The Way It Was

I'm thinking about how it used to be. Does that mean I'm getting old? Or just that life really was innocent and good when I grew up?

Hard work in tobacco fields.

Delicious meals cooked by Mom, no matter how busy she was.

Fresh strawberries raised close to our house.

Picking wild blackberries - eating the pies Mom made.

Playing with my cousins til dark - catching lightning bugs in jars.

Knowing without a doubt that I was loved.

Three brothers - one who loved to torture us with his temper, one who was the peacemaker, and one who was the baby of the family - more than a little spoiled.

My mom made the best yeast rolls I've ever tasted - and she made them often.

Christmas = tangerines, oranges, apples, candy as well as toys. I still remember Christmas when I smell a tangerine.

Lewis Miller's store - going there on rainy days when my dad couldn't work.

My mom on her Ford tractor.

First trip to the beach - the ocean was so big and so loud!

Things we didn't have and I didn't miss: Cell phones, Ipods, huge tv's, malls, computers (I am glad we have them now). Seems like we had more time.

Remembering Vietnam...

I never know what triggers the memories. Memories of my 20 year old husband leaving for Vietnam. Memories of him returning home wounded in his body and soul. Struggling to return to his life - our life. His nightmares. His injuries. His courage. He never complained, he just put his mind to living his life. He has never talked about Vietnam except a few times with others who were there. It is hard to believe how young we were and how hard it was. He is good and brave and strong. I think the hardest part for him was having so many friends who didn't come home. I think of them often - I can only imagine how often he thinks of them. I didn't know them, but they touched my life - they gave their lives for our freedom. I hope each of us will say "Thank you" to the next soldier we meet.

Mother's Day

A wonderful day! Jeremiah was dedicated this morning - surrounded by family and friends. We had lunch with Josh and Becky - her parents, grandparents and brother were there as well as Perry. I wish Dale and Tristan could have been there, but they were with their Mom.

Josh cooked burgers and hot dogs on the grill. Lots of good food.

Perry's birthday is today - he was born on Mother's Day. I baked a pound cake - especially for him.

Jeremiah was so cute today - and funny. We all laughed so hard. He has a toy that he can hold on to and walk. He must have made 20 laps through the house. He is so thrilled with walking.I know his legs are tired tonight.

We have had so much rain! Good for the garden and grass. Everything is green.

We have Romaine Lettuce, Iceberg Lettuce, Radishes and Spinach ready to eat - delicious.

Becky &I picked strawberries recently. I made jam and froze the rest of the berries.

Becky made this mother's day card for me.

Visit to the Amish Store in Yadkin County

Becky, Jeremiah and I took a ride in the country to Shiloh General Store in Hamptonville this afternoon. We had wonderful sandwiches for lunch. They make sandwiches to order - they were really good. It was a little too cool to eat ouside at the picnic tables so we had our picnic in the car. Jeremiah enjoyed looking at everything and smiling at all the people.

We bought homemade bread, cheese, chow chow, raspberry jam, all natural pasta, seasoning meat, navy beans and lots of other stuff. Best of all we got some dried apple fried pies! almost as good as the ones my mom used to make. Oh, and lest I forget - two kinds of fudge.

We talked to one of the young women who worked in the store. She said the Amish only go to school through the eighth grade. We passed a school on the way there - they have their own schools. There were several horses and buggies there. She said there are over thirty families in their community.

Seestah George called today - they're having a wonderful time at Settler's Crossing Bed and Breakfast in Texas. A family vacation.

A cloudy, rainy, cool day. A good day.

EASTER

Easter Sunday... brings lots of memories of childhood Easters.

Church - Easter egg hunts - new clothes - family dinners - Mom and Dad - spring.

Easter doesn't seem to be celebrated as much as it used to be - or as much as it should be.

For us as Christians, this should be our most celebrated holiday. Maybe the best celebration is simply the acknowledgement in our own heart and mind that Easter marks the resurrection or our Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Easter was quiet - Josh, Becky and Jeremiah came by for a while when they got home from Raleigh. Jeremiah looked so cute in his Easter outfit. Perry came while they were here. Dale and Tristan were with Amber. We'll see them in a few days.

Ken and I went to Lowe's to buy flowers for the yard. He bought three fruit trees and planted them this afternoon. Flowers and trees = new life - seems appropriate for Easter.

We checked the garden - watching the plants grow. I think we'll plant some more in a week or so. It's good to be home. Today was a very good day.

Home from Las Vegas

A wonderful few days in Las Vegas.
Spent time with Zac, Debra and Ember.  
Lost a little money at the casinos.
Ate the best meal ever at Fiesta Casino - I think it is in Henderson - a few miles from Vegas.
Today was a long day - got up at 3:30 AM Vegas time - flight left at 6:00 AM.  Good flight to Atlanta - flight from Atlanta to Charlotte was delayed almost an hour.  Ken picked me up about 4:00 PM Eastern Time.  
It's good to be home.  I may not want to travel for a couple of weeks.
Tomorrow is Easter - new beginnings.  Life eternal.  Spring.  Flowers.  Eggs.  Family.

Las Vegas - a new baby in the family

Las Vegas is so beautiful.  We're on the 20th floor of the Sahara - with a spectacular view of the mountains.  The sunset behind the mountains is so beautiful.

Lester and I flew from Charlotte to Dallas then on to Las Vegas yesterday.

We had lunch with Zac and Debra and met little December Siouxsie Diane Carter!!  A big name for a beautiful little girl.  She seems so little to us because our 

babies were so much bigger.  She is such a sweet baby.

Zac is always fun - he is a born entertainer!  Seems like such a short time ago that he, Zeb, Zane and Josh were little boys.  Now Zac has two little girls and Josh has a little boy.

Jeremiah has been sick for a week - not sleeping well, runny nose, coughing.  Becky took him to the doctor Monday and they gave her an inhaler to use on him.  He is breathing too fast and they're concerned about his lungs working efficiently.  He goes back to the doctor on Monday. We're praying that it is just a temporary viral thing and he'll be all well by Monday.  Looks like he's having fun playing in the basket!

Josh called tonight - Ken ate dinner with them.  I'm sure he enjoyed that.  I talked to him earlier today - all is well at home.  He assured me that he covered up our vegetable garden last night so they didn't freeze. 

Of course, I've lost some money in the casino.  I don't lose much only because I don't risk much.  I just look at it as a form of entertainment.  I like Blackjack and wish I knew enough to play Texas Hold 'Em.  Lester is actually winning!

The economy here is hurting - maybe more than most of the country.  The rate of home foreclosures is unbelievably high.  We talked to a man today who said his house was valued at over $300,000 a year ago and now he can't get $150,000 for it.  

I think that the high percentage of people in this country who have lived above their means for the past 20 to 30 years - bought houses and cars they couldn't pay for and ran up tens of thousands of dollars on credit cards - are the major cause of the economic mess we're in.  The sad part is that many people did what they were supposed to - lived within their means, paid their debts and saved money - and unfortunately they are the ones who are suffering through no fault of their own.  My sermon for the day.  I'm afraid our country has changed to the point of being unrecognizable as the America we loved.