Reflecting and Remembering my Dad~ UPDATED

UPDATE: 4/19/2026: Hello Friends. I hope you won't mind me sharing some special memories today. Today marks the 10th  15th anniversary of my Daddy's departure from this earth to his heavenly home.  I couldn't let the day go by without sharing some special pictures and thoughts about such a great man.

(Original Post 4/19/2021)

I know I've shared this picture many times before, but I love it because it is just so typical of my Daddy's spirit.  This was just after winning at horseshoes, which he loved to play whenever the family got together. All the guys would gather in the back yard and throw the horseshoes back and forth, and Daddy was often the champion.  In my eyes, he was always the champion.

One Thanksgiving day, after eating a very large dinner, my sister Doris, Daddy, and I took a nice after dinner walk.   (This was also a family tradition, to take a walk after a big dinner).

There we are, holding hands with Daddy, enjoying a leisurely stroll, 

when someone snuck up behind us and said "turn around",

and this is what we did:

As you can see, my sister Doris, Daddy, and I are like 3 peas in a pod. Kind of sassy too.

Now this picture needs no explanation...My Daddy giving me away. He looks a little nervous if you ask me. I was the "baby"...the last to leave the nest...either he was sad or relieved...not sure which, but I know he was proud to walk me down the aisle, and I was also proud to be walking beside him to my new life...

Going back in history a bit farther...Here is the family...

My brother Russell,(now in heaven too), Clifford, Doris, and me, the little redhead.

Daddy and Mama, so proud of their sweet little family. 

Now this is one of my most favorite pictures ever...Daddy and me on a Sunday afternoon, taking a nap in the living room chair. I must have liked those little plaid overalls, as I am wearing them in both of these pictures.  I used to really like that finger too.

And here we are many years later,

Easter 2005.

I am sharing this old picture of my Daddy's family when he was a child. They used to like to go camping and on hikes in the woods too. My Grandpa took the picture since he's not in it.

This is my Uncle Paul, My Daddy with his walking stick and ball cap, his little sister my Aunt Ruth, his mother (My Grandma Elva), and my Aunt Marion. You can tell my Daddy was always ready for an adventure.  I am pretty sure that is where I get it from.

So today I've been just reflecting on my Dad and his love for nature and adventure and all of God's good creation. I've been relaxing and watching our birds on Still Waters Pond, a place that I know he would have loved and he would want to be outside watching the birds with me.

 (These pictures  were taken in 2021, when there was still water in Still Waters Pond)

This Great Crested Flycatcher flew in and landed first on the bird house to check it out. But I think he realized there was already a dispute over who would inhabit it between the bluebirds and the chickadees, so he flew over to the trees and then on to catch flies somewhere else.

The Bluebirds and Chickadees are still having a quarrel over who will inhabit this house. I guess I should get another birdhouse out there to solve this issue.

The chickadee is sitting in the tree while the bluebird is claiming the house.

Do you see them both?

There's the chickadee:

And the Bluebird. May the best bird win. I personally am rooting for the bluebirds.

(UPDATE 4/19/2026:  Yes, the bluebirds won and they have been nesting in that birdhouse for quite a few years. Right now at this very minute, Mama and Daddy Bluebird are trying to encourage the babies to fledge out of the nest.  They bring them food, and only let them get a little taste of it and then they fly back out with the food to try and get the babies to follow them.  I hope I will be able to witness them leaving the nest, but I'll have to be very vigilant in watching, and also in making sure that our cat Blackie doesn't go after them.)

We took our usual walk in the woods this morning and saw these interesting fungi growing on some old dead wood on the ground.  I thought of my Daddy because he loved stuff like that. He used to take the larger fungi that grew on the sides of trees and dried them and drew pictures on them. I wish I had a picture of the one he did of the farm. He saved it all his life, and I think my brother may have it now.**

**UPDATE:  Yes, my brother does have that fungus painting that my Daddy did so many years ago. I took a picture of it when we were at his house for a family reunion a few years ago, and here it is:

A Farm Scene entitled "Peace".  

I am sure Daddy would also appreciate the beauty of this "pine tree flower" blooming.

And even though neither of us like the stinging nettle that is growing there too, it does make for an interesting photo.

I would like to share with you a link to a post that I originally wrote right after my father's death on April 19, 2011.  There is also, within that same post, a copy of a previous post written just ten days before my father's death. Both stories are true and as you read them you will see the beautiful way God used one of His very special "messengers" to bless me and comfort me during a time of great grief.

Please click HERE for "The Last Farewell and also "The Owls Who Came to Comfort Me"   Those of you who have been my blogging friends for all these years have probably already read these a couple of times as I've reposted them, but since today (4/19/2021) marks the 10th anniversary of my father's passing, I thought it appropriate to share these stories once again.

Thank you for bearing with me while I have shared these reflections and memories today. I know my Daddy is enjoying all the glory of heaven today....there with my mother, my brother, my son, and all the rest of our ancestors who have gone on before us...but especially with Jesus. I look forward to joining them someday, but until then, I will keep his memory alive and remember the happy times.

