Thursday Thankfulness and Friday Foto Friends

 Oh my dear friends! Where shall I begin?  There's been a lot going on the past few days, and I have been keeping quite busy with some different kinds of things than the usual watching the wildlife on Still Waters Pond, although I have been doing some of that as well.  Maybe I will start with that and then move on to the more involved "stuff" that may take some 'splaining', as Ricky Ricardo would say to Lucy.  So let's start with the pretty stuff first and then talk about the deeper stuff.

I can't remember if I showed you these pictures already that definitely show the two Sand Hill Crane eggs on the nest...if you've already seen these, then just move on to the next batch of pictures...but this will prove that there are definitely two baby Crane Colts on their way! Mama and Daddy are keeping close watch over the nest, taking turns doing the nesting duty. They are very responsible parents and "parents to be".

Mr. Great Blue Heron still comes to fish here on Still Waters Pond, but he keeps his distance from the Crane nest. I think he knows better than to tangle with those critters!

The Goldfinches continue to come and feed at the finch feeder. Their colors are starting to get brighter every day.

And speaking of bright colors, Mr. Bluebird is sitting on his perch here above the birdhouse, while Mrs. Bluebird is tending to her nest duties inside.

He keeps a close watch out for pesky birds who happen to get too close to their territory, and he chases them away just as quickly as they arrive...

I'm not sure just how far along the nest sitting is going for now...I've been too busy with other stuff to keep track of the days that they have actually been staying inside the nest.  I'll just be surprised someday when the babies arrive.

One morning this week we took a ride up to one of our favorite places to visit, Lake Swan Camp,  about 20 miles north of us.  We like to go and just look at the lake and take a walk around during the week when we assume there won't be much activity going on.  However, we were sure surprised to see THIS:

From a distance we couldn't tell what was going on, some kind of headless lake creatures gathering for a rather weird and creepy looking meeting?  Are they aliens getting ready to attack? LOL.  Of course, on closer inspection we realized that these were wetsuits, hanging up to dry.  We soon discovered that there was a group of people staying at the camp who were doing some scuba diving training as well as other projects, like helping to build a new porch on one of the buildings, etc.   We looked up the name of the group that we saw written on a large bus parked on the campgrounds: International ALERT Academy from Big Sandy, TX.  It is a Christian academy where they "forge extraordinary men who influence their world for Christ."  Scuba Diving and rescue, fire fighting, aviation, missions, discipleship,  construction, EMT,  and much more are all a part of this nine month course of study and training.    We had never heard of this school or program before, and it was quite interesting to learn about this.  We just stayed out of their way and didn't hang around because we didn't want to interfere with their program.  But it was fascinating!

I did manage to take one picture of the lake without involving any of their group.

So now back home and back to what else has been going on the past few days.  As many of you know, our son and daughter in law have been involved with a furniture business in one way or the other over the past several years. They owned and operated a furniture and gift store here in our town called "Dixie Cottage" for a while, but sold it last year. However, they continued to put refurbished or custom made furniture in the store for sale as vendors.  Recently they have decided to get out of that business altogether, except for their own other business ventures online on Etsy and through their own "Ben & Rose's Country Woodshop".  However, they still had some furniture in the store waiting to be sold, and they needed to get it out by the end of this month (today).  Since this particular bedroom dresser and nightstand still had not sold, I kept thinking about it and felt an urge to replace our very old dresser with one that is newer and much easier to "operate".  So let me go back in time and share more of what all of this entailed for me to consider such a proposition.

This is the "old dresser" that I've had for forty years. It has  quite a history. 

Inside one of the top drawers is this information, written by my father, probably after my Mother received this dresser from her parents' estate back in the late 1960's.  The only thing I would disagree with was the date of 1905.  I was of the impression that my grandparents had this dresser when they first got married, which was in 1901.  Either way, it is well over 100 years old.  

