Archive for May, 2012

31 May

The Ranger

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

So Miss Ellie and Billy have been really close through the years.  He often takes her with him when he goes places.  Especially if he hasn’t been able to spend much time with her.

We have this little white Ford Ranger truck.  It is a really great truck, but it is not the prettiest thing around.  Garrett had one when he was first learning to drive it was a green one.  He came home one day, he was 16 years old, he said…Mom….my windshield wipers just come on out of nowhere.  I said….well you must have pushed something you didn’t know you pushed.  He said no…it has done it several times…and then they will go off all by themselves.   Hmmm.  We laughed.  It was a used truck when we bought it with a good many miles on it…so we marked it up to that.

Years later we bought another used little Ranger, well…I’ll be dog gone if the windshield wipers don’t come on out of nowhere.  The first time they did it…it startled me…then I just started laughing.

One of the things that made this truck …not so pretty is that it had a dark window tint on the windows.  Some of the tint had peeled off on the back window, which gave it a really used look.  But the tint helped keep the car cool on the inside.  This truck has an air conditioner that can turn the cab into a meat locker in a matter of seconds.  When you are working, you can really appreciate that on a hot summer day.

It started out as our work around the land truck.  We haul bark chips in the bed of it, rocks, firewood and I usually haul all my little discount plants in it.  It has been on all kinds of building mission trips with us and has never given us a bit of trouble.  It probably is one of the most reliable vehicles we have ever had.

Here is Billy and Ellie on one of their days of hanging out together.  She cracks me up with the way she sits up like a human.

Billy has gotten to where he drives the truck a lot lately.  The gas mileage is great and of course with the air conditioning….that is a real plus.  The other day I took the truck up to the Feed Store.  I needed to load some fencing and things in it.  As soon as I got on the main road a police officer pulled me over.  I wasn’t speeding…so I didn’t have a clue why he pulled me over.

He comes to the window and informs me that my tint is in violation…and so I had to show my license and then he runs the information and ask for my proof of insurance….which of course was not in the glove compartment box, because we forget to put it in there, because we had not been using the truck every day…until recently.

Thank goodness he was nice enough to write me a warning about the tint but I did have to go the court house and show that I really did have insurance on the truck.  I suppose I looked like a thug in that thing.  It did have the peeling tint on the back and the little dents and dings on the truck and of course it was dusty dirty from the back roads.  I had those dark tinted windows rolled up nice and tight so I could thoroughly enjoy my air conditioner and I’m pretty sure I was rocking to some country music too.

I can’t blame him for stopping something that looked like that.

So Billy and I had a job to do that evening…we armed ourselves with razor blades and  window cleaner and scraped all the gross tint off the windows.

He found the proof of insurance in his brief case and we placed it in the glove compartment like it should be.

And I will have to say….I admire our police officers.  If my son was one, I wouldn’t want him having to stop people and not be able to see who was in the vehicle…for his safety.  Soooo as aggravating as it was…it was my own fault.  It forced me to fix the problems and it does look a little better now. I kinda chuckled to myself thinking  it would have been really great if Ellie and Billy had gotten stopped.  That officer probably would have thought…. man that guys wife looks like a real dog…. HA.

Anyway, as far as the windshield wipers….well, they still come on whenever they want.  Looks pretty crazy when it is 90 degrees outside and not a cloud in the sky…and there you are going down the road with the wipers just a going.

Occasionally I see Garrett’s old truck around town…..it is still just chugging along.  I laugh…because that person knows how I feel when the wipers do their thing!

 

 

30 May

Down in the Boon Docks

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We have been working around the land the last few days.  Billy has a lot of projects going.  He amazes me with the things he envisions.  He put up this little building over his pump for the well.  It is not completely through….but real close.  This will also be his little shop to work in.  He plans to make signs for the land.  He is so excited.  I don’t think he will be doing much of that anytime soon though….because it is just tooooo nice to be inside.  The sign work will probably be saved for really rainy days and the upcoming winter days.

We found this sign last year at a shop while we were out of town.  He was glad that now he could hang it up.

This is down by the lake and we thought it would just be perfect.

Meanwhile I have some cat tails that have popped up in the goldfish pond.  I believe I am going to have to take some to the lake….they would look perfect there.

