throwing them!!!! The cat had nothing to do with the left papers!!! I was just kidding...but honey was definitely NOT in a good mood when he found out we left papers....it put us late finishing up, that is for us, as we usually get done about 4 and it was 5:15 before we got through. Honey was not a happy camper and he let me know he wasn't...am I stupid for doing this paper thing? Don't answer that, I know the answer....lol lol
Enough about the paper route...could tell more things!!! Like getting stopped by the police 5 times for weaving and going from one side of the road to the other...thank goodness when they get close they realize what we are doing and off they go wishing us a good day!!! They think we are drunk!!!! They are always nice, Oh last week, one stopped us because an old lady saw a white pickup truck with a white female in front pulling up in a driveway!!! Hello, we drive an SUV which is white and I am white!!!
The police office turned his lights on, we stopped and then he saw that we are carriers and he turned off his lights came up next to us and said...had we seen a white pick up truck? then he laughed and said "those old ladies who stay up at night have nothing better to do than to call and report all kinds of things" We laughed but weren't too happy that we got stopped again!!! OLD LADIES PLEASE GO TO SLEEP!!!!!!!! lol lol
Oh well, rambling is enough...Thank you grandpa for listening and I needed you today to listen...I love you J
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Things
Honey reminded me of the times when Vann and Jeff were little, like babies, and when I tell this don't call the police or DHR! But we would get ready to go home and I would have Vann, honey had Windy . I thought he had Jeff and he thought I had Jeff but needless to say when we got home ...yes... got home and to our dismay neither one of us had our baby..Our hearts dropped to our stomachs, heart beating fast and then running across the road to the church to find our baby still asleep on the bench...that happened two times, the second time it happened we lived 1 1/2 miles from the church....that was a nightmare....and of course Jeff was still asleep.... do you think we would ever learn? Finally, we got to the place of finding each other before going home...I don't think Jeff was harmed by our leaving him at church, might have helped him!!!!
We would sit them on the front seat of the church, me at the piano, honey on the platform, making sure our children would pay attention to the service...but alas they would start picking on each other, fiddling and doing what children are suppose to do...but honey would then say" sing another song" and off the platform he would go and to take ca
re of the problem...one time, Vann just would not stop as he was a stinker,always doing something, honey told him "when I get you home you are going to get it". And he knew what "you are going to get it" meant. So as soon as the last amen was said, Vann scurried home as fast as he could and waited in his bedroom. When honey got home there he found our 3 year old on his knees, hands folded in th prayer mode and praying as loud as he could" Oh Lord, please help me" ..."God help me"...honey said he just laughed and laughed at Vann....honey said, how can you not respond to that prayer..so just a spat and a talking was given.....
Another time honey had the boys outside playing football, Jeffs head came up and Vanns head came down and out came a baby tooth!!! We rushed him into town, Murray Ky...to a dentist. When he tried to put his hand into Vann's mouth, down came his teeth in a bite...the dentist raised his other hand to slap him and I grabbed his wrist and said "I don't think so"...I got Vann's mouth open and held it so the dentist could do his work...you don't slap my son and me not get riled!!!! Needless to say the baby tooth came out during the night and he was minus a tooth on the bottom for awhile!! The tooth fairy didn't visit that night!!!!lol
While we were living in Ky the first Head Start was organized and Windy was apart of the group. She learned so much, reading, writing, coloring and visiting different places in the community. She loved the fire department and told us all about it. She loved to read. Books were her way of entertainment.
She also loved to visit her little friend, Angela, who lived down the road and up the main highway. I would tell her not to go over there unless we took her. So one day, she decided that she wanted to see angela and off she went, Vann following after her, she said she tried and tried to get Vann to go home but he wouldn't. I found them going down the road, went after them and had a little conversation with Windy, turned her around and sent her packing back home...if I am right, I believe that I switched her for that one...she said if it had not been for Vann she would have made it...I was watching all the time and she didn't know that.. We had some times with them kids...Christmas time we would go to Paducah to visit Santa at Sears ..Jeff would cry and cry, would not sit on his lap but Windy and Vann would...those are wonderful memories.. such good memories....
I am smiling from the memories of these children. That is so good for me...love you grandpa and thanks for listening!!! J
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We would sit them on the front seat of the church, me at the piano, honey on the platform, making sure our children would pay attention to the service...but alas they would start picking on each other, fiddling and doing what children are suppose to do...but honey would then say" sing another song" and off the platform he would go and to take ca
re of the problem...one time, Vann just would not stop as he was a stinker,always doing something, honey told him "when I get you home you are going to get it". And he knew what "you are going to get it" meant. So as soon as the last amen was said, Vann scurried home as fast as he could and waited in his bedroom. When honey got home there he found our 3 year old on his knees, hands folded in th prayer mode and praying as loud as he could" Oh Lord, please help me" ..."God help me"...honey said he just laughed and laughed at Vann....honey said, how can you not respond to that prayer..so just a spat and a talking was given.....