After my mother got the dresser from her parents' estate, she kept it for a while, but then my brother and his wife needed it, so they took it and kept it for a while. I believe my (then) sister in law actually refinished it. Sadly, my brother and his wife divorced, and he didn't want to keep the dresser, but since it was a family "heirloom" he brought it back home to my parents' home.  At that point there was apparently no room in the house for it, so it was put in my father's workshop/garage, where he subsequently started storing parts for his toy train collection and other various miscellaneous tools, and "stuff".  

In 1984 our little family was moving to a new home/parsonage, and we needed an extra dresser. So I asked if I could have this dresser, and my parents agreed that I could have it. From that point it traveled with us through many more moves over the next 40 years.  It originally had a very large and heavy mirror, but the silver on the back of the mirror was quite old and scratch and you really couldn't see yourself very well in the mirror. Plus the frame was coming apart, and so I believe that mirror just kind of got "left behind" at one of our houses when we moved away.  

One of the things that I stored in that dresser was my first real journal. I wrote about that journal HERE, for one of our "Random Journal Days" some time ago.  In this particular post I also shared more about my Grandma Tedlie, the grandma who had this dresser for so many years. You might appreciate her more when you read more about her story.

Here's an excerpt from my journal, written not long after I received this dresser:

So with all of this family history and sentimentality connected to this dresser, why would I not want it anymore you may ask? Well, it's not so much that I didn't want it, but it is starting to show its age (after 123 years you'd show your age too!).  The two big drawers are so big and heavy that they are very difficult for me to open and close without hurting myself.  And there really wasn't any other place in the house where it would fit.  So finally, after a LOT of prayer and working through guilt feelings, I made up my mind to "let it go".  I told my son that I wanted the dresser that he has for sale (I would pay for it, of course!), and I wanted this old dresser to go to a new home.  He and Rose could not take it to their house as they do not have room for it either.  So I sent out an emergency message to all of my siblings and nieces/nephews and told them that if anyone was interested in having Grandma Tedlie's 123 year old dresser to let me know asap and make arrangements to come and get it like this weekend! One by one they saw the message, and either responded with their regrets over not having space for it either, or they just didn't respond at all.  So with that final step out of the way, I told my son to come and get it and take it to our church thrift store when he delivers the "new dresser" to the house.

Last night I spent the evening cleaning out the drawers and throwing some things away, putting some things in a bag to donate, and then reorganized what was left. (Still way too much stuff!).  Then this morning he and Rose came and brought the new dresser and nightstand and took away the old to our church thrift store.  I didn't even cry, but I thought for sure that I would.  No, it took a lot of strength for me to finally "let it go", but when I did I felt so much better and am at peace with my decision.

And here is the new to me dresser:

The drawers all slide so nice and easy and it is not groaning and stiff with age like my 123 year old Grandma's dresser.  I have a feeling that Grandma is actually smiling at all of this and congratulating me on making such a difficult decision over something that really shouldn't be such a big deal.  It's really only furniture and we can't take it with us...

OH, and yes, my old journal is in the top left hand drawer, just like before.

Here are some pictures of the "old dresser" on its way out and then at its current resting place until a new owner comes along to claim it:

This is in the garage at our church Thrift Store. I am praying that God will send someone who will love it just like I did and who will treasure it and make new memories with it.

Tonight, as a way of celebrating this "event" and also thanking our kids for their help with this today, we took them out to eat at Cedar River Seafood.

Rose and I had fun figuring out the puzzles and riddles on the back of the placemat while we waited for our dinner:

Oh, here's Benton and Rose now...two very hard working and sweet kids that we greatly love and appreciate!

And here' s me and hubby, trying to take a selfie, but somehow we didn't quite get our eyes in the right places...LOL.  But we were having a good time and it felt good to get out with the kids and relax after a long day filled with a lot of hard work and some anxiety on my part.

