Where were you?

That is the question of the day today on the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy.  

But first, it's Friday and you know what that means!  Time to dump out the remains of the week and link up with Mrs. 4444 for Friday Fragments.....

Let me start with a big Happy Birthday to our youngest grandson, John Daniel.  John is a sweet, happy boy who lights up any room.  

On his actual birthday, he had a birthday cupcake......his party is this coming weekend.  Sadly, we won't be able to attend.

Happy Birthday big boy!  Pappy and Nana love you!

*****

Between talking to nurses for mama, taking the dog to the vet and going to the eye doctor for myself, I feel all doctored out for this week. Keeping up with it all is tiring and I live by the calendar in my purse.  Whew!

*****

This weekend Mercy Uganda is having a warehouse sale.  We put a big dumpster at the warehouse because there was a lot trash!  The Superhero and I went over after church Wednesday night and as our headlights hit the dumpster I spied a body hanging half in and half out and and I freaked for a moment thinking there was a dead body that had been dumped.  Thankfully the body moved and I saw my very first dumpster diver.  It was nice that he was taking trash and making it his treasure.  How I wish I had a picture.
He didn't exactly look like this, but you get the drift.

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And now to the question of the day.....where were you when John Kennedy was assassinated?

I was in the sixth grade and was at school.  An announcement came over the school P.A. system.  A very emotional voice informed us that the president had been shot and asked that we all stand and have a silent prayer .  That's all we knew as we silently stood and prayed.  Yes, praying in school was very common 50 years ago.  Moments later another announcement came over saying that the President of the United States had died and school was immediately dismissed.  My friends and I walked home in silence.

When I arrived home, I went to my room and cried.  

My grandmother especially loved President Kennedy and had a replica of his rocking chair.....
The rocking chair with the book The Torch is Passed

I love this picture because they look so happy

And who could forget that little salute

No matter our politics, it was such a sad and tragic day for our nation.  Even fifty years later, I cry watching the coverage on television.

*****

It seems like there is very little blogging time lately and I'm late.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Friday Fragments

It's Thursday and I'm here and I'm going to try to participate in Friday Fragments!  If you would like to dump those left over thoughts from your brain go on over to Mrs. 4444's place and join in the Friday party!

 

So here go my disjointed week's thoughts.

We have a sweet friend who was in the Homecoming court for her high school.  My brother's friend came with his convertible and my brother rode shotgun while I took pictures.  

She was a finalist and isn't she gorgeous!  Sweet too.....the theme of Homecoming this year was the 20's Flappers and she was perfect!

The driver and bodyguard......on the right is my brother

It was a hot day and the parade lined up an hour before the start of the parade.  There were three school bands and about fifty or so cars.  The parade started went ONE block and turned the corner returning to the parking lot.  That was it and I was a little shocked! But it was fun and we were honored to be part of her special day.

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Mercy Uganda, the mission we are involved with just celebrated five years!  During this time, our dear friends have made many trips to Uganda, raising money for several wells in remote villages, bringing sewing machines in and teaching the women to sew giving them a way to make a living for their children.  Other projects include teaching agriculture skills, starting livestock programs, teaching hygiene and obtaining sponsorships for children to attend school.  Mercy Uganda has bought a small amount of land and Mark and Laura hope to move there summer of 2014!  Each year we have a fund raising banquet and last week we held our annual banquet with a Christmas theme.  Ladies in our church decorated tables and it was indeed a winter wonderland.....

Lots of stuff for sale......hair bow trees!

Homemade pillows

Tables.....they weren't for sale

Silent auction items from Uganda.....homemade nativity....

The Superhero bid on this and won......I actually just realized it wasn't this picture but one like it...

 Our local newscaster on the left.....Meredith Terhaar.....emcee.....a PA friend on the right who has been to Uganda with our team doing medical work.

The founder of Mercy Uganda....Laura Knetzer.....she and her husband, Mark have given their lives completely to this ministry.  She's also my dear friend and I love her.

It was a great night!

*****
The strangest things happen in Walmart.....a few days ago, I was buying a few groceries and in the checkout line I felt someone behind me a bit too close.  I value my personal space greatly.  When I finally turned around an older man (not creepy at all) said "I love your ring".....speaking of my wedding ring.  I answered that I did also, but that I loved the man who gave it to me so much more.  He said "well, he must love you a lot".....at that point I decided I wouldn't tell him that I actually nagged the heck out of told the Superhero a few years ago it was time to upgrade :)....then he said this and I tried not to laugh...."I'm as bad as a woman, I love diamonds"  Just a sweet little event.

