Happy Father's Day

to all the men in our family; but, especially, to my three favs ~ Matt, Jon, and Granddaddy. Wish we could have all celebrated together today but seems each year it gets harder and harder to get all the gang in the same place at the same time. We did throw in a little Father's Day celebration amid the birthday celebrations last weekend and we missed you, Jon.

Matt and his Girls

enjoying the slide at the "C" Girls birthday party!

Jon and his Girls on Father's Day, 2009

Wow, how the "A" Girls have grown in 1 short year!

Granddaddy is enjoying his day doing what he does most Sunday afternoons ~ Golf ~ guess you're not surprised about that, though. He loved hearing the "Happy Father's Day" greetings from all his little princesses today. Maybe they helped his golf game!

Pastor Jeremy based the sermon this morning on Ephesians 6:4:

"And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."

These were his main points:

Godly fathers point their kids to the grace of God and the giver of life by:

1. Don't make life about following a set of petty religious rules ~ make it about the Grace of God.
2. Don't live a life inconsistent with what you "say" you believe about the grace of God ~ your life should reflect what your mouth is saying.
3. Don't be over or under controlling ~ make your home a mirror of the grace of God.

Happy First Father's Day to Pastor Jeremy!!

I praise God daily for the Godly fathers in my life ~~ my Daddy, my father-in-law, my husband and my sons. May God continue to pour His grace on you, Matt and Jon, as you bring up our precious granddaughters in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. May your lives always mirror God's grace so that your girls will want what you have ~ a Father like your Heavenly Father. Thank you, Danny, for being that kind of Daddy to our 2 wonderful children. Pappaw, thank you for being a wonderful example of how to be a "Daddy" to my sweet husband. And last but not least, thank you, Daddy, for being a living example of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for Dan and I. I miss you so much ~ how I would love to feel your hugs again and to hear Mama tell me just once more, "This, too, shall pass." No day passes that I don't thank God for you both and for having you as my parents.

Matt and Jon, I hope you both had a day filled with squeals of delight, slobbery kisses and bear hugs ~~ doing whatever makes you happy with all your girls!

I love you muches!!!!!!

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered . . .

So far, 2010 has held alot of "biggies" for me . . . turning 62 . . . getting my "Uncle Sam" check . . . celebrating 40 years with hubby . . . graduation of the oldest in the 4th generation . . . wedding of the baby of the 3rd generation . . . then, today . . .

My brother and I sold our parents' home -- the place where we grew up -- where we felt safe and loved -- where we played hide & seek; broke lamps; buried beloved animals; wore out spots of grass where the bases were playing ball; had sleep overs (while we watched out the window when the high school neighbor come in from her dates. so sorry "L"); learned to read our Bible and talk to Jesus; learned the words to "In the Garden" as Daddy sang us to sleep while he rocked us in the old green platform rocker; got my arm caught in the wringer washer; brother fell into a neighbor's sewer hole after it had rained when their house was being built--drowned--was brought back to life because of Daddy's training and the sweet grace of our dear Lord. Oh, I could go on and on and on.

But after all the "growing up" memories, came the time we brought home those who were to be our spouses, our new babies, then our grandbabies; finally, where we said "Goodbye" to Mama and where Daddy took his last breath.

This weekend brought the time to finally clean out and move on. As I sat today in the lawyer's office signing all the papers, I was reminded of something Daddy had said to me 2 years after Mama went home ~~ "At the cemetary today, I finally realized that your Mama wasn't coming back and wouldn't if she could. Now, I have to learn to go on without her." I thought after 16 years without Mama and 6 without Daddy, I had learned to go on, too. But, this has been harder than I thought it would be.

We know (and were told often) that it was time ~~ "they're not coming back." We didn't have the time to care for our homes and families and our old home, too. But knowing it and wanting to do it are really two different things when it comes down to actually going through the process. As hard as it is, we, also, know a house setting empty doesn't last. It needs to hear laughter lifting its rafters, feel tears falling on its floors, have hands to clean it and hearts to love it. And I think that is what it got again today ~ someone who seems to love it as much as our parents did and we do. For that I am so grateful ~~ Thank you, dear Jesus, for answered prayers. Thank you, dear "S" family for wanting to make it what it once was . . . a place to come home to . . .

. . . even if my brother and I can't ever "go home" there again.

Guess What I Did on Tuesday?

