January Moments

Well January is over, doesn't it seem to have flown by? I continue to be behind on my blogging but if nothing else I will try to continue to post photos as I am able.

One of my goals for this year was to participate in a 365 photo challenge, I didn't even make it a week. There are different seasons for different activities and this doesn't seem to be the right time for me to do this so I've abandoned this project for now. I am however going to try to take more photos with my regular camera and rely less on my phone camera. Taking photos is easier with the phone, I don't have to lug the big camera around, but I just don't think the photos are as good of quality, so thats something I will continue to work on.

January was the month I saw my oncologist, all continues well, Very thankful to the Lord for his continue grace on or life, and my continued good health. We had some snow that closed the city down for about three days and we had several days that saw temperatures in the 60s and 70s. My poor plants don't know what to think. We started on a business venture, the pocket watch is our logo. That is another blog post all in itself and we made a trip to Williamsburg for the day just to get away.

Our grandsons also sent us a "traveling" journal that we had fun taking around town for a day, we took it to Cape Henry Lighthouse and First Landing

January was a time for my husband and I to reconnect a bit after the busy holiday and to explore some new interests. One is going to the driving range on the Fridays he has off, the other is going to estate sales. It was a busy month but in a good way. Here is a sample of what our January looked like. What was yours like?

July Moments

 I didn't do much posting in July because our days were busy. Our house was full of some of my favorite people. Here's a little preview of our July memories.

There was an unexpected visit from my siblings and an unexpected opportunity to watch my youngest son perform. There was lots of beach time with all of our visitors, trips to ballgames and lots of good food, including some Blue Crabs, a treat from my oldest son and my daughter in law.

Our CSA was going strong, with tomatoes, corn, squash, melons, berries and most recently eggplant. I'd love to hear your ideas on cooking with eggplant, so far we have mastered Baba Gnoush.

My flower garden has about peaked and we are now getting ready for the August heat. Lantana and Black Eyed Susan's are blooming now, with the last of the Day Lilly's done.

We did a lot of running around while family was here and the time went by way too fast. I loved every minute of it though and will treasure the memories made. How about you,

what was your July like?

Preserving The Memories

When we came back from the Mountain House we came back with boxes and boxes of photos, letters and cards from family long since gone. The items we found were from my husbands Grandparents, Great Aunt and Uncle and his Father's Uncle. I'm sure you can imagine what a treasure this is to my husband, we thought these photos were long gone.

The photo above is of my husband's grandparents. He had spent some time in Borneo working with the oil company. This car was one of his purchases when he came back to the states.

This photo is of my husband's grandfather as a young man. We think this was taken before he went to Borneo.

This photo is of my husband's Great Aunt, (the one in white) the sister of my husband's grandmother (she's in the back with her hands on her hip) It looks as if his Great Aunt is showing off something...maybe a ring??

                    This photo is of my Father in law and his two siblings, all of them gone now.

We are not sure what we are going to do with all of these treasures. There are other family members who might want some of these memories but I think the majority of the boxes will end up at our house for the time being. All the purging I did last year quickly being undone..lol.

My Father in Law put a book together when he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's with photos and names of many family members. He did it because he knew his memory was going and he put the book together to help him remember. He had shown it to us years ago but we could never find it after he died. We discovered it again last month behind some old baskets in an upstairs closet, it was our find of the trip, it has helped us put names to people.

I would be interested in knowing how some of you have managed old family photos, letters and cards (some of the postcards are beautiful) It seems wrong to toss it out but does no good sitting in boxes either. I'm sure i will post some on the blog from time to time. What kind of things have you done?

Monday's Memories

This pink Barbie Car was a gift to my oldest granddaughter, from her mom and dad for Christmas one year.Her parents found it on ebay and had it shipped to our house, where it has "lived" in our garage ever since. I think Miss B was either four or five when they bought it for her and it has been used by each grandchild.

Whenever the children would come over to our house and the weather was nice, they would try to convince their Pop Pop to pull it out so they could drive it.

Even though it was pink, it appealed to both my granddaughters and grandson, and any other child that came to visit. Yes that is my grandson with that red hair!

When the two oldest were too big to ride in the car, they would run along as the two youngest girls took turns driving.