Another time honey had the boys outside playing football, Jeffs head came up and Vanns head came down and out came a baby tooth!!! We rushed him into town, Murray Ky...to a dentist. When he tried to put his hand into Vann's mouth, down came his teeth in a bite...the dentist raised his other hand to slap him and I grabbed his wrist and said "I don't think so"...I got Vann's mouth open and held it so the dentist could do his work...you don't slap my son and me not get riled!!!! Needless to say the baby tooth came out during the night and he was minus a tooth on the bottom for awhile!! The tooth fairy didn't visit that night!!!!lol
While we were living in Ky the first Head Start was organized and Windy was apart of the group. She learned so much, reading, writing, coloring and visiting different places in the community. She loved the fire department and told us all about it. She loved to read. Books were her way of entertainment.
She also loved to visit her little friend, Angela, who lived down the road and up the main highway. I would tell her not to go over there unless we took her. So one day, she decided that she wanted to see angela and off she went, Vann following after her, she said she tried and tried to get Vann to go home but he wouldn't. I found them going down the road, went after them and had a little conversation with Windy, turned her around and sent her packing back home...if I am right, I believe that I switched her for that one...she said if it had not been for Vann she would have made it...I was watching all the time and she didn't know that.. We had some times with them kids...Christmas time we would go to Paducah to visit Santa at Sears ..Jeff would cry and cry, would not sit on his lap but Windy and Vann would...those are wonderful memories.. such good memories....
I am smiling from the memories of these children. That is so good for me...love you grandpa and thanks for listening!!! J
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Phenix City
After I wrote the last post more stories began to surface in my mind. The boys were about 4 and 5 and Windy was 7 or thereabout. the girls club was down the street from the house and Windy loved to go down there and have fun after school. She made me the most beautiful wooden jewelry box. I have it in my cedar chest of memories....along with her blanket that she slept with when a small child. I have shoes, bow ties, bits and pieces of hair , papers and you name it of the children. I also have the dress that I wore when honey was ordained into the ministry. It was such a special time that I put the dress up, never worn it again . I made the dress of black eyelet cotton. I was so proud that I made that dress. A lady gave me an old fashion treadle sewing machine. I would take the pattern read it and then go to bed and make the dress in my sleep . Then after the children went to bed at night I would sew and make clothes for the children and myself. They were presentable but nothing special...in fact, that is the only way we could survive with clothes...
Now back to Phenix City....Vann and Jeff being so small, honey could take them with him when he made calls in the pastorate and the families loved seeing the boys and always made over them. But...one day he had to make a hospital call. What to do, I was working, no one to watch them, so he took them with him to the hospital....NOT!!! There was a circle fountain of water ( you know what is to happen don't you!!!) honey told the boys in no uncertain terms NOT to go in the water but could play around the circle...it didn't take but a few minutes that Vann being the oldest told Jeff "lets go into the water..."
and of course little Jeff just a toddler followed him into the slippery, slimy green water....oh boy what a mess, they could not stand up and kept sliding and slipping in the water. Some nurses found them and brought them into the hospital, wiping them down while all the time Jeff was crying, snubbing , snobbing and chewing on gum all the time...Vann was just grinning (like he always did) and chewing his gum...they put a call out over the intercom " Mr Shirley please come to the front desk" Well when honey arrived at the desk and saw his boys his inner spirit was not happy by any means...the nurses glowed at him scowling and demanding " what was he thinking leaving his boys at the fountain..!!!!" It didn't take him long for him to gather up the boys, take them home, bathe them and then spank Vann....poor child...he said he kept telling Jeff not to follow him...yeah Vann! Tell me again..Oh well, those boys were special and did all kinds of tricks in their lives...but they grew up to be fine men. Thank you God for the memories. Words cannot tell you and explain how funny this story is as honey can tell it...we have laughed and laughed at the boys slipping and sliding in that slim....lol.
We had a good pastorate there in Phenix City and God blessed us. Then on to Anniston!!! Bummer.
We moved out of the frying pan into the fire. There the fire almost consumed us. Vann and Jeff started school there, made some friends for life and they had a good time most of the time.
Behind the parsonage there was a wooded field that they played cowboys and indians , shooting imaginary guns made of sticks, running, hiding and playing all kinds of games.
One of the ladies of the church gave us a German Shepherd....oh boy...she was trained to protect and protect she did....Gretchen was her name. I can safely say that she saved our lives many times. One night about 9 pm, it was raining and the door bell rang and by the time we got to the door , they were gone. We saw Gretchens foot prints and another person's prints....no telling who it was. We lived along the main highway and hitchhikers were always coming by to ask for money and food and whatever they could find. Well, honey would take Gretchen to the church at night to work, she sat at his side, protecting him from harm. It was the boys job to make sure that Gretchen was restrained in the basement during church times as she would not let anyone in but us! One Sunday, we noticed that everyone was standing outside not going in...... then we noticed the former owners husband was leading Gretchen over to the house( we lived next door to the church). Honey put Gretchen up and then told the boys " just wait until church is over and we will take care of this" I am afraid another time of punishment was due...it didn't happen again...they learned well!!!!!
Another time we caught one of the members in our bedroom going through our things one Sunday..I had gone home for something and there they were!!!! Huuummmm....should have gone before that time to see how many times that had happened before. Their excuse? "It is our house and we can come over when we want!" NOT!!! We changed the locks and got the dog! Not good for them but good for us. It wasn't long that we moved to Florence and that place was like heaven to us. We were treated so well, we began to feel like we were doing something good. Found some good friends that were friends for a lifetime. Many of them are gone on but the memories are still there.
