Celebrating My Mom~Updated 2026

Hello Friends...I know most of you have already seen this post last year, but as today is the 20th anniversary of the day my mother left her earthly home to be welcomed into her heavenly home, I wanted to share it again. I can't really think of anything new to add to it, except that every year that passes I feel like I'm getting closer and closer to the day that we will be reunited in heaven, and what a joyous day that will be, when I am certain she will be waiting there at heaven's gates to welcome me home, along with JESUS, and then of course my father and our son Matthew and all those who have gone on before us.  What a day that will be!

Here's a song that expresses how I feel about that day..."What a Day That Will be..."

"(1) There is coming a day

When no heartache shall come

No more clouds in the sky

No more tears to dim the eye

All is peace forever more

On that happy golden shore

What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:

What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see

And I look upon His face

The One who saved my by His grace

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be

(2) There'll be no sorrow there

No more burdens to bear

No more sickness, no pain

No more parting over there

And forever I will be

With the One who died for me

What a day, glorious day that will be.

Chorus:

What a day that will be

When my Jesus I shall see

And I look upon His face

The One who saved my by His grace

When He takes me by the hand

And leads me through the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be"

Here's the original post written last year on this day...

Today is May 7, 2025, and it is also the 19th year since my mother passed away on this day in 2006.  I know I originally wrote this post for her birthday, but I just felt like sharing it again today to remember her on the day she entered heaven's gates, and also because Mother's Day is coming up this Sunday, and so she's really on my mind!

 It's hard to believe she's been gone 19 years already, and I still find myself wishing I could call her up and just talk, or go visit her and enjoy one of her delicious apple pies (or coconut cream), or sit down at the table with her and my daddy and enjoy being back in my childhood home again with them.  But that will never be possible again on earth, but perhaps there's apple pie or coconut cream pie in heaven? If so, my mother is baking it!  

 On January 6, 2025 it would have been her 108th birthday!  I am updating this post from when I originally wrote it on January 6, 2021, so there may be some things edited and some new things added.  

This picture was only given to me recently   (back in 2020) by my cousin, and it has quickly become  my favorite picture of my mother. Here she is, driving the tractor on our farm in Pennsylvania  back in the early 50's or late 40's. We left there to move to Florida in 1956, so it had to be before then. She was so happy as a farmer's wife.  It's what she always wanted to be. My Dad was a great farmer, but in the 50's it became too costly to remain in farming unless you had lots of financial help. And so, with four hungry children to feed and clothe, they decided to sell the farm and move to Florida.  My mother was not a real happy camper about moving away from the farm and especially not to Florida, so far away from the beautiful farm country she loved and her aging parents in Ohio, but she loved her husband and followed him wherever he felt he needed to go.  And God took good care of us in Florida. She adapted...but to her dying day she still missed living on the farm.

These pictures have been added to my collection more recently, so I wanted to include them here for my own reference...our family on the farm, around 1952.  My brother Clifford, Russell, our dog Laddie, Mom, Doris, Daddy and me!

Again, our family, probably  1954...Russell, Clifford Daddy , Mom, Doris and me!

This is my next favorite picture of my mother, taken when she was in her 80's, on the 4th of July. Yes, my mother was always the patriot. She loved her country and was a very proud American.  Today I thanked the Lord that my mother is in heaven, far away from any world government.  She is living with the God Who rules heaven and earth, and one day He will make all things new. 

In the following pictures are some special treasures that remind me of my Mom:

This first group of pictures was taken many many years ago, when my parents came to visit us in Ohio, where my husband was pastoring a church and working on his Doctorate in Ministry. My mother and I went shopping at some interesting thrift and/or antique shops, and we came home with a couple of beautiful antique hats.  We were having fun modeling them, and my youngest son also had fun modeling for us. (He'd probably not be real happy with me for showing this picture. LOL. )

In the first top picture Mom is baking a pie for us.  Most likely apple since it was fall and I am sure we probably found some good fresh apples at an orchard nearby.  My mother was the queen of pie baking. I've written about that before: The Pie Legacy HERE  Looks like she is threatening someone with that rolling pin!  She was feisty, that's for sure! LOL.

