Memories of Daddy

In honor of Father's Day tomorrow, I want to dedicate my blog today to my Daddy. He has been gone for 11 years and I can still hear his voice, hear his laughter, feel his love. He worked for the C & O railroad (before it was CSX). When he came home in the evenings, he always had time for us kids. He taught us how to play marbles and ball and badminton. We loved being out in the yard with him. As time passes by, my memories of Daddy never fade. Little moments stand out never to be forgotten. Memories of him taking us to Brady's hardware with him and letting us browse the paint charts and look at the tools. Memories of him taking me and Rachel to Updyke's 5 & 10 and buying us our first little new testament bibles. Memories of rubbing his feet or his back to make a quarter. Memories of him getting out his secret stash of the giant Hershey bar and breaking us each off a piece. Memories of laying out in the sun on Sunday afternoons while Daddy sat on the patio listening to the Reds on the radio. Memories of him eating off a TV tray in the living room when Marshall played basketball. Memories of buttermilk and cornbread for a late night snack or bread broken up in a cup of coffee with butter and cream. Memories of helping him mix concrete for a new sidewalk and patio. Memories of getting to flip the chalk line on lumber when he made anything. Memories of long walks in the woods on Sundays, or up to the golf course to find golf balls or simply walking up the road to see the cows (not sure why we loved to do that, but we did). Memories of him in his building where he would work for hours making us book cases, doll benches and what-not shelves. Memories of eating ice cream together and riding to town on the bus. Memories of him taking us to Merle Norman's and letting us buy Mommy a pretty pin for Mother's day. I now have those pins because Mom gave them to me a few years ago. I could fill the whole internet with all the wonderful memories of Daddy. But to sum it all up, my greatest memory of Daddy was LOVE. Always and forever. I miss you Daddy.

Forever 25

As we grow older, our bodies change. We put on weight. We have aches and pains in places where we didn't even know we had places. We start to wonder "What would it be like to get out of bed and be able to move without stiffness?" To literally "run" out to the mailbox and be able to breathe when we get there. Someone asked this question yesterday: Satchel Paige asked, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?” So, how old would you be? I would be forever 25. Forget the aches and pains for a moment. Don't sweat how much you weigh. In your mind, how old do you act? Are you in your 50's but act like you are approaching 90? Do your actions and words label you as "old before your time". Or do you continue to enjoy life to the fullest? Do you go after the brass ring and rejoice when you grab it? Life is not about age. It is about what you do with the moments you have. I will be forever 25. Old enough to be an adult when I need to be, but young enough to play when I want. I actually bought a jump rope a few years back and would jump with the grandsons. Now the granddaughters are older, I'm going to buy another one this summer along with a set of jacks so I can teach them how to play. If I stay 25, I can still get down in the floor and get back up again, despite the aches and pains. I can still throw my head back in laughter at something I find humor in without worrying about what people will say. I can still go, go, go, go. I don't' have to stay home and become a couch potato. If I stay 25, I can find the joy in simple things. Like swinging a hula hoop around my waste or twirling a baton in the air. I can still get in the floor to play cars and truck or wonder around the room playing zoo with the grandsons. I can still have tea parties and watch cartoons with the granddaughters. If I stay 25, I'm still thin and attractive to my husband. And yes, ladies, if I stay 25, I'm still sexy. If I stay 25, I can know that I need to watch what I eat, but I can splurge occasionally. If I stay 25, I can color my hair simply because I want a new shade or some highlights. I will age gracefully. I will agree that time is drawing a road map on my face with wrinkles and crinkles. But in my mind, I will always be 25. The wrinkles are just the joy marks of the wonderful life I have lead by always being 25.

The Mighty Weeping Willow

Isaiah 44:3-5 (King James Version) For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses.

One of my favorite items in nature is the weeping willow. I grew up playing under one in my grandmother's yard. They are a thing of beauty and of wonder.

I want to be like the weeping willow. They sway and bend as the mighty storms of life blow around them. Their roots will travel to the nearest water. Their branches may get old and gnarled. They will twist and turn. They bend with the wind, but their strength never falters.