God has taken us through many trials helping us to become better people and adults. We give Him praise...
Thank you grandpa for listening..love you J
Now back to Phenix City....Vann and Jeff being so small, honey could take them with him when he made calls in the pastorate and the families loved seeing the boys and always made over them. But...one day he had to make a hospital call. What to do, I was working, no one to watch them, so he took them with him to the hospital....NOT!!! There was a circle fountain of water ( you know what is to happen don't you!!!) honey told the boys in no uncertain terms NOT to go in the water but could play around the circle...it didn't take but a few minutes that Vann being the oldest told Jeff "lets go into the water..."
and of course little Jeff just a toddler followed him into the slippery, slimy green water....oh boy what a mess, they could not stand up and kept sliding and slipping in the water. Some nurses found them and brought them into the hospital, wiping them down while all the time Jeff was crying, snubbing , snobbing and chewing on gum all the time...Vann was just grinning (like he always did) and chewing his gum...they put a call out over the intercom " Mr Shirley please come to the front desk" Well when honey arrived at the desk and saw his boys his inner spirit was not happy by any means...the nurses glowed at him scowling and demanding " what was he thinking leaving his boys at the fountain..!!!!" It didn't take him long for him to gather up the boys, take them home, bathe them and then spank Vann....poor child...he said he kept telling Jeff not to follow him...yeah Vann! Tell me again..Oh well, those boys were special and did all kinds of tricks in their lives...but they grew up to be fine men. Thank you God for the memories. Words cannot tell you and explain how funny this story is as honey can tell it...we have laughed and laughed at the boys slipping and sliding in that slim....lol.
We had a good pastorate there in Phenix City and God blessed us. Then on to Anniston!!! Bummer.
We moved out of the frying pan into the fire. There the fire almost consumed us. Vann and Jeff started school there, made some friends for life and they had a good time most of the time.
Behind the parsonage there was a wooded field that they played cowboys and indians , shooting imaginary guns made of sticks, running, hiding and playing all kinds of games.
One of the ladies of the church gave us a German Shepherd....oh boy...she was trained to protect and protect she did....Gretchen was her name. I can safely say that she saved our lives many times. One night about 9 pm, it was raining and the door bell rang and by the time we got to the door , they were gone. We saw Gretchens foot prints and another person's prints....no telling who it was. We lived along the main highway and hitchhikers were always coming by to ask for money and food and whatever they could find. Well, honey would take Gretchen to the church at night to work, she sat at his side, protecting him from harm. It was the boys job to make sure that Gretchen was restrained in the basement during church times as she would not let anyone in but us! One Sunday, we noticed that everyone was standing outside not going in...... then we noticed the former owners husband was leading Gretchen over to the house( we lived next door to the church). Honey put Gretchen up and then told the boys " just wait until church is over and we will take care of this" I am afraid another time of punishment was due...it didn't happen again...they learned well!!!!!
Another time we caught one of the members in our bedroom going through our things one Sunday..I had gone home for something and there they were!!!! Huuummmm....should have gone before that time to see how many times that had happened before. Their excuse? "It is our house and we can come over when we want!" NOT!!! We changed the locks and got the dog! Not good for them but good for us. It wasn't long that we moved to Florence and that place was like heaven to us. We were treated so well, we began to feel like we were doing something good. Found some good friends that were friends for a lifetime. Many of them are gone on but the memories are still there.
God has taken us through many trials helping us to become better people and adults. We give Him praise...
Thank you grandpa for listening..love you J
Monday, August 9, 2010
Quiet Mornings
We are blessed most of the time with a quiet run in the mornings. The papers get to the shop early on mondays but we are so tired from Sundays that we get there a little later. Then we wrap roll and throw! Get er done!!!!
Not always has our life been quiet,us with 3 children, noise has been our sidekick! Now just quiet most of the time.
I remember when I was young it wasn't always quiet in our home either, mom or dad was always reminding us that we did not live in a barn but a house. I think I said that many a time also.
We did not have a television until 1954 when I was fourteen. Had a radio that I would listen to, the "Green Hornet" a mystery show, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Didn't know what TV was until dad bought one. It was a blond cabinet with doors and dad would not open those doors until after we ate dinner, then and only then would he open those doors so he could watch the news and weather. then the doors were closed ....and you had better not opened them either. And on Saturday nights at 6 pm the doors were closed until Monday night at 5!!!Amen! Things changed later on in the years and it became a mainstay in our lives.
When we were living in Anniston and also Florence Alabama, Sunday nights were the best nights for westerns. And of course we had to go to church every Sunday night and there wasn't any VCR"s or DVR's....that's right just the TV!!! Vann used to start about 5 pm that "he was sick" and I would let him stay home...I had put him on the couch, gave him an aspirin and a big glass of water and reminded him not to leave the couch! Well, little did I realize until after the second Sunday night what was happening...so I just did the same routine for my son and let him stay home...then after a few Sunday nights I made him go to church. I wasn't too bad of a mother and he thought I didn't know he wasn't sick...but you know mothers and their instincts! We laughed about that many times in later years and even the weekend before he died, that subject came up and we laughed again. Thank you God for the memories.