*****

MIL is doing very well after her knee replacement surgery!  This is such good news.

*****

My last blog post disappeared!  Just poof....gone into wherever things go to in internet space.  My sister noticed and asked me about it and when I tried to find it....yep....gone!  I have no idea what happened or how to retrieve that post!  

And with that thought in mind......I opened a fortune cookie one night and it said.....you will be very prosperous if you use your creativity.  I guess I am not destined to be prosperous!

*****

I know this post has a lot of picture overload!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Deal......or no Deal?

 Wonder what deal or no deal means?  It's me.....I can deal on some days and then find it hard to deal on other days.  Oh, just like you?  Good, I hate doing things alone.
It's been a stressful few weeks and I'm pulling myself up by the bootstraps or flip flop straps as the case may be.

I'm late, but I'm joining in on Friday Fragments where we empty all the small things that are floating around in our brains.
Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for sponsoring.

AND Christmas is coming.....I love Christmas but not the gift buying part so 

after reading a post over at my friend Debi's blog, I rushed over to look at her daughter's etsy site.

I purchased some lovely Christmas gifts from Jackie at Saltboxhousesigns.  If you haven't visited I highly recommend going over and browsing for your Christmas gift list!  I can't wait to show you pictures but alas will have to wait until Christmas.  I have already received the gifts and they are top quality and so perfect for what I wanted.

*****

Although the Superhero does not read my blog, he hears me talking about it on a somewhat regular basis on the rare occasion.

 And lately I may or may not have been in a good mood.  I apologize Superhero even though you'll never know because you don't read my blog.

So........this morning when I mentioned that the bar was messy, he jumped up and said ....... who can fix that?????  SUPERHERO! While I was laughing hysterically, he cleaned all the clutter from the bar and wiped it down sparkling clean!  The Superhero did two things for me.....he cleaned the bar and made me laugh.  Of course, he did make the snide little remark that most of the stuff on the bar belonged to me!  

But no matter....

******

Have you heard of the country Facility?  Yes, it has to be real because I talked to a woman from that country on the phone last night while trying to register something I had purchased. We spent a wonderful 45 minutes together with me mostly saying "huh"  or "could you repeat that again, I don't seem to be able to understand you"......At the end of the conversation, I asked where she was located.....you know as in country?.......and she answered "Oh, I'm in Facility".....sigh.  The worst part of that conversation was that awful moment when I realized the reason other than language that we couldn't understand each other was that I had ordered the wrong thing and no matter who I had been talking to or from what planet it wouldn't have worked.......  SIGH......

The next day I chatted online with her brother Zen.....I kid you not, although he did say he was in the Philippines!  

*****

Last night we ate at a local restaurant and this was our view.

There was live music and he sang my kind of songs which was really nice.

*****

Lastly, I must post this now because if not I could miss my window of opportunity.  I just discovered this is National Pet Peeve week.  

My personal Pet Peeve is honking horns!  I just absolutely cannot honk my horn and I hate to hear others honking.  We spent one day in D.C. 20 years ago and there were so many things to love about the city, but my goodness no one can drive without honking their horns.  I wanted to get out and ask if anybody really thinks gridlocked traffic will move if you honk your horn enough!

*****

That's it for me......

Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekend.

Ninety years of mama.....

Saturday, September 14, 2013 was mama's 90th birthday.   What a wonderful day for her as all of her six children and five of their spouses were able to be with her and she was indeed in her glory!  

We are in birth order L to R, oldest to youngest.

Mama has had a long life and for most of her life she has been really busy!  Growing up as one of seven children couldn't have been easy, but she fiercely loved all of her brothers and sisters.

Born on what she calls "The Lower Farm", she was the fifth of the seven.  You may remember this picture that she recently received from a cousin.  

In fact, looking back through old posts I notice that I've said these same things many times but I guess if you want, you can just drag yourself through it again as I reminisce!

Mama with her parents George Washington and Palestine Anderson.


As you can imagine, money wasn't plentiful in a household where there were seven children and my grandmother always had a job or two and cooked for the fish camp where my grandfather worked.  Grandma also made most of the clothes for her children.  Mama never learned to sew but her sister did and often made our dresses, especially at Easter.

I'm not sure what this event was, but wasn't mama 
beautiful? 
 
Even though times were hard, mama and her sisters had a good time.  They danced at the USO when they could on the weekends and on top of The Dixie Sherman Hotel.