He was digging around the yard and I got tickled at his shirt.  He had sweated a face design!

Billy has always wanted a weeping cherry tree.  They are really pretty , but I haven’t found one for a really good price yet.  Sooooo he doesn’t have one.  Sooooo the other day he came in and said I trimmed the Willow tree.  I said you WHAT?  You trimmed my Willow Tree….

Oddly enough it looks a little bit like a weeping cherry…hmmmm   It certainly doesn’t look like a Willow Tree anymore.  I think I will have to confiscate the clippers for a while.

He did do a good job on the bushes in front of the house.  And that is where we found this.

Isn’t that so neat.  That little baby waiting for its Mama to come feed it.  I love this time of year.

There is new life everywhere you look, and that always makes me smile.

Especially here in the Boon Docks!

 

 

28 May

Memorial Day Weekend

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This weekend was different than our normal Memorial Day celebrations.  We usually go as a family to the Lake for the whole weekend.  This time we only went for one day, but it was extra special because Billy’s cousin and her family came too.

There was a lot of catching up to do with family stories.  Billy’s brother Barry can make an average story very entertaining.

Riley and Andy got to meet Sarah and they were instant friends.

We made homemade ice cream and they were eager to help!

They took turns turning the crank.  I remember doing that as a kid…I can’t believe it has been so long ago.

Billy told them that when he was a little boy he and Barry used to take turns sitting on the top.  So they took turns doing that too!  The good thing about these new ice cream machines is…you can plug them up when you get tired of cranking.   Before long the ice cream was ready and well….there wasn’t any left over so that should tell you something.

The day went by quick, but it was a good day.

And it was really great spending it with relatives.

Sunday afternoon Billy and I went to an out of town wedding.

WOW…yeah…that would be my husband!!!!!!

The church was rich in history.  The architecture was stunning, complete with stained glass windows and a pipe organ.  The soloist was amazing, the Bride and all her attendants looked gorgeous.

I knew the wedding was going to be on Memorial Day weekend…but I had not given it a lot of thought.

But as it got closer, I couldn’t help but think about how very appropriate it really was.  It was on a Sunday…what a neat time to be making your vows to God and to each other.

The groom is in the Military, and all his groomsmen are too.  They wore their uniforms and looked so handsome.  How special for them to spend this holiday together celebrating life with one another.  Due to all being in the Military, this weekend worked best for them to get leave and be able to travel.  And the Bride just graduated from College just weeks ago, accomplishing her goals toward her career.

As I sat in the wedding I thought of all these things.  How fortunate we are to live in a free country….because of the sacrifice the men standing before me are making.   And because of the many sacrifices that generations of men like them have made.  We can worship in churches like these openly and we can even dream and accomplish most anything we want—- because we truly live in the land of opportunity. Brave soldiers and their families have given sacrificially for each and every one of us.

After the wedding we attended a dinner with the wedding party.  The father of the bride is one of our best friends.  He prayed before dinner.  He thanked God for blessing his family, he asked for continued protection on these and all soldiers serving our country.  Then he said something that just touched my heart.  He said…Lord…I Love you….and I thank you.

I am so glad we have freedom to express our love and devotion to God, many do not have that privilege.

It was a beautiful wedding for many reasons.

Today, I hung my flag proudly outside my home.

I thank God for all the blessings he has bestowed on me and my country.  It is something I hope I never take for granted.

Say an extra prayer for our soldiers and their families tonight.

I hope you had a great Memorial Day.

26 May

Country Living

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I have always been a little bit country, but I have never lived in the country.  Even now we do not live that far out of the city, just far enough to enjoy the things that country life offers.

Like the soft cackle that our neighbors hens make as they go about their day.  And looking at the chickens as they get ready for bed.

I didn’t know they like to sleep like this….

Seeing wild flowers regularly— like this beautiful Queen Anne’s Lace.

Watching the animals interact with each other…no doubt in my mind they communicate in their own sweet way.

Enjoying fresh produce, like this cabbage, straight from the neighbors garden.

Using Mason Jars for many other things besides canning…..like for iced tea, flower vases and…..even candles.

Having the animals greet me when I come into the pasture.