When we lived in Bradenton, Florida, of course movies were off limits and I think that is when Jeff went to see "Where the Red Fern Grows" his favorite movie at that time. Windy and her boyfriend saw him go in and when he came out she said" I am going to tell mother" or either she said " Mother saw you!" I heard her tell this story and can't remember which way it was...but they know! Well of course I didn't but it did not matter...I didn't care, rules were beginning to get on my nerves as well. I was growing up....I was beginning to realize that some things just did not matter. God loves us regardless....
I am tired so I think I will end this blog early...sorry, I will think of other stories later...thanks grandpa for listening, I love you J
Not always has our life been quiet,us with 3 children, noise has been our sidekick! Now just quiet most of the time.
I remember when I was young it wasn't always quiet in our home either, mom or dad was always reminding us that we did not live in a barn but a house. I think I said that many a time also.
We did not have a television until 1954 when I was fourteen. Had a radio that I would listen to, the "Green Hornet" a mystery show, The Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Didn't know what TV was until dad bought one. It was a blond cabinet with doors and dad would not open those doors until after we ate dinner, then and only then would he open those doors so he could watch the news and weather. then the doors were closed ....and you had better not opened them either. And on Saturday nights at 6 pm the doors were closed until Monday night at 5!!!Amen! Things changed later on in the years and it became a mainstay in our lives.
When we were living in Anniston and also Florence Alabama, Sunday nights were the best nights for westerns. And of course we had to go to church every Sunday night and there wasn't any VCR"s or DVR's....that's right just the TV!!! Vann used to start about 5 pm that "he was sick" and I would let him stay home...I had put him on the couch, gave him an aspirin and a big glass of water and reminded him not to leave the couch! Well, little did I realize until after the second Sunday night what was happening...so I just did the same routine for my son and let him stay home...then after a few Sunday nights I made him go to church. I wasn't too bad of a mother and he thought I didn't know he wasn't sick...but you know mothers and their instincts! We laughed about that many times in later years and even the weekend before he died, that subject came up and we laughed again. Thank you God for the memories.
When we lived in Bradenton, Florida, of course movies were off limits and I think that is when Jeff went to see "Where the Red Fern Grows" his favorite movie at that time. Windy and her boyfriend saw him go in and when he came out she said" I am going to tell mother" or either she said " Mother saw you!" I heard her tell this story and can't remember which way it was...but they know! Well of course I didn't but it did not matter...I didn't care, rules were beginning to get on my nerves as well. I was growing up....I was beginning to realize that some things just did not matter. God loves us regardless....
I am tired so I think I will end this blog early...sorry, I will think of other stories later...thanks grandpa for listening, I love you J
Sunday, August 8, 2010
War in the backyard!
Tonight honey and I were sitting in the back yard relaxing after watering the trees and flowers. When all of a sudden there were about 15-20 hummers flying, buzzing and making war among themselves. We have 3 pot of food for the hummers but we noticed that at one of the feeders one lone female would drink from the pot and then sit on a branch just at the side of it. When another hummer came up to feed, that lady would just buzz him, fight him and chase him away. We laughed and laughed, then one came at us and buzzed close to us. I suppose they didn't like the laughing. I could not count how many there were and the antics, zooming in and around was just hilarious to watch and so fascinating . How we enjoyed watching them...made us laugh and enjoy the evening. It is still hot somewhat humid but enjoyable...God has placed His creation at our disposal to enjoy,.forget our problems for awhile.
We went to Decatur Spring Ave Church of the Nazarene for a special singing service. The Ken Apple Family. I found out that they are in their 80s and still traveling and singing. WOW! they are good singers.
We had some wonderful food at the church. The people were so gracious to us...we pastored the church there for about 6 years and that is where we retired from...
I remember one time when we pastored in Florence Al where there were many older ladies who thought it was their duty to feed us now and then. Now imagine 3 young children having to eat at their home after church, could not go outside to run and play but have to sit and eat...well one of them invited us and I had put her off so many time that I felt terrible and therefore I accepted. I warned the children not to take much food and that I would get them something when we got home that they did like. She had prepared macaroni and cheese...and that was Vann's favorite..I WARNED HIM!!! Do not take very much.I had a rule, if you put it on your plate then you had to eat it. They had the choice...either not take it or eat what you took...She had soaked the macaroni in water while we were at church and I watched her drain that macaroni and added some cut up cheese....When Vann saw the dish , he lit in, I warned him again with my eyes and hands but to no avail, he took a pile!!! I felt so sorry for him that I quietly told him to push it around on his plate and he didn't have to eat all..Sorry, my mothers heart would not let him suffer....we laughed and laughed when we got to the car and then home...another lady would always want us to eat when we visited her home...and the place was not clean at all and there would be food on the table with mold on it...we always denied graciously ....
Most of the time we had very good cooks in our churches. One time in Las Cruses I had undergone surgery and one of the ladies fixed honey a huge steak, baked potato, salad and a big glass of ice tea...well can you imagine me just back to bed from the recovery room, so nauseated and not feeling too well..and him eating that pile of food..I just cried and said "get out of here you are making me sick" he did put it up...I laughed later but not then.....