Sometimes it didn't turn out so well. This was a memorable photo.  I'm sure my son will pull it out when my granddaughter decides it time for her to learn to drive. No real harm was done to either car. We did get a lot of laughs over this. You see how fast Little Red is getting out of the car, she didn't want any part of the accident.

Last summer the girls drove the car when they came to visit. Little Red did just fine but Little Miss found it a bit cramped for her long legs, she managed however, she didn't want to miss the opportunity to drive the pink Barbie Car. It was apparent they were going to be too big for the car soon.

My daughter in law has given me the okay to sell the car, she doesn't think anyone will be small enough to drive it the next time they visit, but I'm not quit ready yet.

I hate the thought of the car leaving,  Maybe I'll get a chance to see a grandchild ride in it one more time before I have to let it go. Who knew there would be so many memories associated with a pink Barbie Car.

Thankful Thursday

Has it really been a week since I last posted? Spring cleaning continues in earnest at our house, what started off as one closet has mushroomed into a huge purge. Today my sweet husband carted off five bags to the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) of things that don't fit, don't work, aren't needed or no longed useful and did I mention the furniture sitting in the garage waiting for it's new owner to pick it up. THEN there is all the stuff that would be considered trash, my shredder has had quite the workout and we're not done yet.

There's been a lot of reflection time during this process and the Lord has used it to remind me of how faithful he has been through the years and all we have to be thankful for. This is just one example 

I told you I keep everything, well I found my husband's orders to Scotland. In the Navy you rotate from Sea Duty to Shore Duty then back again etc. After husband's first Sea Tour he was due to rotate to Shore Duty. We had spent a lot of time apart and were looking for orders that might give husband more time at home, he thought a personal visit to the Detailer might help him get better orders. Detailers are the guys that give you orders for your next duty station. The office we were going to had Sea Duty Detailers, Shore Duty Detailers and Detailers that fill positions for overseas, it was a fairly large office. Long story short the personal visit to husband's Detailer wasn't helpful at all, the job options were okay, I mean he would be on shore duty, but we were going to have to move and the hours at his next job would probably be long. We began to head out, disappointed that things didn't go any better and got on the elevator. The elevator door shut, then we heard a banging on the outside of the door. We opened the door, and it was another Detailer trying to get our attention. He had overheard our conversation with the Shore Duty Detailer and wanted to offer my husband a billet overseas. We were young, and the idea of living overseas was exciting and best of all we were going to be able to spend more time together. 

Why is this little story significant, Scotland is I where I came to faith in Jesus Christ. I think that's why I've kept those orders for such a long time. 

Monday's Memories

This week I thought I would share a photo of my parents as a young married couple in honor of their 60th wedding anniversary, which they will be celebrating this week. This photo was taken at my aunt's wedding, my mom and dad had been married for five years with two children and a third on the way. There would eventually be five children in all.

No big celebration is planned for this anniversary, just a quiet dinner out together. They had planned an out of town jaunt but (wisely) decided to stay closer to home. They are still pretty independent and for fun they sing with a group that entertains folks in nursing homes. My dad was a patient in one of the homes that they visit after a illness left him pretty debilitated. He gets a kick out of going back to the therapy unit and showing them how well he is doing. 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

What Do You Do?

I'm slowly sorting through the stuff that was packed away in the closet of our spare room. Most of the boxes have been opened and the contents have spilled over to a second room for the sort. I started doing a quick look through the photos, (still lots to go) tossing all out of focus or bad photos, next I will be categorizing them and scanning.  I have another box full of old letters from various deployments when husband was in military, those will also be sorted and some tossed. I also have one box that has nothing but cards that that we received over the years that I never threw away.

Some of the cards had sweet notes included, or funny comments. One Father's Day card included an apology from one son for breaking his tooth, said son had been doing something he wasn't supposed to be doing when he broke it, that's why he apologized...funny I don't even remember the details anymore...let that be a lesson to younger moms...don't sweat the small stuff, even if it seems big now.

Getting back on track, I would be interested in knowing what you do with cards that you receive.  Do you throw them away after you have enjoyed them or do you have a clever way of storing them, or a crafty way of using them. Most of the cards I'm sorting through are from Birthdays, Mother's Day, Anniversary's, Fathers Day and it's from decades...it's crazy, I know.