Just wanting to be petted and talked to.

Then not wanting me to leave…..as they follow me toward the gate.

Watching the different generations of neighbors exchange stories and ideas.

Each learning new things from one another.

Seeing beauty and resourcefulness in things that grow from the land

…like these dried gourds, now used as bird houses for the Martins.

Seeing all ages of our family enjoy the land and animals.

Walks with my husband in the cool of the day and being able to fish whenever we want.

Oh..and….I don’t always look this good….Billy caught me on a good day.

I think Ellie likes living in the country too!

24 May

Oh…Mabel…Mabel…Mabel

Posted by ivegonecountry in Uncategorized.

So little Mabel developed another lump on her side two or three days after surgery.

We went back to the Dr. and they had to open her back up and put a drain in due to a pocket of infection.

They kept her overnight.  So the next morning I went to pick her up.

She had three different kinds of bandage wraps on.  They were trying to keep her from pulling out the drain.

The doctor said if she left it alone she wouldn’t have to wear all that stuff.

She acted like she felt really good, but I took her to work with us so I could keep on eye on her.

She kept going back to the water bowl.

The bandages were not staying in place.  Kinda hard to wrap a FAT puppy tummy!  You know that fat belly they get after they eat.

So….Billy and I got creative and made two leg holes in this bandage so it would stay on.  Looks kinda like a dog sweater.

Is that CUTE or what…..  We are working on Potty Training soooooo….there have been lots of trips outside.

Especially after drinking all that water!

She was so tired when we got home she crashed pretty early.

She really is like a baby.   I picked her up and put her in her crate and she hardly noticed.

She has been a real good patient.  So far she hasn’t bothered her boo boo.  She did get pretty tired of the bandage today so I took it off.  But it sure looked cute on her…Blue must be her color!

Ellie has been sweet.  I think she might have even missed her the other night while she was at the vet.

Well….maybe not….but she has still been sweet to her.

Hopefully they will really enjoy each others company in the days to come.    I guess we will see.

I still can’t believe we have another dog.

 

 

 

21 May

She stole our heart…..

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So I can’t explain how it happened….it just happened.

I told you about our new goats.  Well, when we were putting the goats into the pasture we were approached with a puppy.

Oh, I think puppies are just about the cutest thing there is….BUT….they are puppies.   They are like having a baby….your whole life gets rearranged.

I am very quick to love on them for a minute…but I don’t get the itch to take them home.

This person ….not only had one puppy…she had seven of them!  Oh my ….they were sooooo adorable.  I looked at them and oooed and ahhhhed and then one was put in my arms.

They are free…. Oh well they are cute but….

I oooohed and aaaahhhhed again and then….that’s when Billy took me by surprise.   Pick one out….I think at that point my neck must of looked like it was made of rubber.

I whipped my head around as he was walking off…..WHAT….What do you mean…pick one out.   WHAT??????

Billy wait …come here….don’t walk off….come here ( as he turns around and smiles)…what do you mean….pick one out????????

This is MABEL.   Needless to say…she came home with us that night.

She is a great pyrenees and red bone mix.  Pyrenees are good to be in with goats.  They will protect a herd from coyotes and other things of that nature.  We have a lot of coyotes around here.  It is not unusual to hear them howling in the woods late at night.

So far she he has been a real home body.  We try to get her to come for a walk with us….but no way.  She wants to stay on the porch.  Totally opposite of Ellie.

The other night she must have squeezed through the critter fence.  When I saw her she was trying to get OUT of the goat fence in the back yard.  When we got her back on the correct side she had a huge bulge on her side.  We immediately started looking for a snake bite or something.  She was breathing heavy and had a little blood in her mouth.

By this time it was getting pretty late.  We thought she would not make it through the night.  All we could figure is that maybe one of the goats hit her or something.  However none of the goats were anywhere around her when we got her out of the fence.  It just didn’t add up.

Billy and I neither one got a wink of sleep.  We kept getting up checking on her.

The next morning as soon as the vet opened Mabel and I were at the office.  They looked at it at said it looked like a hernia.  After checking her out they determined that she would have to have surgery.   Apparently, when she wiggled through the fence she tore her little tummy on the inside.  She did not have any cuts on her at all on the outside.  The blood that we had found in her mouth…well they found she had broken a few baby teeth.  The vet said she probably tried to bite the fence wire to get out.