I still have both of the hats that we bought that day:

Every time I look at these hats I remember that happy time with my mother. Those are precious memories.

This next picture is a doll that I bought for my mother for her 85th birthday. She looked like my mother must have looked as a little girl...dark brown hair and pretty green eyes.  And she's holding a birthday cake and has a sweet little teddy bear.

The pictures beneath the doll are of my sister and our mother and me, taken at Mother's Day one year, and her birthday the year she was given this doll.

Below are some beautiful dishes that came from my mother's china cabinet.  The plates and some of the teacups and saucers were her Haviland China dishes. I am not sure if these came from my grandmother's dishes, or if these were just some that my mother had purchased through the years because they reminded her of her mother's dishes. Either way, they are wonderful and I love them.  

The two Chinese designed teacups and saucers above in front were definitely my grandmother's  (my mother's mother).

I love this tea towel that is framed and hanging in my special little dining treasure room.  You can read for yourself the note my mother typed and put with the towel when she gave it to me.  The only sad part is that her signature is fading out. It was written in red ink, and now it is getting hard to read. I don't want to write over it, but I may have to so it isn't lost forever.  

My mother knew how much I loved tea things and special keepsakes. That is why I framed this so I could keep it nice and enjoy it forever! Yes, she was right..."At any rate I know you will enjoy this bit of your Mother's past!! Much Love, Mom".  

My mother knew me well.

I know I was blessed to have had such a wonderful mother. Lately I've been hearing other people discuss their relationships with their mothers, and so often they were not pleasant memories.  My mother and I certainly had our "moments", especially when I was a teenager and tended to be quite sassy. There were times I didn't understand her moodiness at all (but later I figured it out to be menopause and then she also dealt with low blood sugar issues). But one thing I knew for sure, my mother loved me and all of her children fiercely.  If she fought with us it was because she loved us so much and wanted us to be safe and sound in mind and thought...at least in the way she thought we should think. She loved a good debate, which I discovered was a hereditary trait from her father and brothers...and loved to discuss politics and religion. She was very opinionated and didn't compromise on much. But that was one thing I respected about her. She knew her mind and she stood strong on principle.  

I will finish with a passage from our morning devotions found in I John 4:7-11

"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God;

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

8.  He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9.  In this the love of God was manifested toward us, 

that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

10.  In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us 

and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

11.  Beloved, if God so loved us,  we also ought to love one another."

So let us love one another, regardless of our differences of opinion.

Here are a couple more pictures of my mother. 

These are her sisters Margaret and Belle, and Mom (Dorothea),  is the little one  with the cute chubby cheeks on the right.

And below, 

Margaret holding my mother (Dorothea), their brother Truman, and sister Belle

My mother around age 19:

My mother would shoot me for sharing this one of her with her new hair dryer on Christmas day:

Her family with their car back in the 1920's: Chalmer, Belle, Mom on the ground, Margaret in car, my Grandma, and Truman.  Grandpa was always taking these pictures, so he's not in them!

And one last one of her family: Margaret on ground, Belle standing, Chalmer in high chair, Truman, Mom (Dorothea), and my Grandmother. Their dog on the ground.

Here's a picture with my Grandpa Tedlie, mom's brother Chalmer home from WWII, and my mother, back in the 1940's.

Okay, that's enough family photos...but I just wanted to share a bit about my mother on this, her special day.  Happy Heavenly Birthday, Mom!  (Update: and Happy Heavenly Mother's Day, as well as the remembrance of the day you entered heaven's gates, 5/7/2006)

UPDATE: If you are blessed to still have your mother, please take the time to honor her in a special way this Mother's Day.  Life is short! We don't get to keep our mothers here with us forever!

And if your mother has also already entered heaven's gates, honor her memory in some special way. Regardless of whether or not she was perfect or always did everything right. No one is perfect. But most of us try to do the best we can with what we are capable of doing. And if there are still some hurts from the past, today is a good day to forgive.