I should mention I have another decorative box with cards people have sent through the years that would go under the category of encouragement...kind of like an Ebenezer box...those cards are full of scripture and and God's truths.  I'm not sure most of these cards I 'm sorting through would be ones I would consider special enough to put in that box.

So what do you do with your cards after you are done with them? I would love some ideas.

Monday's Memories

Cleaning out closets, and going through photos is what I have been doing the last couple of weeks.

I have boxes and boxes of old photos that never made it to a photo album or albums that were haphazardly put together, with photos that are yellowing and beginning to deteriorate. The sheer volume is overwhelming!

 What I am finding is that there are lots, of great photos but the ones worth keeping have gotten lost among the ones that are just so so. I have started sorting the photos and plan on getting rid of the photos that aren't all that good or have no particular memory associated with it. Sounds harsh, I know, but if I don't do it now, my kids will have to do it someday. (been there, done that) Today I am posting some favorites I have found

These photos are of my parents and my sons. My parents both celebrated their 84th birthday recently, so I thought it only fitting to include some photos of them. My parents have a total of seven grandchildren, five lived close by, two out of state (us) We did the best we could with visits, holiday trips and vacations together but I know it was hard having us out of state. I understand this more now that I am a grandparent. They also have five great grandchildren with another on the way (four of the great grandchildren out of state, our grandchildren)

My dad and my sons,  taken about twenty years ago

Mom and three of her grandsons on a Disney trip. My sons are on the right

This last photo was taken at my youngest son's graduation from high school, it was the last time my parents were able to visit us. Distance, jobs, responsibilities and limitations make it hard for us all to be together at the same time anymore.

This photo sort is going to take awhile, in fact I'm not sure its a job I will ever be able to finish, I mean after all I continue to take photos everyday, so constant purging is going to be needed.

And just in case you didn't see a spiritual correlation, there is one. The Lord continues to show me, in my own life, that there is clutter that needs to be cleaned out so things with eternal value can be found. I know, same theme as last post, but thats where the Lord has me right now.

Time To Take A Breath

My tree is not down yet but, the holiday activities are beginning to wind down. We have another birthday this week and if the weather is nice, another walk through the Garden of Lights with my son and his family, then it's back to day to day routine.

                   Some of the things that kept us busy this month were grandson's birthday

                                                        Ballet recital for Little Miss

An impromptu road trip to see my family, no one except my sister knew we were coming. I didn't even know we were going until the week before. We called all the sibs after we got in town and surprised my parents the next day, it was the first time in more years than I can remember that all the siblings have been together

While visiting my sister we went to the "Train Garden". Lots of electric trains and detailed miniatures filled the room. This is done yearly by a volunteer fire department. I talked to one the the guys at the fire house and he said it takes them about two months to set up the display.

We attended Handel's Messiah sing a long again this year. I still can't read music, and am constantly trying to find my place but, this event has become one of our favorite things to do. When we are singing "Glory to God" I think of heaven and how it's going to sound when all the saints are standing before the throne praising him. It's going to be an amazing thing. 

That's been our Christmas, lots of family time, memories made, looking forward to 2014.

Monday Memories

I was remembering a December five years ago. My husband and I flew to Rochester to attend a recital that youngest son was having. We were excited to have a few days away and to see our son. The idea of possibly having snow added to the excitement, because snow is such a rare thing here.

We flew into Rochester without delay, settled into our Bed and Breakfast and before we had the last suitcase unpacked it started to snow. We were like little kids, we couldn't wait to go out and walk in it. The Innkeeper thought we were a little odd, but she gave us some directions to various eateries and places of interest and wished us well.

It snowed off and on for the three days we were there. We would go out and walk to lunch, go back to the Inn and get some tea or coffee and get warm, then we would repeat the entire process for dinner. We walked to wherever we had to go, including the recital. Although it was really, really cold, we had a lot of fun that trip. 

The novelty of it all wore off when we tried to go home, seems the snow had shut the airport down. Our Inn Keeper was not surprised when we arrived back on her doorstep, she had warned us that we might not be flying out that day and said that our room would be waiting for us. She wasn't wrong,we were back shortly after we had left. Another day to play in the snow.

We had never seen so much snow!

Husband and I with youngest son, after the recital

Not sure we will ever get back to Rochester again, but it was nice remembering that trip today. Those of you who REALLY get snow, don't laugh too much at this southern tenderfoot.