Have a blessed day.

 

Friday Foto Friends~Family Time!

 Happy Friday Everyone!   

If you are one of my Facebook Friends, then you've most likely already seen some of these pictures, but there are some others that I reserved just for you here in Blogland, so don't go away...

Yesterday we traveled about an hour south to meet up with hubby's brother Billy and his family at our favorite meeting place, "The Mason Jar".  Above you will see left to right: My sister in law Peggy, their daughter (our niece) Shannon, whose birthday we were there to celebrate, although her birthday isn't until later in May, but because of their college and family schedules, this was really the only time we could get together for awhile. Next comes our nephew Nicholaus , my hubby John, his brother Billy, our son Benton, our sweet daughter in love Rose, and  your's truly. I guess I'm holding my bag because I had gotten out my cell phone to have this picture taken. A very sweet lady who was sitting at a table near us came over and offered to take our picture. That was so sweet of her. 

Of course I had already been taking a lot of pictures ever since we got there, so here they are...

No trip to the Mason Jar would be complete without me hugging the bear in the lobby.

I also thought he needed a little kiss.

Son Benton thought he would imitate the bear...

And then kiss the deer...

He should've kissed the "Dear" beside him instead. LOL.

Hubby wanted to get in on the act and was "interviewing" the bear, asking him what he thought about all the crazy people who come in there and want to hug and kiss him and the deer.

The bear just grunted and and basically wished we'd all just go away and let him live in peace...

He's lucky this old timey hunter  on his motorcycle with a side car for his hound dog was only interested in deer instead of bears...LOL. Yes, that's a real photo there in the lobby...

 

Well, back to the real people...as I said, we were celebrating Shannon's 22nd birthday! Isn't she beautiful?  She's currently finishing up her Associates degree as a Paralegal and also another Associate of Arts degree to prepare her for finishing up her Bachelor's degree in pre-law studies. Then she hopes to use her paralegal degree to help her work her way through law school.  She's very ambitious and smart!

Her brother Nick is working on his Master's Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Auburn University.  He's a pretty smart guy too!

Two lovely women, Peggy and daughter Shannon.

Oh, here's two handsome guys: my hubby John and his brother Bill. (we call him Billy, and he calls his brother Johnny.)

While we were standing outside of the restaurant I noticed this old Cracker style house across the street. I told the kids that's the kind of house I would love to have out in the country...but with an open front porch and a screened in back porch, and maybe not have the roof quite so rusty. LOL.  I just love those old style country houses.

Well, when we got back home Blackie was waiting and watching for us outside from his tree. So, even though it wasn't quite time for his supper and we needed a nap really badly, we let him come on inside. He took a little nap somewhere in the house and when I came out of the bedroom he was waiting for "Daddy" to come out to sit with him...and as you can see, he was waiting on top of "Daddy's" laptop...

He looked at me as if to say, "Hey! You're not my Daddy! I'm waiting for him right here where I know he will be any minute now!" LOL.  He just wants to be near his "Daddy".  LOL.

However, this morning we just came home from shoppping at Walmart, and while I was putting things away Daddy went in the bedroom to take a little nap, and so Blackie decided to take a nap this time on the shelf beneath the TV. He likes to hide from us in different locations, I think hoping that we won't find him and just let him stay inside forever.

However, I know he loves being outdoors too. Lately the bluebirds are still trying to lure their babies out of the nest, and I've noticed that if Blackie (or even me) walk too close to their house, the parents swoop down over our heads to warn us off.  So I've actually been letting Blackie stay indoors more during the day so he won't get too close to the babies if they should leave the nest and fall to the ground...I know I can't be there all the time to protect them, but at least I'm trying to do my part.

Well I guess that's all the fun for today. It's time to fix some lunch. So I will say "Hasta la vista, baby!"

Just some "food for thought" from God's Word before I go... 

Matthew 10:29-31

29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 

30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 

31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

Amen.

Wednesday Treasures in the Great Outdoors!

 Oh what a delight to see these squash plants finally blooming in our little garden!  

The Yellow Squash, a.k.a. Summer Squash, seem to be perking up and looking healthier!

And the Zucchini is also blooming!  Woohoo!! We just might have squash one of these days!!!

I decided to get some Miracle Grow and start fertilizing my plants.  I no longer have one of those Miracle Grow sprayer bottles that you attach to a hose...guess it got lost along the way. But I have this wonderful sprinkler can, and I followed the directions on the box and watered all the vegetable plants and also my blueberry bush(es). One bush is growing beautifully, but I have others that I planted a few years ago that haven't done anything, so hopefully the fertilizer will help them too.

It will be such fun to see if we really do get to harvest a crop of veggies this year.  Oh, the tomato plants are starting to bloom too, but I didn't get a picture of them.