Matthew 6:9-15

9 In this manner, therefore, pray:

"Our Father in heaven,

Hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

As we forgive our debtors.

13 And do not lead us into temptation,

But deliver us from the evil one.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Amen.

Monday Monday

 Happy Monday Morning! Afternoon   Evening!!...been a busy day!  I hope this Monday finds you feeling refreshed and ready to start the new week!  (I know, I'm probably much too chipper for some folks on a Monday morning! Sorry, but not sorry!...It's a great day to be alive and well and praising God for another day of life!)

It was a busy but happy weekend here in our neck of the woods.  Saturday, November 11th, in addition to being Veteran's Day, was also our "kids", Benton and Rose's 6th wedding anniversary!  HERE is a link to the post I wrote back then about their wedding day.  Although we didn't celebrate with them on Saturday as we each had different things going on for the day, we did get together Sunday afternoon after church for a delicious steak dinner.  Our son Scott came home and grilled the steaks to perfection, and we had a delightful time of celebrating together.

Here's the "kids" , ready to cut into their steak dinner.  The hands dishing up the salad belong to our son Scott. (photo bomber!) LOL.

I know this table scene is probably becoming quite common to everyone who has followed me since we moved to this house...this is where we sit to celebrate all kinds of special occasions, as well as just getting together for plain and ordinary events as well!  And really, anytime we can be together with family and/or friends is a special occasion, even if we are only eating peanut butter and jelly! LOL.

That steak was so large I barely touched it because I was enjoying the huge baked potato, broccoli and cauliflower, salad and Hawaiian Roll too much. I saved my steak for later, and I may have a steak sandwich for lunch...or add it to a salad...that would be healthier, right?

A little fun gift I gave them was a set of six of these cute  "North Pole Christmas red truck" mugs.  They love that little red truck design, and actually I found these, brand new, for sale at the flea market. I figured giving them to them now instead of at Christmas would enable them to be used throughout the Christmas season...or they can use them to decorate some of their furniture at Dixie Cottage...where, yes, they still do put furniture for sale in the store even though they no longer own the business.  And actually, starting in December,  Dixie Cottage is growing! They are annexing the store space right next door and Benton and Rose will be putting more of their furniture for sale in there...some that Benton actually builds himself...unfinished or finished, whichever anyone desires.  It will be an added adventure for them, but without the constraints of owning and operating a store...which is very time consuming and confining.  So we wish them well in their new adventure!

While still on the topic of yesterday, November 12th, I got to thinking that that date was familiar for some reason, and I remembered that it was the birthdate of my paternal Grandpa (Mursch).  It seems as though I've written lots and lots about my paternal Grandma (Elva) Mursch in the past, but my Grandpa hasn't gotten as much attention!  So in honor of his memory, here's a few pictures of my Grandpa Mursch, who was born on November 12, 1890, in Utica, NY.  He died on December 17, 1975, in Mt. Dora, Florida.  He worked as an engineer for the U.S. Steel company in Pittsburgh, PA, for all of his adult life and retired from there in the mid 1950's, and then they moved to Florida. He was a brilliant man, and actually had a few inventions at U.S. Steel, but because he was employed by them, the patents belonged to the company.  He and my Daddy built the log cabin vacation home in PA. that I've written about many times, which they sold when they retired and moved to Florida.  He was very talented in woodworking as well as other skills.  My father inherited a lot of his woodworking abilities from him, and then those skills I believe were also passed down to my son Benton.    Okay, so here's a few pictures of my Grandpa:

This is my favorite one...at the cabin:

(that's my Aunt Ruth peeking around the corner)

This is his family that he grew up in...His father and stepmother on the front row (his own mother died when he was about 12 years old).  

Here's who is in the picture.  My Grandpa is on the far right end, standing.