This is what memories those hummers brought to my mind...thanks for listening grandpa love you J
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Music
Tonight my neighbor, Karen, came over and asked me to teach her piano ..Humm...not sure if I can as she already can hear music and play with one hand. I remember when I was young about 12 or so, I sat down at the piano and started to play. If memory serves me right I was over at the parsonage visiting the pastor with my parents , they had a piano and I just sat down and played...everyone was so surprised, stunned that I could play. I was as stunned as they were. Rev Melton had this blond piano and he told me if I would take lessons then he would give me the piano. So I started lessons. The problem was I heard music and had really played before at the church but no one seemed to hear me play or remember me doing so. Well,this lady , a very tall thin, very thin, lady came to teach me, she had glasses and was quiet and could really play well. Every time she gave me pieces to learn I always asked her to play it first...she never caught on that I was watching and listening to her play and then I could play it back as she did...when she found out after many lessons, she decided that my talent was natural and I could play anything but only what I heard and not what was written. She helped me to play chords and actually that was when I learned. She was wise in helping me to develop my natural talent. It was a God send in later years as honey was a minister and needed piano players in each of the churches....God knew what he was doing when he gave me the talent to play "by ear" as they say. I wish I could play by note as my grandson learned to do...read notes..I can read some of the music just enough to get me started. When Vickie, my best friend and our pastors daughter, played I watched her and then took off. Thanks Vickie for helping me to become a church pianist.
My oldest grandson, Sam,also has the God given talent to play by ear. He can play almost any instrument, I can't...only the piano and the radio!!!!!lol
When we lived in New Mexico, the boys were in band learning to play the trumpet. When their concerts were held in the auditorium, I was the most happy and thrilled parent there, my boys were playing the trumpet although it was the most squeakily sounds in the world it was the most lovely sounds ever heard by a mother and father. We were thrilled to hear our children play.They didn't stay with the music but that was ok as they used their God given talents later on in life . Vann became the most wonderful nurse and Jeff the best Chiropractor. Of course Windy is the best nurse that there is. When I had my surgery about 2 years ago in Florida, alot of her coworkers both nurses and physicians came by to wish me well spoke so highly of her. The physician who cared for me while under anesthesia said" she is who I want to care for my sickest patients" "I trust her"...that is confidence.
Thank you God for your blessings to us. May others use their talent to the fullest.
Thanks for listening grandpa to this little girls chatter. Love you J
My oldest grandson, Sam,also has the God given talent to play by ear. He can play almost any instrument, I can't...only the piano and the radio!!!!!lol
When we lived in New Mexico, the boys were in band learning to play the trumpet. When their concerts were held in the auditorium, I was the most happy and thrilled parent there, my boys were playing the trumpet although it was the most squeakily sounds in the world it was the most lovely sounds ever heard by a mother and father. We were thrilled to hear our children play.They didn't stay with the music but that was ok as they used their God given talents later on in life . Vann became the most wonderful nurse and Jeff the best Chiropractor. Of course Windy is the best nurse that there is. When I had my surgery about 2 years ago in Florida, alot of her coworkers both nurses and physicians came by to wish me well spoke so highly of her. The physician who cared for me while under anesthesia said" she is who I want to care for my sickest patients" "I trust her"...that is confidence.
Thank you God for your blessings to us. May others use their talent to the fullest.
Thanks for listening grandpa to this little girls chatter. Love you J
Friday, August 6, 2010
Life was good
When I was young and school started, mother would get us some new dresses to wear. We did not wear pants only dresses. Dad was so adamant that we wear dresses. We were not boys and only boys wore pants. I think that came from the church that we went to. As I found out later that was one of their "rules" that only boys wore pants. We could not wear shorts even though we lived in Miami, where shorts and bathing suits are the norm now or even nothing! At the beach where we would go it is now a nudist beach.! Dad had a fit and his blue eyes would just fire up when he thought about our beach being nude...me too, Dad!
Mother would take us to Haulover beach, take spaghetti in the big pot, some cookies that she had baked and alot of water. Dad did not want us to drink sodas. We did drink sweet tea...old fashion sweet southern tea...hummm. so good. She would spread a blanket on the sand, put our towels down and then crotchet while we played in the water. Life was good in Miami...actually it was called Uleta. Then later on as were teenagers he allowed us to wear shorts to the knee. Then the fun began. I grew up and married a man who was just like my dad...No pants, no shorts only dresses. Even our daughter wore dresses when she was a toddler. Although when we lived in Nashville I bought her some corduroy pants to wear in the winter. But when she was a little older the church that we pastored frowned on that and so back to the dresses for awhile. I think sometimes that if I had just put my foot down and did what I thought was best and not what the church or people thought maybe I would not feel so bad about the way I raised my children. I do have regrets of some of the way things were and should have done something about it. But that was the way things were done in that day. I have to remind myself that I only did what I knew at that time. My guilty feelings of things that I wish I should have done and didn't do bothers me sometimes. You will have to bear with me as I write these feelings. I have to remind myself also that the past cannot be redone and the future is before me to change and do better. I think that in the last few months since Vann died that these feelings has come back to my mind and I cannot do anything to change those things. May God help me.