Farewell But Not Goodbye

Saying goodbye has always been hard for me, it feels so permanent, final, so today instead of saying goodbye to our good friends we said farewell. Our friendship started with a camping trip over seventeen years ago and deepened through the years as we experienced life together. So many memories...fun times that included several camping trips, day trips to Mount Vernon, weekends at Williamsburg, the cottage in the Shenandoah and a Lake House in Northern Virginia.

Most of the time we would just hang out at each other's home....theirs in the Northern part of the state ours in the South....we live about four hours away from each other. We met while our children were going to school together....they moved North shortly after our friendship started. We don't get to see each other often but are always able to pick up where we left off from the last time we visited

They have served our family so many times during the last many years. Most of the time by just being available. They have been surrogate parents to our two son's and have watched them grow up to be men. Now they are a another set of grandparents to my grandchildren...you can never have too many of those!!!

There is so much history, they have cried with us, encouraged us during the hard times. Laughed with us, and celebrated with us during marriages, graduations and births. They have seen the good the bad and the real ugly in our lives and still call us friends. We share a common bond....redeemed sinners, saved by grace, so you see we are not just friends but brother's and sister's in the Lord...we are family

So what is about to change, well they are moving, and you would think the way I am going on that they were moving to another country or at least another time zone....not the case but they are moving pretty far away, and it will take more than just a weekend to visit them....sigh...so my heart is a little heavy and there were more than a few tears when we said farewell today

These photos are from various excursions through the years. The one with us dressed all fancy was taken at my son's wedding...they were all giving the "victory" sign, I was of course clueless as to what was going on...good times

Were able to watch son perform a couple of weekends ago, they of course opened up their home to us even though there was painters all over the place. Will miss you guys!

Sunday Blessings

Our church celebrated it's 25th Anniversary today. The celebration included a video that was a collection of photos that journaled the last 25 years of the church. There were also candid photos of most members displayed in the lobby. I enjoyed the photos and the video but I think the thing that impacted me the most was when they had people stand. They asked those that had been saved in the church to stand. Then they asked those who had been baptized since going to the church to stand. My son had been baptized in this church...I had forgotten.  You were asked to stand if you were married  in the church. Children were asked to stand if they were dedicated in the church. It was such a visual reminder of God's many mercies and how blessed I really was. My son...married in this church, all four grandchildren....dedicated in this church.

Sometimes my focus is all wrong, how easily I forget where we have been, I forget what God has done...his many mercies in our lives, but... I remembered today. When they had all those people stand... I remembered... I remembered what God did...and I have much to be thankful for.

End of Barefoot Days

I get a little blue this time of year, a little sad to see summer go. In years gone by, when my sons were young,  it meant carefree days of family adventures were about to end and school with it's busy schedules were about to begin. Sons are now grown, one with a family of his own, so our schedules really don't change that much anymore...so why so glum? I think it's because the things we enjoy about summer will end soon. Things like coffee out on the deck,  working in the yard after dinner, being able to walk outside barefoot and watching hummingbirds dart from feeder to feeder. The days will get shorter, it will get dark earlier and we will be spending more time inside.

It won't be long before I adjust, I will begin to enjoy the fall and all the activities that go with it. The cooler weather will be a welcome relief. It will be time to plant pansies and mums, and bulbs for the spring. The leaves will begin turning in a few weeks, maybe we will take a drive to see some fall color. We will make hot chocolate with marshmallows or maybe indulge in a carmel latte topped with whipped cream. It will be time to make soups and stews and maybe some bread. I can almost smell it as I type. I do like the smells associated with fall. Then there is football, not that I am a huge football fan or anything but I have sons who are, so I try to keep informed of how our favorite team is doing and will watch an occasional game. (when I don't watch I at least check on what the score was)

Fall means care groups that had gone on hiatus for the month of August will be meeting again. A new bible study will be starting at church....Ephesians. I will get used to the routine and begin to enjoy all this season has to offer and I will be thankful for each day.

Some Things Never Change

 My sons enjoyed playing with Legos when they were growing up, they could spend hours building things. The following pictures are of my youngest son many years ago at an event called Lego Mania

My grandson is now old enough for Legos

 Facebook

From the looks of this picture I think his uncle might be willing to pull out that stored bin of Legos and build some stuff with him the next time he comes for a visit