Back Row: My Grandpa's brother Fred, sister Louise, brother Jack Mursch, Step-brother Jack Humphrey, Step Sister Margaret Humphrey , My Grandpa William, front row: my Great Grandpa Frederick Wilhelm Mursch, my grandpa's half sister Marie, and Step Mother Hannah Humphrey Mursch

Here he is as a middle aged- man.

I love this picture of him with my Grandma.

And in later years with all his children. Sadly, by this time he had Parkinson's Disease, and soon became totally debilitated by it. This was before they had all the good medicines they have now for Parkinsons. It was very sad to see him suffer with it.

Uncle Paul, Grandpa Mursch, Aunt Marion, Grandma (Elva) Mursch, my Dad Bill Mursch, 

and Aunt Ruth.

Grandpa died at the age of 85, but the last few years he was wheel-chair bound and the Parkinson's had robbed him of his ability to talk as well as walk. I feel like I missed out on really getting to ask him a lot of things because those were the years that I was "mature" enough to want to know him better.  My Grandpa was a good Christian man, very active in their Lutheran Church in which they were charter members because when they moved to Florida there was no Lutheran church anywhere close by.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Grandpa!!!  I look forward to seeing you again some day in heaven, where you will be able to move around freely and without pain or suffering!

My father also ended up with Parkinson's disease, but thankfully by the time he had it the treatment plan was much better and he never totally lost his ability to get around and communicate. 

Let's see, what else has been going on?  Well, on Saturday our church had what we call an "Agape" Potluck luncheon. We do this once a month and it's just a gathering of whoever wants to come and bring a dish to share and a time of fellowship.  This time we also celebrated the 80th birthday of one of our members, who also happens to be our church Sound Technician and Building and Grounds person. In other words, if it needs fixing, call Denny!  Every church needs someone like him!!

Denny was also a Navy Veteran, so it was appropriate that his birthday was on Veteran's Day!

There was a great crowd and lots of really good food!

Speaking of our church, I am so excited that our little United Methodist Church has voted to disaffiliate from the United Methodist denomination and will officially become a part of the Global Methodist Church in December of this year.  This has been a long process, with a LOT of paper-work and financial considerations that had to be met in order for the UMC to release us with our property intact.  I won't go into all of those details, but suffice it to say that we are VERY thankful to be able to withdraw from the UMC and be free to preach and teach the true Word of God without fear of being forced to accept the false indoctrination of the UMC.  If you aren't familiar with the issue that is facing the UMC, or if you don't know what the difference is between the Global Methodist Church and the United Methodist Church, here is a good link with more information: Global Methodist Church: Our beliefs and governance.  We are very thankful to have a very committed Bible teaching/believing/Spirit led Pastor, who preaches the true Word of God.  Here is a link to this past Sunday's sermon, in case you are interested:    From Matthew 25:31-46, "What if Jesus Showed Up at Church Today?"   

I was also excited to find out that my home church where I grew up has also disaffiliated from the UMC and has become a part of the Global Methodist Church.  I know that there are several of you who are blogging friends who are also a part of Methodist churches who are leaving the UMC, whether or not they have decided to join the Global Methodist Church or are now independent/non-denominational churches, they have decided to follow Jesus, "no turning back, no turning back".  

Sing along with us:

1. I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2. Tho' none go with me, I still will follow,

Tho' none go with me I still will follow,

Tho' none go with me, I still will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

3. My cross I'll carry, till I see Jesus;

My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus,

My cross I'll carry till I see Jesus;

No turning back, No turning back.

4. The world behind me, the cross before me,

The world behind me, the cross before me;

The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

Amen!

In this day and age of so much turmoil and false teachings running rampant in the world and in so many main-line denominations, it is important to stand strong on the Word of God...and to stand with Joshua of old when he said:

Joshua 24:15 NKJV

15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. 

But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

"No turning back, no turning back..."

