Wednesday Treasures and Special Memories

 Dear Friends...I can't believe it's Wednesday already! This has been a very busy week so far, and I really haven't had time to do much reading or writing, so I know I am way behind in saying hello to everyone.  I missed the Tuesday 4 meme yesterday altogether...so very sorry...but like I said, it's been a busy week.

Sometimes I think I would like to be like this Cicada...leaving my shell behind and flying about taking care of things and singing as I go...Maybe that's what it will be like when we die...we leave this old body behind...and our soul/spirit breaks free and flies away!!! I expect there will be a lot of singing on that day...

Cicada Exoskeleton (click the link for more info).

Speaking of flying, our Sand Hill Crane family occasionally flies in for a visit...yes, all four of them fly in for a landing on the pond out there on that green island...and they often spend the night there. In the morning, just after sunrise, they take off into the air again , calling loudly as they fly over the house to go exploring in other places for the day.  On this particular day they flew over to our shore and came up and visited a while before they took off again.  It's such fun to see them still all together...Mom and Dad and "colts" Pat and Val...

Sunday morning was really sweet at our church. We took in a lovely group of new members! So exciting to see our little church growing. 

And then to see the littlest "members" of our children's church standing up and singing "This is my Father's World" (every verse!) was really sweet.  They did a super job!

On Monday hubby, son Benton and I drove a couple of hours away for the funeral of our "Cousin Jane".

Obituary for Cousin Jane Driver

I didn't take any pictures at the funeral except for this one, after the service was over.  This lady and my hubby are distant cousins, and she was the flower girl in Jane's wedding and my hubby was the ring bearer. They were both about 5 or 6 years old at the time.  I don't believe they had seen each other since that wedding so many years ago!  Somewhere there is a picture of them at the wedding. I don't have it, but I've asked for a copy to be sent to us if anyone finds it.

After the funeral we went to a little restaurant in The Villages, "Culvers", for those of you who know it, and had some supper with hubby's brother and wife, Billy and Peggy.

Billy's birthday was last week and we had not had a chance to celebrate together, so we took this opportunity to spend a little extra time together before heading back to our respective homes in different directions. 

This is Benton and "The Birthday Boy".  

Three Steiner men.

You just never know what you're going to get when you start taking pictures. LOL.

Yesterday hubby and I had to go out of town for a medical appointment, so that kind of took up all of that day.  Today was our monthly "United Women in Faith" meeting,

We honored our outgoing Treasurer after five years of service...but then she said she would continue until the end of this year to help train another lady to do the job, but she still gets to keep the plant. LOL.

Here We are finishing up our business meeting before we had lunch. I didn't take any pictures of that, but it was good!!

Oh, and then I left a little early as I had a mammogram appointment this afternoon.  Of course you all know how much fun that was! LOL.  Just a routine annual check up. Praying that's all it will be!

Today would be my father's 105th birthday! He's been spending his birthdays in heaven for the past 12 years. Just couldn't let the day go by without remembering him.

This was my sister, Daddy, and I taking a walk together after a Thanksgiving dinner many moons ago. Such a sweet picture, right?

Then, when the person who was taking the picture told us to turn around, this is what we did:

The true personalities come out. LOL.

I love this picture of my Dad in his workshop. I borrowed this one from my sister. I hope she doesn't mind:   He was always building something special. A true craftsman.

Of course, this is one of my favorite photos of Daddy and me, taking a little snooze on a Sunday afternoon:

 

And here he is, walking me down the aisle to give me away many years later:

This was our family when I was about 3 years old....

And here we are again, many years later. This would be the last family picture taken together the year before my mother passed away...

Sweet memories.  Yes, precious treasures.

Exodus 20:12

12 “Honor your father and your mother, 

that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you."

Another favorite photo...My Dad, "The Champ", after winning a game of horseshoes!

I think I will leave it there.

Have a wonderful evening my friends. I hope to get back around to "visit" with you soon. Hopefully tomorrow will be a calmer day.