In closing for tonight I thought I should look at my devotional book for today's reading...Hey! It's Leap Day!!! This only happens once every 4 years, so this is a very significant day!  And would you please read what this devotional and scripture reading says for today:

Oh my goodness! I promise you I did NOT look at this until just now!  What an appropriate message for what I have been going through in this past couple of days.  Trust me, I wanted to figure out a way to keep the old dresser and have the new one too...but it was as if God was trying to help me learn about "letting go" and "letting God" guide me into giving up something that even though it was wonderful and sentimental and special, it was starting to cause me pain not only physically but emotionally.  Letting go of this world and all its attachments is not easy for any of us, but the day will come when we will leave this world behind and all of those "attachments", and God will give us something so much greater on that day...a new home, new peace, and joy for eternity in His Presence.  

2 Corinthians 5:17

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

And with those thoughts still swirling around in my mind, I will bid you good night dear friends! 
 

In Memory of my Mother: My Mother's Family Updated

Last evening, just before sunset, I looked up into the skies and saw this beautiful "angel" above our house. I love it when God blesses us with special glimpses into His heavens, just to remind us that He loves us and He is always watching over us. I found this particular "angel" significant because today marks the 15th anniversary of my mother's passing from this life into heaven's gates. Seeing this lovely "angel" in the sky made me think of her and brought a smile to my face, mixed with a few little tears...but tears of joy to know she is seeing heaven in all of its glory...and most of all, she's seen Jesus face to face!

So I wanted to share some memories of my Mother with you again today to commemorate this day. Most of this is from a previous post (below), but I've added a few things here and there. I hope you will enjoy these memories with me.

UPDATE: I posted this the last couple of years for Mother's Day, but also since today is the 15th anniversary of when my mother left this earth for heaven, I have had her on my mind a lot today.  So I thought I would share this post again from last year. I've been doing a lot of genealogy on Ancestry lately, and I feel like I have been "walking with my ancestors" in the past.  Seeing these pictures brings them all to the present again...And someday we will have a grand reunion in heaven! What a wonderful time that will be!

Anyway, in memory of my mother, here we go:

My mother, Dorothea May Tedlie, was next to the youngest in a family of six living children. 

Here she is on the right, with her two older sisters, Margaret and Belle.

 This is my Grandma Tedlie as a young woman.  Here is a link to previous stories about my grandmother...

This picture below was taken of my Grandparents and three of their children, before my mother was born. The little boy standing on the left was always known as "Little Harry".  He was the oldest child, and sadly, he suffered a brain injury at birth, (from a forceps delivery!)  and when he reached about seven  or eight years old, he became too difficult for my grandparents to take care of.  Back then they didn't have a good support system for handicapped children, and apparently when it became apparent that he would not be able to attend school or be able to interact socially appropriately...my grandparents were encouraged to place him in an institution.  I can only imagine how difficult that was for my grandparents.  What is even sadder to me is that by the time my mother was born, "Little Harry" was never ever mentioned in the home, and my mother never even knew she had this older brother until she became an adult.  Even her older sisters never told her about him.  All my mother could remember was that at times her parents would go away to visit someone, and come home very sad. But she never was told why.  I don't believe my mother ever did get to meet "Little Harry", but from what I understand, he actually lived to be about sixty years old.   That story just breaks my heart.  I am so thankful that today we have good educational programs for handicapped children, and that families have much better support in coping with their child's needs.   I believe if "Little Harry" were born today, he would have been a much loved and cared for child in the home.  I know this had to have broken my Grandmother's heart to have to send him away.  But I just thought about the fact that "Little Harry" is whole and perfect in heaven today...and he need never be sent away from "home" again...

Also, there was another baby born to my grandparents,

Florence Belle Tedlie. (on left) and "Little Harry" on the right.

Sadly, little Florence died when she was about two years old, from the flu or something like that. 

I shared what my grandmother wrote about that HERE in a previous post. This is the only picture I know of of little Florence.  She died many years before my mother was born.

Below is my mother, (Dorothea) the baby, with three of her older siblings, Margaret, Truman, and Belle. A few years later her little brother  "Chalmer" was born, so then she was no longer "the baby".

Don't you love their hats and dresses? This was probably around 1918...

