Happy Birthday To My Dad

As mentioned in my last post, the month of May is quite busy with a flurry of activity. We celebrate graduations, Mother's Day, Memorial Day, and look forward to the ending of the school year. Another very important celebration is my dad's birthday on May 3rd. It was a special day that fell on Sunday, and as is the usual custom, we were able to have lunch with him after the Sunday services at church. He turned 83 this year. I think for all he has been through the last six or seven years, he is blessed from above and manages quite well. I admire his "can do attitude" and his determination to keep going no matter what. He is still gardening on a smaller scale, riding the lawn mower, and rarely misses a church service.

Now one might speculate that I'm running a bit behind to just now be posting his birthday on my blog, but I was looking for a special picture that I wanted to use, and I had to find it and get it scanned. It has always been very special to me for some reason and I carried it in my wallet for years. I took it out some time ago and I had to find it. It was in a special photo album right where I had placed it for memory's sake and safe keeping. Don't you love it when you hide things from yourself?

At any rate, I was six in the first picture and I think we were on our way to church because Dad is all dressed up in his suit and tie. That was definitely Sunday attire for him. Dad was and still is the spiritual leader at home. There was never any question where we would be on Sundays or what we would be doing. We went to church no matter what without fail. It was our habit; it was as natural as knowing you were going to work or school on Monday morning. Before I learned to read, we would get up early on Sunday morning and he would read my Sunday school lesson to me before we left the house. He also told me to get a drink of water and go to the bathroom because facilities weren't available like they are today.

I have other fond memories. My mom had to work on Saturday mornings so Dad got to look after me. We went to all sorts of great places; the barber shop, Watkin's Part Store, and the gas station to change the oil in car just to name a few. But best of all, I looked forward to grape soda and peanuts, because without fail, he knew they were my favorite things and he would get this wonderful treat for me. I would crawl up on a high stool, sit, eat, and drink. It somehow softened the boredom of hearing men talk about cars and relieved the scary stress of the barber always asking me if I would like to get up in his chair for a haircut. Poor dad--he always wanted a baseball team and all he got was one little girl.

There was one redeeming quality. I loved to be outside and mow the yard. I started doing that when I was about 8 or 9. When I was about 11 or 12, he bought a small riding lawn mower just for me. Boy, did I ever feel like I was in tall cotton when I didn't have to push any more.

The second picture was made last year in New Orleans when Micah and Rhyne graduated from seminary. We had been touring the WWII museum. I've grown a little taller and Dad has grown a little older, but one or two things haven't changed. To this very day, I still love grape soda and peanuts, and I love my dad.

Happy Birthday, Dad

Marcia

Graduations and Mother's Day--It Must Be May

Last weekend was another busy one for our family. There was quite a bit of excitement stirring and we got up early Saturday morning. Although I really enjoy leisurely cups of coffee on my one off day of the week, I had to drink fast and get ready rather quickly. Collin's mom and dad arrived by 7:30 so we could head south to Oxford, Mississippi. It was graduation day at Ole Miss and Nathaniel, Collin's nephew, was getting his diploma. We are quite proud for him as he earned a degree in business and has been in the ROTC program. He will be a commissioned officer in the army and plans on a military career at this point. His dad is Craig, Collin's older brother, and his mom, Arista. They live in Milwaukee so we obviously don't see them too often. We had a good visit and enjoyed dinner together at Owen Brennen's before driving home.

Sunday was a very special day. We had wonderful services at church with baby dedication and recognition of mothers on their special day. I'm as so blessed to not only be a mother, but to have one, and I might add that I had the sweetest grandmother ever. Nanny was something else. From all accounts, I would have dearly loved my grandmother Clara as well, but she passed long before my mom and dad even married. My mother prepares lunch for us every Sunday and I do so enjoy not only the meal, but the time we get to visit. The work week is so hectic that I've come to look forward to this day. If at no other time during the week, we can usually catch up on the details of the past week and that which we are looking forward to the next week. Most families don't share weekly lunches like we do, and I count it a rare treat; a tradition like no other.


This weekend, we actually stayed on the home front and worked in our yard and on our house a bit. We were in between showers of rain and tried to take advantage of the weather. It was so exciting to carry the houseplants out to the patio. I'm so encouraged that the weather is making a change that I have a plan. I need bedding plants for my container garden. So. . . .after work tomorrow, hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Lowe's I go.


Thumbs turning green,


Marcia

Have I Mentioned I'm the Proud Mother of Two?

God blessed me with two wonderful children. Although they are now 25 and 20, it seems just yesterday that we brought Micah, and then five years later, Bryan home from the hospital. Where does the time go? The dolls, playhouse furniture, power rangers, baseballs, and footballs have all been stored away and the dust has settled, but within these four walls we call home are dozens and dozens of memories. Collin and I were reminiscing just the other day about some of the antics of our two cherubs and shared a few chuckles. Like all children, they could pull off some real dandy stunts. And, some of the things they could say would keep us in stitches.

They are quite grown up now and we are very proud of their accomplishments and what they have become. Looking back, those traits and accomplishments were all present in the early years and they have developed through the years to be what they are today.

Micah has loved to read her entire life. One of her very favorite things was to crawl up into your lap with her favorite story books and listen as still as a little mouse as long as you would sit with her. Today, she still loves to read. She couldn't wait to start to Kindergarten just so she could learn to read. Once she got the hang of kindergarten, she spent many afternoons being the teacher. I can distinctly remember the little table and chair which became her desk complete with pencils, paper, crayons, and little story books--all the things a teacher would need on her desk. And for her students??? She carefully positioned all her dolls and stuffed animals. Although I can't take the credit for encouraging her to follow in mom's footsteps, she has indeed become a Pre-K teacher in NOLA spending her day with 21 four-year olds and loving every minute. I'm very proud of her. I know beyond a shadow of doubt, she is an incredible teacher, works hard, and adores every one of her children. We were fortunate to travel to NOLA last fall and got to see her classroom. In the photos, we were helping her create a "tree" for her classroom so her children could have a special place to look at story books. I'm confident that she has several goals for her children, but I dare say, her heart's desire would be for each of them to learn to read and enjoy all the adventures and travels within bound pages just as it has meant so much to her over the years. Bryan's personality took on quite a different style to Micah's. This was the child that was never still and never quiet. He was on the move with his "little big trucks" (mini sized 18 wheelers), tractors, combines, pick up trucks, bulldozers, and road graders. You think of the equipment and we had it. He has been farming his entire life. It's no wonder he spends his college days in the college of ag. But hold on to your ears. When he wants to make some noise, you'll know it because he is "my little drummer boy" and always has been. My talented little musician has been playing the drums since he was two years old. He would go to my cabinets, drag out the pots and pans turning them upside down. Then he wanted me to save coffee cans and other varied sizes. With pencils for drumsticks, he would sit for hours hammering out some kind of beat. As he continued to grow, he constantly tapped on something. He got his first set from Santa when he was about eight or nine. Boy, was that ever a wonderful Christmas. He begged and begged for real drums until we got his first Pearl set in the 7th grade and last year, he saved his money to buy a true professional set of Yamaha. He was destined--no doubt. He is very good and it never gets too loud for me and I never tire of hearing him. I love that sound. I kind of dance around the house to the beat and love knowing that he is home. I've just happened to snap a few photos of him and the drums. (And this isn't all of them nor all the symbols.)


I guess you can tell I'm just a little proud, but then, what mother wouldn't be?

Marcia