We had some good times and that is what I need to dwell on and not the things I wished I had done. Windy reminded me of the good times we had in Kentucky, going to the dam to fish, picnic,take day trips (gas was cheap) make a garden , watch honey burn the woods down! lol lol We had thrown our Christmas tree out in the woods/fields behind the house and later he decided since it didn't go away by itself then he would burn it down! Well, he set a match to it and it just went up in the biggest flames you could ever imagine...the field caught on fire, the volunteer fire department had to be assembled the owner of the field plowed a hedge /firewall to stop it from burning the whole country down...Way to go honey!!!! Probably even Vann would have remember that, I never asked him about that. He remember other things. It is funny now but it was not then!!!!!! My Uncle Alan and Aunt Patty came to visit us and we went to the State Park to have a most wonderful picnic. Only thing my kids did not have was bathing suits so they went in the water in their clothes...didn't matter, they had a great time and so did we. I wore dresses, no shorts or pants. Aunt Patty could not believe that we had to wear dresses. If you only knew the folks in our church there you would believe it! I think that my friend Vickie will be the only one to read this blog to know what I am talking about...so many rules and no love to go behind it! Rules!!!!!
Our livelihood was at the mercy of many people. Things have changed now, at least at some of the churches, there is a partnership, at least that is the way it should be. Well I though I was writing about the good life, huummmm not so good huh? Yes life was good. We had some wonderful times. Our world was safe, good, poor but we loved each other and that is what counted. I learned to make the childrens clothes and they did look kinda cute. They were always dressed to the "nines" when we made our appearances at the church on Sunday.If our children were not dressed well then we were not happy. Honey would put the childrens shoes and socks on their feet every morning and then at night take them off and rub their feet with his big, safe and wonderful hands. Oh how I love his hands. Today, I will say" honey, put my shoes and sock on" and he does and I feel so good and safe.
There is a song" Safe in the Arms of Jesus" could be "Safe in the Hands of Honey" !!!lol lol where we put our faith in His hands, our trust in His hands and He will guide us through. I think I feel better already.
Now back to school days and good life. All of the families are shopping this weekend for the fall or school clothes for their children and it brought all of this to mind! Thank the good Lord I don't have to buy for little ones!!!! AMEN~!
Thank you grandpa for listening, I love you J
Mother would take us to Haulover beach, take spaghetti in the big pot, some cookies that she had baked and alot of water. Dad did not want us to drink sodas. We did drink sweet tea...old fashion sweet southern tea...hummm. so good. She would spread a blanket on the sand, put our towels down and then crotchet while we played in the water. Life was good in Miami...actually it was called Uleta. Then later on as were teenagers he allowed us to wear shorts to the knee. Then the fun began. I grew up and married a man who was just like my dad...No pants, no shorts only dresses. Even our daughter wore dresses when she was a toddler. Although when we lived in Nashville I bought her some corduroy pants to wear in the winter. But when she was a little older the church that we pastored frowned on that and so back to the dresses for awhile. I think sometimes that if I had just put my foot down and did what I thought was best and not what the church or people thought maybe I would not feel so bad about the way I raised my children. I do have regrets of some of the way things were and should have done something about it. But that was the way things were done in that day. I have to remind myself that I only did what I knew at that time. My guilty feelings of things that I wish I should have done and didn't do bothers me sometimes. You will have to bear with me as I write these feelings. I have to remind myself also that the past cannot be redone and the future is before me to change and do better. I think that in the last few months since Vann died that these feelings has come back to my mind and I cannot do anything to change those things. May God help me.
We had some good times and that is what I need to dwell on and not the things I wished I had done. Windy reminded me of the good times we had in Kentucky, going to the dam to fish, picnic,take day trips (gas was cheap) make a garden , watch honey burn the woods down! lol lol We had thrown our Christmas tree out in the woods/fields behind the house and later he decided since it didn't go away by itself then he would burn it down! Well, he set a match to it and it just went up in the biggest flames you could ever imagine...the field caught on fire, the volunteer fire department had to be assembled the owner of the field plowed a hedge /firewall to stop it from burning the whole country down...Way to go honey!!!! Probably even Vann would have remember that, I never asked him about that. He remember other things. It is funny now but it was not then!!!!!! My Uncle Alan and Aunt Patty came to visit us and we went to the State Park to have a most wonderful picnic. Only thing my kids did not have was bathing suits so they went in the water in their clothes...didn't matter, they had a great time and so did we. I wore dresses, no shorts or pants. Aunt Patty could not believe that we had to wear dresses. If you only knew the folks in our church there you would believe it! I think that my friend Vickie will be the only one to read this blog to know what I am talking about...so many rules and no love to go behind it! Rules!!!!!
Our livelihood was at the mercy of many people. Things have changed now, at least at some of the churches, there is a partnership, at least that is the way it should be. Well I though I was writing about the good life, huummmm not so good huh? Yes life was good. We had some wonderful times. Our world was safe, good, poor but we loved each other and that is what counted. I learned to make the childrens clothes and they did look kinda cute. They were always dressed to the "nines" when we made our appearances at the church on Sunday.If our children were not dressed well then we were not happy. Honey would put the childrens shoes and socks on their feet every morning and then at night take them off and rub their feet with his big, safe and wonderful hands. Oh how I love his hands. Today, I will say" honey, put my shoes and sock on" and he does and I feel so good and safe.