Mama apparently worked in a dime store downtown when she met my daddy.  According to her, when he walked out of that store he told his friend that he had just met the girl he would marry.  And by golly, he was right!
Mama, by then, worked at the local paper mill and saved for months to buy the fur collar on her wedding suit.....it was hot the day they married, a typical Florida end of October hot, but mama was wearing that fur no matter what and she did as they married in what was then St. Andrew's Baptist Church with two witnesses, her sister and daddy's friend.  
They're friends pooled their gas coupons so that mama and daddy could have a honeymoon.


Their honeymoon turned out to be something of a disaster an adventure.  Upon arriving at Wakulla Springs, much to their horror they discovered the hotel kitchen had burned and the hotel was closed to the public.  They ended up at daddy's brother's home in Georgia.  Doesn't that sound romantic?  Yea, mama thought so too!
Mama always had a thing for fur, but of course never enough money to buy one.......that is until she started putting aside the same amount of money that daddy spent buying cigarettes.  She saved and saved until she had enough money to buy a g.e.n.u.i.n.e. fur stole.....and she was oh, so proud of that fur.  It hangs in her closet today and I promise you that no matter how hot it is when she dies, we are burying mama in that fur stole! 

And then......the kids started coming!  Mama with my oldest brother.

Birthday party for my older sister.  The boy on the right rolling his eyes is a cousin who was absolutely thrilled to go to a girl cousin's birthday party! 


Seriously, just one big happy family!  This is when there were just five of us kids.  We had an appointment to have a family picture made but there was a long line and my daddy wasn't the most patient man, so he had someone come to our house to take photos....I'm not sure why everyone 
looks so happy here!
  


Mama was always happiest at the beach!  Here she is at a little cottage she and daddy rented one summer long ago

With her sister at the beach......mama did love those little stickers!  This is where I learned that laughter is the best medicine!

Mama.....well.......she's just mama.....always there for her children and anyone else who needed her.  Her home was shelter to many over the years, always making room for one more although not so much after the kids started multiplying!  

 I don't remember mama ever sitting down with us or playing games with us.....she was probably too busy trying to keep us fed!  She absolutely did not gossip which could be very irritating at times being as we were always the last to know things.  Mama could and still can keep a secret and if you ask her what her secrets are she will quickly reply "if I told you, it wouldn't be a secret anymore!"  
And so, we missed out on lots of family stuff that was none of our business anyway information.

On her birthday,  this was my facebook status...

She taught us to love the Lord....

Love our husbands first and our children second....
Oh, my goodness.....she loved my daddy as much as I've ever seen a woman love a man.  

That it is not only o.k........but absolutely necessary to laugh in the most difficult of circumstances! 

She still has that incredible sense of humor.

That sense of humor has served us all well.

So mama's 90 now........

She is truly a Proverbs 31 woman and her children rise up and called her blessed!

Gorgeous sunset and other thoughts

So here we are again, Friday.......time for Friday Fragments.  Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments each week.  If you have some thoughts remaining in your brain after a long week, go on over and join in the fun!

We had a little stress reliever retreat last weekend.....the sunset was gorgeous and the beach is looking good.  The water was a little grassy, but the gulf at it's worst is still wonderful!  I have included a few pictures......just pretend you're there and you will relax right away!  Promise!

His smile just makes me happy!  

God's creation in all it's glory...

 Living on the Gulf Coast is truly a blessing and I'm thankful to call this home.

*****

We were saddened by the sudden death of our church friend who was diagnosed with Leukemia and just a few days later apparently had a brain bleed and died at age 49, leaving 8 precious children.  We know Tom is with Jesus in glory and is truly home.  As one of his friends said...."We do not grieve as those who have no hope, but we do grieve!"  

*****

Heard around here....

Me.....Superhero, what do you think some of my good qualities are?

Superhero.......why do you ask questions like that?

Me.....You can't think of any?????  Well, here let me list a few.  
I mean, really how many wives list their good qualities for their husbands so they don't have to remember them?????  

*****

A few nights ago, the Superhero took me up to our property to relax see if I could draw all the mosquitos away from him.  He was just going on about how he would like to someday live there and farm.  I stopped him at that point and informed him that when we got married I knew he was a workaholic and that was o.k......I knew he was a hunter and that was o.k., I knew he loved to fish and THAT was o.k......  BUT, I did not know he wanted to be a farmer and I'm just not sure that is o.k.  In his usual Superhero-ish way, he assured me I would be a great farmwife.  HA!
If anyone hears that I've been milking cows, please just have me put away!