She was able to come home the same day.  Doesn’t she look pitiful.  The doctor said that it was much bigger than he first thought.

Amazingly enough she is really bouncing back.  She wants to play most of her waking hours, just like a puppy normally does.

She knows she is cute…notice the look she gives.

Good grief…after all she has gone through how can you not baby her.

It’s all Billy’s fault….he is the one that fell head over heels.

She takes every advantage she can to make sure he stays wrapped around her finger.

Now Mabel is supposed to protect the goats…hmmmm….I may have to remind Billy of that in the days to come.

And Ellie…well, she is being really good about the whole thing.  She even shares her bed…every now and then.

18 May

Goats….

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We have separated some of the goats.

Jed is the son of Violet and the big brother to Jethro.

It is time for Jed to move out on his own….

He is a handsome boer goat.  He is gentle and kind.

These pictures were taken in March.  Jethro likes to play with him…and Jed is usually a good sport and plays back.

Just like brothers they like to hang out together.

And just like brothers, sometimes a little brother can be a little aggravating.

Last Saturday we picked up two new goats.

This is May.  She is now Jed’s wife.  She is supposed to be expecting within the next two or three weeks, according to her previous owner.   We will see.  I hope so!

She ran away from Jed the first day…but then she decided he was alright.  Now they stay together and they seem very content.  The two of them now live back in the pasture.

This is Freddy.  He is a male goat, obviously with the name Freddy, and he now resides in the back yard.

Violet, Jethro, Pearl and Hoot n Nanny are still adjusting to him.  They let him hang around, but haven’t  fully welcomed him just yet.

I think he is really pretty.  He almost  looks like a deer.  I’m predicting beautiful babies coming our way one day.  Ya Hoo!!!!!

As I have stated before, every animal that comes to our farm….has to have a name.  We called the girl May, because we got her in the month of May and we thought it suited her.  We named the boy Freddy, because the man we bought the goats from was named Freddy.  I think he looks like a Freddy. OH….. Not that he looked like his past owner Freddy…just that he looks like a Freddy.  Whoo….I just about got myself in trouble there.  I try to name the animals something that I can relate to where we got them or when we got them…it can get harder to remember those things the more animals you have.  So, I have found that if I have a meaning behind the name it helps.

He and Ellie are similar in color.  We have found that he is a lot harder to find in the backyard with the trees, compared to the other goats.   He really blends in with the surroundings.

And is about the size of Jethro….so it may be a little while before we have any more babies here in the back yard.  That is alright.  They have a lot of eating to do!

Jethro is a wether….meaning we banded him when he was small.  He cannot have babies.  Yes, Billy and I did that ourselves.  It is a little hard making those decisions.  However, you cannot have a lot of male goats running around.  So in order to be able to keep him and enjoy him for a long time, that is the choice we made.  It was still hard.

I am learning the terminology for all the critter procedures as I go along.  We have a local Feed store we use.  I have learned so much from these guys.  They are so sweet and they don’t mind me asking a million and one questions.  The owner often tells me a story about an animal while I am there.  I love hearing them.  They have all become my buddies.  Unlike most of the chain stores…I usually see the same people no matter when I go.  I like that.  It is a family owned and operated store.  Pretty neat to see several generations working together while sharing the same passion.  The other workers are close friends and just good ole country boys, with manners!  They still say Yes Ma’am and No Ma’am….and carry everything to the car for me. The kindness and respect they show, sure  makes my day.  I never hear one ask another….Hey, when is your break…Hey, what time do you get off work…or I can’t wait to get out of here.  Maybe it is because they are doing what they love.  I think that makes a huge difference in attitude toward work.

I just got back from the feed store,  the guys loaded the car up with a few 50 lb bags of sweet feed and I loaded up on a whole lot of animal knowledge!

16 May

Just a Blurrrrrrrr….

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I was fortunate enough Monday night to attend Layla’s performance from her gymnastics program.  It’s a good thing we have digital camera’s these day.  I sure would have wasted a lot of film otherwise.  Almost every picture I took was a blur.  Not necessarily from my camera….which I am still trying to decide if I like or not….but from the action of these little ones.  My mom used to say….I wish I could bottle some of that energy….I understand what she was talking about.