There is a song" Safe in the Arms of Jesus" could be "Safe in the Hands of Honey" !!!lol lol where we put our faith in His hands, our trust in His hands and He will guide us through. I think I feel better already.
Now back to school days and good life. All of the families are shopping this weekend for the fall or school clothes for their children and it brought all of this to mind! Thank the good Lord I don't have to buy for little ones!!!! AMEN~!
Thank you grandpa for listening, I love you J
Friday morning.
I knew it would happen. Getting up at the same time to go throw papers!!! Don't have to get up and up I am. lol ! Thursday was a good day for me. Felt good, enjoyed the yard sales even though I didn't find alot and wasn't going to buy much but being out and with other people and seeing the happiness on my families faces as they did the things they enjoyed doing....yard saleing!!!! I could take or leave it. Just go to the car, turn the AC on and read my book! Cindy, our niece, was with us on this trip and she really enjoyed her self although she wasn't looking for any thing in particular and but did find a few things. She found the most beautiful lamp with roses etched on the amber base (and she loves roses for $5.00)...unheard of in the store. Becky, honeys sister, always find something. Her nose and eyes are like hounddogs! they can spot things she likes on the road with us traveling 45 miles per hour. "STOP STOP, I SEE SOMETHING" she yells in the walkie talkie. Thanks to Cindy who brought some walkie talkies for us to stay in contact with the two cars. It sure made a difference. Nothing really outstanding happened to us this trip, usually it does. Met a nice young couple and their 8 year old daughter at the hotel. they are from Long Island NY. I met someone from NY last year. Hummmm, maybe it is my thing!!!!lol
The little girl seemed to make friends with me real fast and we talked and talked. They were trying to find property in the south as they were tired of NY. He works in the tunnel that was a part of the World Trade Center and had to endure all of the sadness, horribleness of Sept 11. He has suffered 2 heart attacks since that sadness, they lost so many of their friends in the travesty. I will pray for them now.
Maybe God put me there to be a prayer partner with them. They are Christian's and he uses his snow plow to clear their church parking lot even though he has a bad heart. He said"no big deal" . The mother kept asking me questions and I found out later that "they loved to hear my accent" !!!! isn't that a hoot and I loved theirs!!!
We stopped in Pall Mall Tennessee the home of Sargent York and had lunch at the state park. HOT humid and no breeze but the scenery was gorgeous. Good food and good company!
Then on to the shopping!!!!
We were shopping in the heat Thursday until a big wind, lightening and thunder storm came and the rain came down in sheets. Took some pictures of the mess. Then the dealers closed down their sites so we came home. Stopped in Jasper Tn for a steak and baked potato, thanks to my dear sister in law Becky.
She was a dear heart for buying everyone's dinner!!! Thanks Beck!
We talked about our children's childhood and they talked of some of theirs. Each family has had the ups and downs of life yet we all have survived . We talked of Vann and the sweet memories we each had of him. Vann, rest in peace. We love you so much. Thank you God for your care.
Arrived home and plopped down on the couch!!! But was too tired to sleep. Next year we are planning on going to Kentucky and travel down to Chattanooga. Hopefully there will be different "stuff"!!!!!
Thank you grandpa for listening. I love you J
The little girl seemed to make friends with me real fast and we talked and talked. They were trying to find property in the south as they were tired of NY. He works in the tunnel that was a part of the World Trade Center and had to endure all of the sadness, horribleness of Sept 11. He has suffered 2 heart attacks since that sadness, they lost so many of their friends in the travesty. I will pray for them now.
Maybe God put me there to be a prayer partner with them. They are Christian's and he uses his snow plow to clear their church parking lot even though he has a bad heart. He said"no big deal" . The mother kept asking me questions and I found out later that "they loved to hear my accent" !!!! isn't that a hoot and I loved theirs!!!
Then on to the shopping!!!!
She was a dear heart for buying everyone's dinner!!! Thanks Beck!
We talked about our children's childhood and they talked of some of theirs. Each family has had the ups and downs of life yet we all have survived . We talked of Vann and the sweet memories we each had of him. Vann, rest in peace. We love you so much. Thank you God for your care.
Arrived home and plopped down on the couch!!! But was too tired to sleep. Next year we are planning on going to Kentucky and travel down to Chattanooga. Hopefully there will be different "stuff"!!!!!
Thank you grandpa for listening. I love you J
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Today...
I suppose I need to write something. Have been through some rough spots lately, Vann on my mind, getting tired of throwing! papers! But like my sweet brother said" no money no food"..or something to that order! lol.
We left on Tuesday morning about 10 am after throwing papers and "Evil Spirts as I call them"( free classified papers that WE have to throw every Tuesday) anyway, Becky , my sister in law, came over and helped me to throw them while honey threw our regulars. Jonothon another carrier is throwing them for us this week for a few days while we take a few days off. Every year there is a huge yard sale that goes form Gadsden Alabama to Cincinnati Ohio , which is very long. There are thousands of yard sales, new stuff old stuff, junk and good stuff. If it is made they have it!!! Becky and Cindy our niece is with us and they are in as you would say "hog heaven". I think Becky and honey are 2 peas in a pod. they live for yard sales and stuff on the side of the road. You should have seen the stuff we have found already!!! But the down side IT IS HOT~!!!!!! So hot that we had to stop today Wednesday at 3 pm, and that is unheard of by honey. Becky and Cindy have not stopped, just us!!!! I think age has alot to do with it!!! Honey got up at 430 this am to go and they do not start opening their sales until 9!!! He was excited but gave out.