My prayer for each of you today is that you will be like the mighty willow. May you bend with whatever life tosses your way, but may it never break you. May you stand strong through the test of time. And may you have deep roots that are forever nourished by the living water.

Have a blessed and happy day!

The Runaway Goat

Allow me to introduce you to Boomer Lloyd. Boomer is a mere 7 weeks old and is a Pygmy Goat. Adorable isn't he? My sister, Rachel, has two daughters who have no children yet so they provide her with numerous granddogs, grandcats and now yes a grandgoat. Since he is a baby, I argue that he is technically a grand"kid". But what do I know.

Well, a couple of days after Boomer went to live with his new Mom and Dad, (Darin and Amy), Amy went out to feed and water him. Being the frisky little kid he is, he proceeded to prance around Mom and was able to escape his pen. Before Amy could grab him, he took off barreling at high speed like hounds were on his tail.

Yes, high speed... over the hill, through the yard and right smack dab in the middle of the neighbors double plated window. Glass shattered everywhere, little Boomer got caught in the mini-blinds.

The lady next door said not to worry about the window, it wasn't any big deal. Of course, when her hubby came home, he informed Amy & Darin that it had been a double plated window and he expected a double plated window to be put back in. As if they would do anything other than that.

Anyway, that was just the beginning of poor Boomer's dilemma. He was cut pretty bad and bleeding. Amy and Darin doctored him as good as they could and called the vet the next morning.

Believe it or not, but most vets do not doctor goats. It was a mess. They finally got him taken care of and I'm sure he is going to be fine. I'm sure there is a moral in here somewhere, but I'm not sure what it is.

Goats are great. But at least children don't plow through the neighbors double plated windows.

A day of rest

It seems like everywhere I turn over the past month or so, people have been discussing Sunday being a day of rest. I had a discussion with a dear friend recently about the fact that we all seem to fall into the trap of using Sunday as a day of catching up on things, going to the store, out to eat, whatever we didn't get to do during the week. Yesterday on Facebook, one of my dear friends brought up the question of how many of us will actually "rest" on the Lord's day. I had made plans Saturday night that after church on Sunday, I was going to pick up the house just a little and check emails to get a jump start on next week. Then I went to church Sunday and heard an awesome sermon. Many things hit home with me and as I got to thinking about just exactly when and how often do we seek the Lord when things aren't going our way? He has set aside a special day for us to rest from all we go through and yet we find things to do to keep us busy on His day. The ONE time He has basically told us to take it easy. So I came home, had lunch and relaxed all day yesterday. I watched a little Andy Griffith reruns, read a little, and took a long nap. When I woke up I took a long bubble bath and read some more. Then we had a light supper and I headed back to the couch with my pillow and blankie to watch the Next Food Network TV Star show. Talk about restful. It was AWESOME. I got up this morning at 6:00 and can't remember the last time I started my week by feeling so refreshed. It is 6:46 and I have already cleaned house, set up my work day, checked my Facebook and wrote my blog. There really IS something beneficial about resting on Sunday's. As always, God knows what he is talking about. We just need to learn to listen.

Update on the past week

It has been a full week. My mother and sister have been down on vacation. I kept meaning to put something on my blog every day, but we have had such a full week that I just wore myself plum out as we say in the country. Mom turned 80 on Thursday and we had the best week. We went to Cades Cove, Dollywood, shopping, Apple Barn, Old Mill, and much more. We had a blast. We are going to a cookout at my daughter's tonight. My son and his family are getting home from the beach today and I can't wait to see them there. I'll get back to my regular postings tomorrow. I have missed posting and have missed your comments. Have a great day.

It's moments like these....

Life can get you down, people can get on your nerves. Things have a way of coming at us from all directions that make us just want to scream.

But in the midst of all the turmoil and toil, a little 5 year old granddaughter can hold your hand and say "This is going to be the best day." And when you ask why, she answers "Because I'm spending it with you."

Melt my heart!!! I love my grandchildren. It's moments like these that make everything we do and everything we are worthwhile.

Thank you Alexis Caroline for making my day. I love you.