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