For Layla’s Birthday in February, her Aunt Nicole and her Great Grandma gave her a gift certificate to this little gym class.  I don’t believe they could have picked out a better gift!  Layla has LOVED going.  She has always been a little climber and jumper.  This provided a great way to burn all that energy up….just her style.  From the time she was able to pull up in her baby bed, she would raise both legs up and plop on her tail end from standing height…..then she would just giggle and giggle…and do it all over again.

So pardon the blur…but this was some of what they showed everyone they have been working on this season.

This is Layla and her Aunt Nicole….who is one of the teachers.  This was done to music.  Each activity teaches a variety of learning skills.

There are flips….

And balancing….which can be difficult when you are four….or Forty Nine…HA

Once you get it on the lower level…you get to step it up a notch……

Then you get to add a flip or roll to it…with help

It is a good program…The teachers are great at working with the children.  Here is one of the ways they rotate from one station to the other and not have kids on top or each other.  Kinda reminded me of SOUL TRAIN..HEE HEE.

They really do call this the train and they sing a song as they move to the next station…IT works!

Then there was more climbing…

Hey…you have to admire that….I’m not sure I can do that anymore….

The instructors show the kids what to do at each station.

Then it is the kids turn.

I’m sure it is rewarding for the teachers to see how much progress the children have made since the beginning of the program.

You’ve heard of kids climbing the wall……well

They really did.  This is where they practice a hand stand, by walking their feet up the wall.

At the end, they told the children they could join their families….this is the part of being a grandmother that just blesses your heart.  She runs to me smiling, calling my name with that sweet little voice.  AHHHH….be still my heart.

Now with great Anticipation we await the award ceremony…….

They received…a certificate and as Layla so proudly stated….”A Golden Medal”!

The graduating class….

A graduation gift of “PINK” ice cream was given.  Layla actually wanted to treat me to Ice Cream….she brought her little purse filled with pennies, nickles and dimes.  She said Me Me…I”ll buy it…I have enough money!  What a sweet gesture, makes all the other worries in life….disappear.

It is always fun to be with the little ones.  Layla’s talks are getting more and more interesting as we travel in the car.  She told me something that raised my brow.

About 30 minutes into class I heard her tell her Aunt Nicole the same thing…I waited to see the response on her Aunts face.  I suppose mine must have looked like hers….I had to chuckle to myself.  Aunt Nicole however manage to continue on with class.  When the program was over Layla went to hug Aunt Nicole.  It was then that Nicole looked up at me with that PRICELESS look and said…Layla told me that she was getting a baby sister?  I laughed and said …yeah…she told me that too on the over here.  I assured her that I would be asking about that one.  As we both gave a nervous giggle.

Garrett and Ashley both had to work so I couldn’t wait to inquire when we got home.  However on the way back to her house I began the process of questioning.  I asked if Mommy was going to have a baby?  She said NOOOOOO.  I said well, is Daddy going to have a baby? She said NOOOOOO.  Well then…I asked…where are you getting this baby sister?

And well…Silly me….I should have known the answer…

At the Baby Sister Store, she says.   WHEW!!!!! That’s all I needed to know.

Garrett laughed as I told him and I informed him he might want to ease Nicole’s mind as well!

It is always an adventure when kids are around!

15 May

Plants and Animals

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I’ve been watching a few of my plants lately, the ones that come back every year.  I tried to guess when it was that they were going to bloom.

I thought it was around this time last year, I happened to guess right.

I planted these several years ago.  They continue to produce more plants, so they are starting to really make a statement.

Same thing with these Hydrangea’s.  I think I mentioned before that I had moved this plant, it didn’t do much of anything last year.

While the plant itself is still small.  It is already giving me some beautiful flowers.

I love the different colors on the same plant.  I believe it likes it’s new place in this flower bed!

I had a new daylily I was trying out last year, but I noticed that Billy thought it was a weed and got it with the weedeater a couple of times.