No, I didn't work in my garden or sew for my girls--probably should have been doing both, but I wasn't! I gave myself a special treat . . . a little trip with the "Senior" group from our church. They've gone on several outings, but I was never able to go before.

What fun we had!!

Today's excursion took us to the Cumberland County Playhouse to see . . .

It was wonderful!!

The trip included lunch at the Cumberland Mountain Park Resturant. YUMMY, especially the chocolate cobbler!! Before we went in to eat, I got a pic with two very special ladies in my life -- Miss Janice and Miss Marguerite.

Miss Marguerite was my high school typing teacher and the one responsible for my 31-year career as a business education teacher ~~ my teacher, my mentor, my best friend. Miss Janice taught home ec down the hall from us~~most of my special recipes came from her.

Of course, I had to check out all the flowers around the resturant and even found one I don't have in my garden. Just had to get a picture but now I can't remember the name of it. Oh well, Miss Sara or Mr. Roland probably will know its name.

Our Fearless Pilots

Thanks Pastor Jeremy and Miss Denise for being brave enough to start out with this group. Also, had fun at the little detour ~~ Mary Margaret, Jeremy's shirts look sooooo good on him (was that right, Jeremy?) and he really needed the blue one for the quartet!! Can't wait to hear them sing! The rest of the gang ~ but I think some must been have getting autographs because I don't see them in the pictures.

I believe I just might travel with this group again once my back and knees recover from the van ride. But for now . . . . . . it's back to the sewing room.

Could it Really be 40 Years?

On June 7, 1970 I walked down the aisle on my Daddy’s arm to meet my groom and our journey began. I had married "The Boy Next Door." Now, looking back, it has been a fast 40 years. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s definitely been worth it. Like any great journey . . . rocky some times, smooth sailing others . . . but always worth the effort! After 5 moves in the first 5 years, 2 beautiful babies (not to mention a menagerie of dogs, cats, fish, birds, hamsters, frogs, and some I'm sure I've left out), and now 5 fabulous granddaughters, we’re back where we started—just the two of us trying to put down more roots after our 6th move. Guess it really all started the summer before 9th grade when the "new neighbors" moved across the street. They had 2 sons--one my age and the other a year younger than my brother. Quickly, they became part of the neighborhood gang playing tag football in our front yard and staying out 'til late catching lighting bugs. The neighbor boy and I never dated during the first three years of high school--he was always just there--just a friend. He went away to military school our senior year. He just happened to be home on the weekend of the MCHS senior prom. After the prom, all the "Queens" (that will have to be another post I'm sure) and their dates gathered at our favorite hang out--"the truck stop"--to eat. He came up with some of his friends who had taken their dates home already. Neighbor boy's prom was later than ours and guess what~~ that night he asked me to go with him to his prom . . . A MILITARY PROM . . . I just couldn't turn that down. His friend also invited my best friend to go, so off we went with my future in-laws. That military prom became the first of many dates for us and 4 short years later after graduating from UGA on Saturday, June 6, I married my best friend on Sunday, June 7. Like all best friends, we've had our ups and downs but we're always there for each other ~~ we've always had each other's backs.

Other than moving around so during our early marriage (all within a 5-mile radius), our lives have been rather stable—me same teaching job at same school I graduated from for 31 years while Mr. Green Acre has worked at the same job 39 years after finishing army reserve training, members of the church we grew up in, and now living again next door to my first neighbor, "Mimi Clydene." The distance we've traveled has been small, but the number of miles and all they've contained have been tremendous.

Would I do it all again? Most definitely!! Like most everyone else, if given the chance, I might make a few changes; but, right now, I can't even think what those might be. God has poured many blessings on us during this lifetime together ~~ the greatest two ~~ a handsome son and a beautiful daughter who kept us very busy when they were growing up. But I wouldn't have traded that for anything because all of that "buziness" (not sure that's a word) molded them into the amazing man and woman they are today. They both chose mates that are as wonderful as they are and we're as proud of our other "daughter" and "son" as we are our own. Now, after 9 and 10 years of marriage, they're getting their "payback" through the little beauties they have given back to us ~~ our Fabulous Five! It's harder for Mimi and Granddaddy to keep up the 2nd time around; but it sure is fun trying.

How are we celebrating such a milestone? Dinner out tonight (that sweet man I married said we might go to Krystal) and maybe a little get-a-way for just the 2 of us after the activities of spring slow down and we get into the lazy-hazy-crazy days of summer since we're having our BIG family vacation in the fall. Not super exciting I know, but we're saving that for #50!!! Yes, we do plan on beating the odds and making it to that together. Those ten years will fly by if it's anything like the past 40! But for now . . .