Me, I would just as well stay in the car, you have heard how I do not like the hot!!! I can handle the heat for just awhile and then it is over.! Car here I come!!!
It seems that there is just not as much "good stuff" as last year or we are just too hot to notice. But it is something different from throwing papers!!! Yeah!!! We have met some nice people, some interesting people and some different people. That is what makes this yard sale interesting. We do love coming.
As we were coming to Chattanooga yesterday, we came by Rock City and there is a place where you can see where the road was blasted out leaving rock formation on the sides. I said to honey" do you remember coming by here when Vann and Jeff was born? " and he replied " and Windy also" You are right my sweet honey, we have passed by that one place that has stuck in our memories when were were on the way to have each of our children. When Windy was born we were over in Suches Ga and drove back to Nashville Tn. With the 2 boys we were living in Shiloh Al/Trenton Ga area and had to come over the Lookout mountain to Ft. Oglethrope Ga to deliver those boys. When Vann was born , I began to have labor pains late in the night . Honey's parents had come to see us not knowing that we were in labor so they stayed with Windy while we drove across the mountain to deliver our second born. We were so excited when Vann was born, we had his name picked out and could not wait until we got him home...he was our son. Now we were complete, a daughter and a son. But God had other plans for us. A third son was born 1 year later at the same hospital and we crossed the same place, the high rock formation on the side of the road. I have been a little sad since then thinking of how our family has gone each their own way. When the children leave and live on their own and that is the way it is suppose to be, we become sad at times that we don't see them as we would love to. Each has their own way of life, then death has taken one which has left us so sad. We just cry sometimes and not say a thing. Today we talked about Vann and the circumstances of his death and we have been so sad and teary since. Makes me want to just go and hide away. God in in control and I do know that He has us in us in His hands.
We will go out again tomorrow and try again to beat the heat! Until then, thanks for listening grandpa to this little girls chatter. I love you J
We left on Tuesday morning about 10 am after throwing papers and "Evil Spirts as I call them"( free classified papers that WE have to throw every Tuesday) anyway, Becky , my sister in law, came over and helped me to throw them while honey threw our regulars. Jonothon another carrier is throwing them for us this week for a few days while we take a few days off. Every year there is a huge yard sale that goes form Gadsden Alabama to Cincinnati Ohio , which is very long. There are thousands of yard sales, new stuff old stuff, junk and good stuff. If it is made they have it!!! Becky and Cindy our niece is with us and they are in as you would say "hog heaven". I think Becky and honey are 2 peas in a pod. they live for yard sales and stuff on the side of the road. You should have seen the stuff we have found already!!! But the down side IT IS HOT~!!!!!! So hot that we had to stop today Wednesday at 3 pm, and that is unheard of by honey. Becky and Cindy have not stopped, just us!!!! I think age has alot to do with it!!! Honey got up at 430 this am to go and they do not start opening their sales until 9!!! He was excited but gave out.
Me, I would just as well stay in the car, you have heard how I do not like the hot!!! I can handle the heat for just awhile and then it is over.! Car here I come!!!
It seems that there is just not as much "good stuff" as last year or we are just too hot to notice. But it is something different from throwing papers!!! Yeah!!! We have met some nice people, some interesting people and some different people. That is what makes this yard sale interesting. We do love coming.
As we were coming to Chattanooga yesterday, we came by Rock City and there is a place where you can see where the road was blasted out leaving rock formation on the sides. I said to honey" do you remember coming by here when Vann and Jeff was born? " and he replied " and Windy also" You are right my sweet honey, we have passed by that one place that has stuck in our memories when were were on the way to have each of our children. When Windy was born we were over in Suches Ga and drove back to Nashville Tn. With the 2 boys we were living in Shiloh Al/Trenton Ga area and had to come over the Lookout mountain to Ft. Oglethrope Ga to deliver those boys. When Vann was born , I began to have labor pains late in the night . Honey's parents had come to see us not knowing that we were in labor so they stayed with Windy while we drove across the mountain to deliver our second born. We were so excited when Vann was born, we had his name picked out and could not wait until we got him home...he was our son. Now we were complete, a daughter and a son. But God had other plans for us. A third son was born 1 year later at the same hospital and we crossed the same place, the high rock formation on the side of the road. I have been a little sad since then thinking of how our family has gone each their own way. When the children leave and live on their own and that is the way it is suppose to be, we become sad at times that we don't see them as we would love to. Each has their own way of life, then death has taken one which has left us so sad. We just cry sometimes and not say a thing. Today we talked about Vann and the circumstances of his death and we have been so sad and teary since. Makes me want to just go and hide away. God in in control and I do know that He has us in us in His hands.
We will go out again tomorrow and try again to beat the heat! Until then, thanks for listening grandpa to this little girls chatter. I love you J
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