Remembering Someone Special

Now, you may think this is kind of unusual...and it may well be.  But I woke up thinking about this today and it was like I was being prompted to remember and honor this dear lady today, on what would be her 104th birthday.  She's been in heaven for at least 12 years or more, I'm not certain of the date, but it occurred to me today that if I don't remember her birthday, I'm not sure just who will.  Perhaps this will prompt some of the rest of her living extended family to pause and remember her today if they see this, but her own descendants have already all gone on to heaven as well.  She just had one daughter and one grandson, and they are both already in heaven, along with her husband and even her daughter's husband.  There is a great-granddaughter living somewhere, but she does not stay in communication with any of the family.

This is my husband's Aunt Dorothy.  She's holding our "Baby Elva" in this picture, which was taken back in August of 2010.  I'm pretty sure she passed away later that same year, I just don't remember the date.

Here she is presenting me with a gift at a Bridal Shower, way back in 1969. Look at our hairdos!  I know I had a little hairpiece in the top of my hair to give it all that height and "style".  The bouffant look was the style of the day. We actually almost look like mirror images in this picture, even though we are not blood related. LOL.

These were all of my husband's extended family who attended our wedding that summer of '69.

Aunt Dorothy is the first lady on the left on the front row.  Her daughter Janice is standing behind her, and her husband, "Uncle Van", is the second man from the left on the back row. Everyone in this picture, with the exception of my husband's brother Billy standing tall in the middle, are in heaven today. 

Just for the record they are as follows

First Row, L to R: Aunt Dorothy VanZant, "Nanny Pearl Martin", my mother in law Vivian Steiner, her sister Nellie Kirk, my father in law William Steiner.

Back row, L to R:  "Cousin Hoss (John) Driver", Uncle Wilbur "Van" Vanzant, Cousin Janice VanZant, cousin Jane Driver, Uncle Charles Kirk, Billy Steiner, "Cousin Helen Humphrey", Great Aunt Lydia, "Cousin Herman Humphrey". 

Here are the "Martin sisters" with their mother, "Nanny" Pearl Martin"

Dorothy, Nellie, Pearl, Daisy, and Vivian

And here the "Martin Sisters" are again.

Nellie, Dorothy, Daisy, and Vivian (my mother in law).

Aunt Dorothy was a character, to say the least. All of the "Martin sisters" were lively and full of fun, but Aunt Dorothy seemed to be the one who would get into the most "mischief" in life.  I wish you could hear the laughter of these women around the table as they told stories and talked about all of the things they did growing up and even into their young adulthood and beyond.  There was never a dull moment I am quite sure.

Yes, Aunt Dorothy was my mother in law's older sister and one of my hubby's "favorite Aunts" (they were all his favorites).  I think because her birthday is in September like mine, I always tend to remember her birthday.  And she was a "redhead", at least that's the color she chose...LOL. And I was also a redhead, although it's long faded now. So we had that in common.  

Since all her immediate relatives have passed on, I just figured someone needed to remember her today on her birthday. 

This was the last picture we have of Aunt Dorothy, sitting next to her sister Vivian, my mother in law, and it happens to be at a birthday party...so they are both wearing birthday hats.  The picture was taken at my parents' home on the occasion of our son's birthday.  So lots of memories are attached to this picture!

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Aunt Dorothy!  We love you!  You are not forgotten!!

Yes, so many loved ones have already gone on before us to heaven...and they will be there waiting for us on that day when we enter heaven's gates....so these verses in Hebrews 12 seem to be appropriate for this occasion today:

Hebrews 12:1-2

1"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, 

let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, 

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, 

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, 

despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

So let us run the race with endurance...and one day we will be there with all the saints, rejoicing and celebrating with Jesus before the throne of God!

What a day, glorious day, that will be!!

Amen.

Thank you for going along with me on this little journey back in time today. I'm sure Aunt Dorothy would be very surprised to know so many now are thinking of her today!  God bless you all, and have a wonderful rest of your weekend!

Shine On Harvest Moon - Updated (again) for a Special Anniversary

UPDATE, May 16, 2023: Now today it would be my parents' 81st wedding Anniversary!  I have nothing more new to add to that, so I will just repost what I wrote last year with all of the previous information. Many of you may have already read this last year, but still there are some newcomers who haven't seen it yet, so in honor and memory of my dear parents, here's their story once again:

UPDATE, May 16, 2022:

I woke up this morning and realized that today would be my parents' 80th wedding anniversary! They were married on May 16th, 1942.  This was their wedding picture. 