Happy 40th Anniversary to Us!!

What a journey "Through the Years" ~~ and just so you know, I still love you all the muches!!!!

The 75th Graduation

From this to high school graduation in the blink of an eye

Taylor, it seems like only yesterday we were flying to Greenville to wait on you to enter this world. Because your Mommy had always seemed more like a daughter than a niece, you were like my first grandchild. Oh, how I loved you and hated to leave you, your Mommy and Daddy.

But before long, daddy graduated from Furman and ya'll came home ~ oh, happy day for all of us especially Gran and Pop because you were their first GREAT grandchild and did they ever think you were GREAT!! There's just so many memories of you growing up that I'll never forget. One of my most favorite times with you was the trip just you and I took to discover all about Robert E. Lee and the Confederacy when you were 11. It was so much fun to see all our Southern history through your eyes. And I loved picking you and Payton up from school and making pancakes for you every afternoon. Remember, too, when you taught Uncle Man to ski on the first of our many winter vacations? And who are those cute little boys with napkins on their heads? You loved wearing Matt Matt's cowboy boots ~~ you just didn't like to wear anything else!

Those days passed so quickly ~~ before I knew it you were in middle school. Now, you know it couldn't really have been 3 years between middle school and high school--did you skip a grade or did I just blink too many times?

I'm so amazed at your musical talent ~ "hanging with the band" all the way to Tootsies Orchid Lounge in Nashville was so much fun. Ya'll played great and the crowd loved you! I'll also never forget the night you & your mama called so I could hear you play Amazing Grace on the fiddle. When you were selected Drum Major for the Indians, we were so proud of you. During your junior year you also found a very special friend who soon became your date for the prom and that led to many, many more dates.

Then, tonight was graduation ~ too quickly this part of your life has come to an end. As I watched you receive your diploma, I felt that Gran and Pop were there with me watching this very special moment. Tay, they would be thrilled with the wonderful young man you have grown into, just as we all are.

Three Generations ~~ the granddad, the graduate, the mama

Congratulations on the scholarship you won AND how appropriate that our little history buff would be the one who's graduating class celebrated the 75th year of MCHS graduations. You looked great tonight with all that honor gold around your neck!!

But tonight's ending is really only the beginning. Before long, we'll be in Sanford stadium waiting to hear "The REDCOATS are coming" and watching for you and Heather to come running between the hedges ~ you playing Glory, Glory to Ole' Georgia on your trombone while Heather flashes her pompoms as a Georgette.

The old adage is really true ~ "Time flies when you're having fun" and I have had tons of fun being your Aunt Sissy. I love you more than you can imagine!!!!

The little brothers are so proud of their big brother

(even if one's not quite so "little" any more)

Memorial Day on the Acre

Just a little preview of what celebration day looked like on the acre for those of you who couldn't come home ~~ we missed all of you this weekend!!! Our summer holidays from Memorial Day through Labor Day always were celebrated by the pool on the "country acre" with all the family gathered, including the police department who would drop by with the Chief (Big Unc) throughout the day while they were working their shifts.

Things are a little different now. Memorial Day usually means lunch at the Country Club followed by the Gordon Group's round of golf for Granddaddy while I come home to "piddle." This year we joined the Lances, the Gordons, and the Jones at DCC for lunch. My afternoon piddling included fixing a "cool" dinner for daddy and I on the deck ~~ if we don't have the pool now, at least we can enjoy the view of daddy's vegetable garden (which was to be my pool spot!!) and the mosquitos.

Doesn't it look all festive? Notice only one place is set? Well, that's because for the 1st holiday ever, I ate by myself ~~ loads of fun!! Golf took a little longer than anticipated this year and by 7:00 I just couldn't wait any longer . . . the shrimp might swim back to sea. Crisp green salad with loads of cranberries and honey roasted almonds, sweet corn on the cob, baked potato (yes, it's running over with sour cream), fresh fruit, shrimp cocktail and a big glass of sweet tea with lemon and mint. It was yummy!

And no summer holiday was ever complete without Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream made from Granny's recipe . . .

On Saturday night, Daddy even got the Little Red Car out so we could go for a ride, but guess what . . . no brakes!! So he just drove it back into the garage with me standing between the back garage wall and the car ~~ now I wonder what his purpose really was in having me stand there?