Billy bought me a “just my size weedeater”.    It is easy to handle and  battery operated  (Billy laughs at it).   It is light weight enough for me and I don’t have to mix up the additives and pull on it…and pull on it…and pull on it, and beg it to start.   I just push my little button and off I go.  Granted the battery doesn’t  last a longtime, but does little jobs just fine.  So he did the big areas with his MANLY WEEDEATER.  And I did the little areas with my girly one.

All that to say…..my daylilies survived and actually bloomed this week!

Ah….now that’s pretty!

I love the water lilies in the gold fish pond. I have three different kinds.  Whenever I see this particular one…it takes me back to rowing a boat at my Grandma and Grandpa’s.

It was all around flowers like these that we would catch those big ole bull frogs that my grandma would fry up the legs for us.   We actually have quite a few frogs that like to hang out in our pond as well.  When you walk up to the pond they will jump in from the edge and sometimes they skip like a rock across the water.  Ellie loves to make them jump in.

This is another one I have.

It has not spread as much as the other one.  If you look to the right there is another bloom getting ready to surface.  Maybe this year it will do better.  The pads tend to be  purple unlike the green pads with the other lilies.

It was as if the yard was saying “Happy Mothers Day” to me.  I thought their blooming time was perfect!

I happened to catch some of the Mama animals with their babies this weekend and thought you would like to see them too.

Starting with our newest Mama and baby.  This is Zsa-Zsa and 3 week old baby girl…Joy.

This is Punkin and Toot.  Toot is about to two months old now, and growing like a weed.

This is Brandy and her 9 month old girl….Lee.  Lee is always loving up on her Mama, it is really sweet.

I couldn’t get a picture of Cupid and Chuck together.

He is a boy and you know how boys don’t really care for all that stuff.

But the baby girls decided to pose for me.

I am seeing them hang out together a good bit.  Lately when the cows are in the pasture the two of them are always together playing while the Mothers graze.  Joy is the one on the left and Toot is on the right.  I think they will be close.  I’ve noticed that Chuck and Lee tend to do that too, they are 3 weeks apart in age.  Toot is starting to turn more brown than she was.  It is fun to watch their markings develop as they grow.

These aren’t the greatest pictures of the goats, but when they see me they come running to the fence and picturing taking is all over at that point.  So this was taken as I zoomed in from behind a tree.  They looked right at me…they just think I’m a little bit nuts, hiding behind a tree.  I suppose I am…come think about it.

This is Pearl and Hoot n Nanny.  Hoot is really growing and Pearl is a good first time mother.

This is Violet and Jethro.  He is changing so much, he’s getting so tall and his horns are really growing.  He looks a lot like Pearl.  Violet is the mother to both of them….at different times of course.

The temperature has been a little cooler this week, they have all been enjoying it.

I hope it won’t be much longer before we welcome a new addition to the Farm.

I absolutely can’t wait to see this baby!

This is Zippy, she came into the pasture last May.  It takes about a year for them to carry their baby.  So hopefully…we are getting close.

I know Moses will be glad, Zippy is a  little grouchy toward him these days.  Poor Moses….he just tries to walk away.

It has been a really good week, watching all the new Mama’s and Mama’s to be.

I love getting to be around all the new life here on the Farm.

 

 

 

 

 

14 May

My Mom

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This is my mother when she was just a little girl.  Isn’t she a cutie.

She couldn’t wait to grow up, get married and become a Mother.

She dated a good bit…but she just couldn’t find Mr. Right.  UNTIL….she met…. HIM.

They both fell in love and within months they were married.   What a good looking couple.

They both wanted lots of children.

God gave them four.  This is where I come into the story!

Tommy, Charlotte, Sonya (me) and Debbie.

They were only married seven years when my daddy passed away, so Mom raised us by herself.  She did a great job and I know that my Dad would be so proud of her.

I forgot that all this digital stuff really became popular after she died.  I have a few scanned pictures, but I need to learn how to post them differently.

Meanwhile…I can tell you about her.

She loved God and she showed us how important He was in her life.

I tell you that first, because that is what molded and shaped her into the person I knew and loved.

She told us that after going through hard times, like losing  daddy, you either get bitter or better.

She chose to let God bring out the best in her through the situation.  She ran to God…not away from Him.  Trusting Him through the good times and the bad.