Of course, they've both long been celebrating in heaven, Mama left this earth in 2006, and Daddy in 2011.  They were just 9 days short of celebrating their 64th anniversary when Mama passed away.  

This old newspaper clipping was discovered through my genealogy research.

And this picture was taken at my paternal Grandparents' home in Crafton, PA.,   probably around the time my parents got engaged.

L to R (front row) my Aunt Ruth, my mother Dorothea, my Aunt Marion, and my Grandmother Elva.

L to R (Back row) My Grandpa William H. Mursch, my Dad William F. Mursch, and my uncle Paul G. Mursch.  circa 1941? 

And here is my family in 2005, the year before my mother passed away:

Front: Mom and Dad

Back: my brother Russell, me, my brother Clifford, and my sister Doris

Our family in 2005 (most of them).

The majority of our Mursch family in 2018

And again in October 2019, at the celebration of life for our brother Russell. (RIP 4/29/2019)

Now here is the original story that I shared with you a couple of years ago (10/12/2020) about how my parents met, etc.

If you've followed me for very long you have already been made familiar with my little log cabin birdhouse that was built years ago by my son for my Dad.  HERE is a link to the original story.  That story was about "Christmas at the Cabin", but I was bored this weekend and thought to myself, "Why not have Autumn at the Cabin?  After all, if I recall my parents' love story correctly, it was autumn when they first met at the cabin.  (See their wedding picture in the photo below)

The story goes that my mother had met my father's sister Marion at the street car stop near Pittsburgh, PA., where they were both working as secretaries downtown.  They struck up a quick friendship and enjoyed getting to know each other as they rode to and from work each day on the street car.  My mother told her new friend how much she wanted to marry a farmer and be a farmer's wife some day.  Well, Marion told my mother that she knew just the young man for her! Her brother was studying soil conservation and agriculture at Penn State, and when he finished his studies he was going to have a farm!  And so it was determined that my mother would go with Marion up to their family vacation cabin in Cook's Forest for the weekend and meet her brother Bill.

My father said that when he first saw my mother coming across the field with his sister to meet him, he knew that she was the girl he wanted to marry! He hadn't even met her yet!

The story goes that they walked and talked all evening and most of the night long, for there was a big old harvest moon shining up in the sky, and they fell in love under the "harvest moon".

In the following years every so often they would sing this song in remembrance of that first night they met:

Shine On, Shine On Harvest Moon

The night was mighty dark so you could hardly see

For the moon refused to shine

Couple sitting underneath the willow tree

For love, they pined

Little May was kinda 'fraid of darkness

So she says "I guess I'll go."

Boy began to sigh, looked up to the sky

Told the sky his little tale of woe

So shine on

Shine on harvest moon

Up in the sky

I ain't had no lovin' since January, February, June or July

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon

So shine on

Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal

Snow time ain't no time to stay outdoors and spoon

So shine on

Shine on harvest moon for me and my gal

And so they courted for a while and when he finished his studies at college they got married and went to live on a farm where he had gotten a job as the farm manager.  

This picture was taken at their first farm in Mercer, PA. (circa 1943?) This is a rare occasion when both of my parents' families were together. My mother is not in this picture for some reason. I'm thinking she probably took the picture and was most likely expecting her first baby and didn't want her picture taken. But I love that both sets of my grandparents are in this picture.

L to R Front: my cousin Bill Moss, Uncle Ed Moss, Grandpa Benton F. Tedlie, Grandma Flora Sheets Tedlie, Grandma Elva (Sowers) Hill Mursch, Cousin Edson Moss

L to R Back: my Aunt Margie (Tedlie) Moss, Aunt Marion Mursch (Ryder), Grandpa William H. Mursch, my Dad William Fred Mursch, my Aunt Ruth Mursch (Gammie), and a friend that I do not know.