Anyway, I didn't get hurt ~ the car stopped just before it got to me. And, as the flags continued to wave at the entrance to the subdivision, we ended our Memorial Day weekend eating our homemade ice cream with a yummy chocolate cake and having good conversation with our neighbors, Wendell and Darlene.

Even my holiday rose was blooming!

sorry about the blurred pic ~ I'm still trying to learn to use the camera Mande gave me for Christmas.

Hope your Memorial Day Weekend was Wonderful and that you remembered to give Thanks to the service men and women who have paid and are still paying such a price so that we can continue to enjoy our holidays in the Land of the Free and to your Heavenly Father for allowing you to be born in this great country ~ Home of the Red, White, and Blue ~ America!!

Memorial Day Tribute to my Daddy

Our little town began celebrating Memorial Day festivities early this morning with the unveiling of the new Veterans Memorial. What better way to honor those who have fought and are still fighting! It truly is beautiful and as one speaker said today, "It would be right at home in Washington, DC." The only thing missing this morning was my military hero ~ my Daddy.

Daddy enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, ending a promising baseball career in order to serve his country. He was stationed in Guam where he was wounded two times for which he received a Purple Heart. After serving his country, he served his community ~~ Daddy served as City Police Chief, deputy sheriff under two administrations, was with the Enforcement Division of the Georgia Department of Transportation for almost 29 years and served as Chatsworth Municipal Judge for 18 years prior to his death. He was the first Veteran in our town to receive a Purple Heart tag and was so proud of it.

Daddy and his tag in 1992

His grandchildren and great grandchildren loved for him to recount his “war stories” and used them many times in history reports. Tears would fill his eyes as he remembered his fallen “buddies.” Because of them, he always took part in the Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day celebrations on our courthouse lawn.

Zeke, Doc Carpenter, Dewitt, Mack and Daddy

The fearsome five always let me snap a picture following every celebration.

Daddy wearing his purple heart

This morning's events brought back memories of Daddy's funeral ~~ the band playing the anthems for each branch of service, the 21-gun saluate followed by TAPS. Has it really been almost 6 years ago? When I looked around the over 2,000 crowd trying to find some of the men who always took part in celebrations at the courthouse, I realized it had been that long ~ many of them like Daddy have gone home, while others were being pushed in wheelchairs by loved ones, and still others needed help walking and simply couldn't stand to take part.

Dr. Carpenter was the only one out of the original group of 5 able to participate completely -- not only that, he was one of the major players in making this memorial a reality!

On July 2, 2004, with an American flag draped across his casket, The Battle Hymn of the Republic played as he was brought in and out of the church, with the touching salute to the casket by the minister before he spoke, and the 21-gun salute followed by the playing of TAPS at the grave site, Daddy was layed to rest as family and friends were reminded of the service he gave to his country. Thank you, Daddy, for your service and the legacy of love you left your family and friends. Flags are flying for you today.

Our prayers of thanksgiving and safety are for the men and women like our young friend, Lyle, from church and Brad, our neighbor's son, who are fighting on foreign soil so we remain free. There are so many others from our little town ~ many of them former students of mine ~ serving with Brad and Lyle. We salute all of you today and pray daily for God's continued watch care over you until you are safely home again with your families.

To those who have fallen in service like Gary and Jerry from our 1966 graduating class and to those like Daddy who served their country then their families and communities before going home, we thank you and we salute you. It is because of men and women like you that we are still a "land of the free and home of the brave."

Highlights of this morning's activities for family who couldn't join us . . . Entrance to the park, emblem on gate at the highway, and presentation stage

Boy Scouts performed flag ceremony; Major General James Terry and Lt. Colonel Robert Wilson ( my boys at MCHS) were featured speakers; Taylor & the gang with the band; Tom Starnes ~ a Vietnam Veteran. The rest of the family in attendance (minus Aunt Lynn's pic). Happy 1st Birthday today, Sweet Josie!!

U. S. Marine Corps Monument

Then at 4:00 p.m. our hills "were alive with the sound of music" ~ choirs from 4 local churches, part of MCHS marching band, plus other local musicians ~ a beautiful tribute in the park to America and her service men and women.

Randy was the only one representing the Kendrick-Duncan clan in the choir. You remember the ladies pictured above, I'm sure.

Wish you all could have been here but, hopefully, this will help you feel like you were. I know Pop would have been so excited and proud to have been part of all the happenings today. Wish he could have seen it, too!!