*****

As it is every year, 9/11 was a day for sober reflection......thinking of those who lost loved ones and how our country changed in a frightening way.  I pray that as a country, we begin to diligently seek the face of God and ask His forgiveness and that He bring our nation back to Himself.  And so I leave you with this scripture to think about.....

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors.

Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord!
Psalm 31: 15 & 24


Have a good weekend all!

Surprise! It's Friday!

There isn't much in this old brain of mine, but I will try to find a few fragments because it's time for Friday Fragments.....brought to us by Mrs. 4444 at Half Past Kissing Time.

If you have some left overs in your brain, go on over and link up with Mrs. 4444.


*****

I should never, never, never be turned loose with the lawn mower!!  Yea...it's bad!  I mean the actual grass looks good.....really, really good....it's just that I kind of chopped up some Asian Jasmine and maybe a few society garlic thingies!  Poor Superhero had to complete salvage retrim a couple of places.  Sigh.

*****

Warning!  Not a good idea to sneak up behind me when I'm deep in thought walking before the sun comes up..... Poor guy will probably never be the same.  I screamed and jumped three feet in the air while the poor guy had a heart attack as the Superhero sighed because he knows that I startle easily but he simply doesn't understand.  

*****

Today would have been my dear Aunt Bernice's 98th birthday.  She was such a huge influence on my life and the lives of all my siblings.  We all loved her so and miss her every day.  She was so innocent in all her ways and her laugh was infectious!  

Mama and Aunt Bernice on Aunt Bernice's 90th birthday

I included this picture of Aunt Bernice with the Superhero because she always......I mean every time I talked to her.....told me how handsome he was.....

She did once tell an off color joke and it was so strange coming from her that I laughed for days.....yes, I'm repeating it here so don't let your kids read this.....

Aunt Bernice......"two women met on the street and one asked the other how her husband was doing......she replied well, he has dick do.....the first woman gasped and said what is that???  The second woman replied calmly.......his stomach sticks out farther than his dick do!"  OK......coming from my aunt this was simply hilarious!

I actually thought this could be a brand new business venture.....I was gonna call it the Triple D.......Dick Do Duds.....clothing for the bigger man in your life.  

*****

OK....I honestly don't call him the Superhero for no reason.  He loves me just as I am, he prays for me daily and even though he really doesn't understand my feelings, he tries to help with them when he can.....he called a couple of days ago and said he had made reservations for us to spend a couple of days here.....

That's right, our favorite relaxation destination!  I really must run now and finish getting ready!

*****

So I leave you with this.....

There have been some sad things happening lately in our own little world and in the world in general......I was driving by a local church and this scripture was on their sign...

But I will sing of your strength,

I will sing aloud of your steadfast 

love in the morning.  

For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.

Psalm 59:16

So while I get ready I am going to sing Great is Thy Faithfulness right out loud.  

Late on Friday!

Back today for Friday Fragments!  Maybe......we'll see what's left in this poor old brain that can fragment itself out and onto this old blog.

Thanks to Mrs. 4444 for hosting Friday Fragments and if you'd like to join in, go on over and join..... dump the leftovers of your week!

*****


This time forty three years ago, I was in the hospital awaiting the birth of my first child....ultrasounds were still a thing of the future so that afternoon, two doctors came in, felt my abdomen and pronounced that my baby weighed five pounds and they would induce the next morning......He weighed 3 lbs. 11 ozs.  About as accurate as ultrasounds huh??

*****

Tomorrow is also the Superhero's birthday.  His office had a tailgate party for him today.  

I think he had a good time.......I know they had lots of food!

*****

  A sweet cousin recently found this photo and had a canvas made for my mama who is the last remaining sibling.  This is the first time I've seen a photo of all the siblings together.  From left to right, youngest to oldest.......Billy Kade...November 13, 1932, Patsy Joyce....March 25, 1926, Mary Margaret (mama).... September 14, 1923, Noah Daniel.....January 17, 1921, Bertha Grayce....March 27, 1918, Bernice Etna....September 6, 1915, Burruss Reginall.....February 14, 1914

*****

After all the rain, we have had a few days of glorious sunshine.  We took advantage of knowing we would have a beautiful sunset and went down to the marina and sat with and watched.  

The wonder of God's creation!

*****
Have a great Labor Day weekend!