My mama had beautiful blue eyes, and velvety soft skin.

She taught us girls to be feminine, she dressed pretty and liked to wear high heels.  We grew up loving that too.  When I was a little girl I loved the way she would blot her lipstick with a tissue.  Often she would kiss my cheek and leave a lipstick kiss.   She was pretty and her perfume smelled good.

As a child she often woke us up for school with the song -“Rise and Shine, give God the Glory, Glory” .  It still echoes in my head and makes me smile. ( A sprinkle of water was next if you didn’t rise and shine!)

She loved to celebrate our birthday’s, it was our special day.  We didn’t have elaborate parties, but we had friends and neighbors over for homemade cake and Ice cream.

She read us bedtime stories, prayed with us, and tucked us in bed.

She gave us a million kisses and hugs and told us she loved us so many times I couldn’t even count them.  And she meant it… each and every time.

I have fond memories of home cooked meals, that began with prayer, thanking God for providing for us and allowing us to gather together as a family.  There was lots of laughter and conversation at the dinner table.  It was a time for us to share our day.   She was interested in the things that interested us.

She made sure we all did our homework and worked with us if we needed help.

Mom had three dishwashers, me and my two sisters.   We had a lot of fun working in the kitchen with her.  She taught us how to cook and clean.  We learned how to sort, wash, dry, fold and put clothes away.  We all helped with cutting the grass, edging the lawn and trimming the shrubs.  We swept the driveway and sidewalks and took out the trash, although that was mainly Tommy’s job.  We didn’t always like the chores at the time, but we were a family.  We worked together as a family.  It taught us responsibility.

She was a people person, she enjoyed having company. Growing up, our house was the house that everyone wanted to come to.  All our friends loved our mama.  Besides that she made the best sweet tea in the world.

She was talented and creative.  She made  pajamas, clothes, curtains, table cloths, embroidered pillow cases, crocheted purses and afghans!  Just to name a few.  If she wanted a room painted…she painted it.  Since we helped, we learned how to do it too.

She taught us how to change a tire on the car and check the oil.

She taught us manners and expected us to use them.

She took us to church as a family, and taught us God’s Word in our home.

She stayed up at night, preparing things for the next day.

She rose early, fixed breakfast, packed school lunch boxes and got us to school on time.

She was patient and kind with us.  But she also expected us to obey and disciplined us when we didn’t.

She spanked me when she thought I needed it, but not near as much as I deserved!

She took care of me when I was sick, kissed my boo boos, and wiped many tears from my eyes.

She showed us love and respect.

She couldn’t and wouldn’t go to sleep until we were all in for the night.

I could talk to her about anything…well almost…

As a teenager I remember sitting on the edge of her bed when I would get home.  We would laugh and talk about things that most people would find boring.

She encouraged me when I failed and walked with me through difficult times.  She mentored me and helped me become a better person.  When she didn’t approve, she corrected me, but loved me as I found my way.

She had a tender heart.  If we were happy, she was happy for us.  If one of us hurt….she hurt.

We were happy when she was happy and when she hurt….we hurt.

We all grew up, healthy and happy!

One by one we moved out.

It was hard leaving her in that house all by herself.  The home she and daddy had hoped to retire in.  She had devoted her whole life to us, guiding us, training us.  Giving us an awesome childhood.

It was hard for her too.  But she continued to show us where she got her strength, by relying on God to help her make the transitions.

I had the first grandchild.

Garrett was the only one for 10 years.  Needless to say…they were very close.  She thought he hung the moon!

Then my sisters started having children.

Mother loved each and every one of them dearly.  Showing each of them the same kind of love.  She kept the pictures they drew for her.  She saved their sweet voices on the answering machine.  She spent time with them and kissed them every chance she got.

She always looked forward to getting together.

The beach was a special place for her.   This was the last time we were all there together.  I am so glad we were able to spend that time with her.

I treasure this picture!

I couldn’t have asked for a better childhood.  Sure we had hard times and heartaches, every family does.

But we had more good times….than bad ones.

I’m not sure that we fully realize the impact our parents have on us until we are grown.

I miss her everyday, especially on Mothers Day.

As I reflect on her though, I smile, because I have so much to be thankful for.

I DO love my Mama!

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