That was good for a few years, and right away the babies started coming along, one, two, and three all within a few years time.  Then he had the opportunity to go into a partnership with a gentleman who would finance a farm for him and my dad would jointly own the farm and do the actual farming. (This farm was in Clarion, PA). The other man was an attorney, but he loved farming and would come out and help on the weekends as often as he could.  A few years later another child would be born...me! My mother was loving being a farmer's wife and all was grand. 

Our family on Easter at my Aunt Audrey and Uncle Paul's farm, which was not far from our farm.

And again, our young family:

L to R: Russell, Clifford, Doris and Pam (me)  circa 1953

But then in a few years (early 1950's) times were getting difficult for farming. You either had to go big or get out.  They really didn't have the means to "go big", and so it was decided to sell the farm and we moved to Florida when I was almost six years old. It was a sad day when we sold the farm and packed up our belongings that we could take with us and moved away from our beloved horses, cows, chickens, our dog Laddie, and our cats.  My mother really didn't want to leave the farm and especially didn't especially want to move to Florida, but being the loving and obedient wife, she made the most of it.  Our family settled into Florida pretty well...and my dad built a beautiful home (Click HERE for more about that house) where we lived happily ever after. My parents both were able to live in their home until they passed away five years apart, and then the house was sold, and my parents are together again in heaven, where they say there is no need for the sun or the moon, but I bet they still love to sing that song and dance in the fields of heaven together now and then. 

Here's a close up of my mom and dad on their wedding day:

And here is what I call their heavenly picture, because it just looks like they are smiling down at us from heaven. This picture was taken for their 60th wedding anniversary, just four years before Mom would enter heaven, and Daddy five years after her.

"Shine on, shine on harvest moon, for me and my gal"

Addendum:

Here is a picture of my Mom at the cabin in 1976, when they went back to visit relatives in PA.  My grandparents sold the cabin when they retired and moved to Florida in the 1950's.  However, the new owners kept it pretty much exactly the way my grandparents had left it, with the exception they added indoor plumbing and a bathroom.  

For my parents' 50th anniversary in 1992 our whole family went back to PA for a family reunion at my uncle's home, which was near the cabin and also near our old farm.  The new owners of the cabin very graciously allowed our family to tour the old cabin and hear my Dad share the story of how he and his dad built the cabin when my dad was a teenager. It was their family vacation home for many years while they still lived in the Pittsburgh area, which made for a happy fresh air escape from the noise and soot of the big city back in the day. I have an old video movie of our visit there. I wish I could somehow condense it to play it here some way. It was a wonderful time together for us all to hear the story again of how my parents met and fell in love at this cabin.

But here is a little highlight of our visit to the cabin that day in 1992.  My Dad is showing off and and trying to balance himself on the rock that sits next to the driveway to the cabin, which says "Pinoke Lodge". That is the same rock my grandparents put there when they built the cabin, and somewhere there is a picture of my grandfather standing on that rock just the same way. I wish I had it.  

This is a real treasure: L to R: (Front): My Aunt Marion, (who introduced my parents) (Back): My mother and my Aunt Ruth, (Daddy's little sister)

This picture was taken on that same rock not long after my parents met

And here is our family, standing in front of the cabin in 1992:

L to R: Daddy, Mama, Russell, Clifford, Doris and Pam (me).

I hope you have enjoyed this little walk down memory lane to the cabin with me. 

 5/16/2023:  Happy Heavenly 80th  81st Anniversary to my parents!  And even though you may have already seen this picture on a recent post for Mother's Day, I am adding it here again so it becomes a part of this family "record" for the future.    I just love this picture so much, I can't seem to get enough of looking at it.  It makes me happy and a little sad at the same time. We were all so young and innocent and healthy and happy then. It was a very happy time. This picture also includes our doggie Laddie, who I loved so very much.  I am very thankful for this family that God placed me in!

L to R: Clifford, Russell, Laddie, Mama, Doris, Daddy and me!