So this afternoon I went outside to sit on the garden bench, and Blackie came  to join me. At first he sat on the ground at my feet, but then he heard those "bad" neighborhood dogs barking in the distance, and he got really nervous, and jumped right up on the bench and snuggled up to me.  The good news is it appears that the "dog family" is actually moving today! They have been loading up a U-Haul truck and making trips somewhere throughout the day...so hopefully the "bad" dogs will be moving away. I do hope they have found a house with a good fenced yard so the dogs can run freely.  They really aren't "bad dogs", they just had a bad home situation. Once they are gone from the neighborhood I think Blackie will breathe a lot easier! 

Anway, we were enjoying sitting in the shade and listening to the birds...

And WATCHING the birds!  There's Daddy Bluebird on top of the birdhouse now, with a mouth full of food to feed the babies inside...

There he goes inside.  He and Mama Bluebird are staying quite busy these days as a tag team of keeping those hungry babies fed. I have a feeling they will be leaving the nest very soon.

But the Bluebirds weren't the only birds we were watching today...look up there in that pine tree on the island:

Do you see him?  That's a Wood Stork!!

I had to zoom in on him with my "real camera" so I could get a better look:

Here's more information about the Wood Stork

Yes, it's a Wood Stork all right!

And here is another one, way over on the other side of the still very dry 'Still Waters Pond'...

He's over there where there is a little bit of water, and the big birds like to congregate there to get some water and food...

In a little while he flew overhead...this is not my picture, but isn't he beautiful in flight?

Internet Photo, but this is  how he looked flying over us.

Meanwhile, the Sand Hill Cranes were also out there, and this one was walking across the "pond" letting the birds know whose territory this is.  I could hear his mate calling from the other side of the island. Yes, they still come here every day, even though they weren't able to maintain a nest and have any babies this year due to the lack of water in the pond.

One of our resident Sand Hill Cranes

Oh wait!  The show's not over yet! Up there in those same pine trees on the island is another big bird!

That's a Great Blue Heron sitting up there as pretty as he pleases!  No wonder the Cranes were making a lot of noise!  They don't like all these intruders to their territory!

Great Blue Heron up in the pine tree!

Isn't he amazing?

So even though our pond is basically a wasteland this spring, the birds still come and make use of whatever water and perching places they can find!  That is a blessing to me to see that life goes on here in spite of the drought!

Here are some words of hope and encouragement from God's Word about His care for us even during periods of drought or famine. This could also apply to periods of "spiritual drought"...when we are feeling drained and lost and our spirits are dry because of times of grief or sickness or disappointment.

Isaiah 58:11 NKJV

11 The Lord will guide you continually,

And satisfy your soul in drought,

And strengthen your bones;

You shall be like a watered garden,

And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

Jeremiah 17:7-9 NKJV

7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit."

Psalm 33:18-19 NKJV

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine.

When we keep our eyes on the Lord and put our trust and hope in Him, He will carry us through those lean times and seasons of spiritual drought.  Those times come to all of us at one time or another in life...we all go through different kinds of seasons...times of prosperity and peace and fullness of joy, and times of deep sorrow or sickness or loss.  It's good to have a firm foundation in our relationship with Christ to carry us through those times.  Getting into His Word, the Bible, is the best way to find those words of hope when we need them most.  However, we shouldn't wait until we are groping in the darkness to try and find the light. Now is the time to store up His Word in our hearts while there is the light of day to see and learn...and then His Word will be there deep inside us when we need it most.

Psalm 119:105  KJV

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

Psalm 119:11 NKJV

11 Your word I have hidden in my heart,

That I might not sin against You.

Psalm 119:50 NKJV

50 This is my comfort in my affliction,

For Your word has given me life.

Honestly, I had not planned on going down this road tonight, but this is the way the Lord has led me to write. Perhaps there's someone out there who needs these words from God's Word tonight. I hope this is helpful to you.  Yesterday in the Tuesday 4 meme we were asked about different things that were "simply the best", and the question was asked about which book was the best book I've ever read...and my answer was "The Bible".  I know I wasn't the only one who felt the same way.  And this is why...because there is no other place where we can find such hope and help in time of need.

Prior to Christ's crucifixion there were some followers who decided to turn away from him because things that He taught them were just too hard for them to understand...and so here Jesus is talking to the twelve disciples...

John 6:67-69 NKJV

7 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

And that's what I believe...God's Word is where we will find "the words of eternal life".  There can be no greater words than this. Other philosophers and teachers and prophets may have wisdom and good thoughts to share that are helpful and encouraging, but none can compare to the Living Word of God found in The Bible.  

And so if you find yourself in a "drought"  or season of grief or sorrow or sickness, perhaps you may want to drink from the well of "living water" that Jesus was telling the Samaritan woman about in John chapter 4...

13 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 

14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Well, if you made it this far in reading, thank you. My prayer is that this will helpful and encouraging in some way for each and every one of us. You are all very precious in God's sight...

Tomorrow we are taking a little ride to go meet hubby's brother and family for lunch and to have an early celebration of their daughter Shannon's 23rd birthday. It's not until later in May, but they will be on vacation or just really busy in May, and so we try to get together whenever we all are free...and we celebrate  whenever we can! Life is precious!!   Thankfully Benton and Rose will be going with us too.  So I'll have more to share later on.  

Good Night my friends.