This is a classic picture of the family in one of their classic cars....I can't remember now what kind it was, but one that they don't make any more! My mother is sitting on the ground.

Chalmer, Belle, Dorothea on ground, Margaret in car, Grandma,  and Truman

Here my grandmother is making sure everyone is looking just right for the camera...but my mother had quite the frown on her face... ("Dorothea").  She apparently did not want her picture taken...

My lovely Grandma at her garden gate...

And another picture of my Grandma.  My Grandmother was a lovely lady, and I really wish I could have known her better. We lived too far away to spend much time with my grandparents, and when we were able to visit, she was often not well, as she suffered from serious stomach ulcers that back in that day they really didn't know how to treat like they do today.

 This was my handsome Grandpa Benton Tedlie, ...yes, my oldest son is named after him, and there are several other members of our extended family who have given their sons his name, either as a first name or a middle name, so the family name continues on...

My Grandmother Flora Tedlie

 And my grandpa in later years.  This is how I remember him mostly.

 Now, back to my mother...Here she is around the age of 19, I believe.  I love this picture of her.

And here is my mother at age 70:

And again, a few years later...I love this picture of her, because it is so fitting... always a true patriot!

Of course, if my mother were still alive, she would kill me for showing THIS picture of her with her lovely new hair dryer on Christmas morning...still in her pj's...with scads of Christmas wrapping paper scattered all around... Precious memories!

And here is Mom in her kitchen...whipping up something delicious I am certain...my mother was a wonderful cook, even though she worked full time...she still baked the best pies  of anyone I know...

This is a picture of her kitchen many years later...the way I remember it...but sadly, I believe my mother had already passed on when this picture was taken. Even though my dad continued to live there in their home until he passed on five years later, not much changed in the way the kitchen looked. We left everything pretty much the way Mom liked it.

 I wish I could go back and be with my mother in that kitchen once again...wow...my dad built this house when I was about seven years old, and they lived there until they both passed away, some 54 years...  It broke our hearts to have to sell the house and all of the contents...but no one can ever take away the memories we made in that home.  Precious memories...how they linger...

Just a few more pictures: My mother and dad on their wedding day May 16,  1942:

And again, on their 60th wedding anniversary:  May 16, 2002  (Gee, if they were still here they would be celebrating their 79th anniversary next week!)

Again, this picture was taken of my parents for their 60th anniversary. I love the "heavenly look" of this picture, and like to think of them looking down from heaven at us just like this:

Going back in the past again, this picture was taken at "The Cabin", where my parents met and fell in love. Here below my mother (on the back) is with my dad's two sisters, Marion and Ruth. This had to be around the time when my parents were engaged or just married.

I love this picture taken of my mother and me, years ago when my Mom and Dad came to visit us in NE Georgia, and we found this old abandoned house on one of our excursions. As we were exploring it we discovered these beautiful lilacs blooming in the yard...a tribute to the dear ones who had lived there before, leaving a living, fragrant reminder that once love and happiness bloomed in this old house. If you've been following me for long, you will know that my mother loved lilacs, and since they couldn't grow them in Florida, she longed to see them and smell them any chance she had. 

And my parents and my siblings, 2005...the last family "portrait" before my mother passed away in 2006.

Well, I guess I should wrap this up.  I know my mother is having a great Mother's Day in heaven this year...since my oldest brother just entered heaven a little over  (now) two years ago...so I can imagine she is thrilled to have one of her precious children in heaven with her!  And of course, my Daddy has been there for the past 10 years as well.  We really don't know just how that all works...how we know each other and interact in heaven...I know relationships are going to be a bit different than the way we view them here on earth...but I do believe it will be a time of great rejoicing to have our loved ones enter heaven's gates...don't you agree?

I hope you that you have a wonderful and blessed weekend, celebrating our Mothers...after all, where would we be without mothers???

Happy Mother's Day in heaven, Mama!! We love you and miss you every day!!

If you wish to read some other memories written about my mother, CLICK HERE