Honor

This past weekend we had a celebration at church to HONOR our pastor and his wife for 40 years as our Senior pastor. They are retiring from full time leadership will do traveling and guest preaching.

The sermon demonstrated how Honor is exemplified in the man of God.


We sang (the choir) for every service (3) and Sunday night ended in a barbecue and blues music with approximately 1500 people.

Our pastors family.

Jimmy Bratchert on the left is a professional blues singer in the area and our pastor played a tune with him.

All three of the pastors children is now in full time ministry, which is a testament to his life.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

John Deere

I think everything just about was made better years ago. Toys being one of them. My husband and I really like vintage trucks and cars and toy ones too.

This one is metal--not going to break anytime soon.

I found this on an auction site and really loved it. I'm thinking of Christmas--isn't it going to look so good filled with trees, goodies and Santa driving the tractor.

John Deere is one of the best brands for sure. It has all the original pieces, tires and the steering wheel works too.  Since I was born on a farm my roots lie there and I'm all about country anything.

Christmas is on the horizon and I'm planning already!!

Linking with ANYTHING GOES PINK SATURDAY

Ann

Guidance

Guidance is advice or information aimed at resolving a problem or difficulty.  Synonyms are advice, council, direction, instruction and enlightenment.

Grandpa does a good job of guiding younger ones on woodworking.

Here is Olivia (granddaughter) and grandpa working on a school project.

Hands-on guidance is so important to anyone who wants to learn a new skill. In fact it is the only way I can learn, reading instructions is not for me.


Thanks go out to the ABC Wednesday team for guidance for the last several rounds in our enjoyable meme every week.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

FIVE Generations

I don't have any idea how often it happens today (tried to find on wiki) but our family had five generations living at the same time when my granddaughter was 6 months old. The year 2001.

From left to right ages at the time of the photo:

Nellie 73
Sophia 6 Months
Me 54
Andrea 27
Jewell  96

Sophia is now 15 and Grandma Jewell died in 2003 at 98.

I got to thinking about when it was customary to marry at 13--how many generations could be living at the same time? That would be some kind of photo!!!

What a wonderful thing for my grandmother to see her great-great grandchild. For us it was a joy.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Back to school

There are students from every state starting school this week, seems early but they get out mid May so I suppose it's the same.

Our two grandgirls are starting Junior High and Senior High.

We are praying for good experiences, great teachers, new friends and success.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Edie Bell

Another member of my family Edie Bell my Paternal grandmother was a strong pioneer woman.

She was born Nov. 11, 1880 to Patrick Fletcher and Mary Smith. Mary was 1/4 Cherokee Indian, I guess that means I'm a smidge on this side, however my maternal side has American Indian roots also.

Her and her sister Ann are the only two to live to adulthood, three siblings died young.  In my fathers writings he tells of the time that my Grandpa William saw Edie- she was only 10 and he was 25--YES I said 25. He told her not to grow up and marry anyone else. She was a beauty, long black hair around 5'4 and very pretty. They both remembered  that day and stayed single.

Grandpa worked in various states where he could find work, he returned when Edie was 20 and asked her Dad for her hand. There was 15 years difference in their age. They were married in 1990 and they had 6 children, my father being the youngest.

They had a 40 acre farm in Missouri and raised beef, chicken and grew vegetables--never had to visit a grocery store. They had a hard life but Dad says they were content.

She passed away when I was three--here is a picture of her and I. The other is of her standing in front of the farmhouse.

She made everyone's clothes, I don't imagine she ever really had anything from the store but shoes.
They did not have a home with electricity until Grandma was 69 years old!!!!!!

This one is a picture Grandpa, Grandma Edie, Uncle William next to her and then my Dad is the young one.

Grandma Edie passed away at the age of 71 in January 1951. Grandpa followed her in April of 1951. I think it's a blessing to have such a legacy, hard working Grandparents who lived without all that we have today.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Sisters & Avatar

A few weeks ago before our 50th Wedding Anniversary party my sisters and I went out for lunch. All three wearing blue but a different shade.

Lulu's Asian Bistro

Now some silly fun, my granddaughter was playing around with an app and her picture and now she's a member of the Avatar race!!

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Ann

Doris L. Snavely

On this 19th round of ABC WEDNESDAY, I'm going to feature some of the people in my life that really made me who I am today.

My Aunt Doris Lee was born in 1912, she was the wife of my Dad's brother William.

Aunt Doris was an avid reader, at least a book a week, Her favorite place to purchase books was the Salvation Army.  I remember one time vividly I was about 14 and staying the day with her. She said "we are going shopping to Macy's on Tracy street". Little did I know that it was the Salvation Army--they lived on Tracy Street. I found "Shepherd of the Hills", a true story of a family that lived in the hills of the Ozark Mountains. I think of this time often.

They had a summer house at the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri and my parents also did too. The houses were about a block apart. Much of my time was spent with her. Her and my Uncle Bill at one time had a small grocery store in their basement and a small one pump marina for the boats.  I used to help her in the store running the cash register. I remember them stocking Jack Sprat peanut butter at the time, I thought it was so funny.

My uncle, dad and few of the other summer dwellers wanted to have a church so they all went together and built a small church on the point and hired a minister.  We would go to the cabin every weekend in the summer and went to Sunday School and Church. We would sit in the pews and hear the speed boats flying by and knew we would be out there after lunch.

My  Aunt Doris was my Sunday School teacher. Does anyone remember the old flannel boards they would teach the lessons with? Boy what good memories.

I think the flannel board was actually green and we learned all the Old Testament stories and Aunt Doris was  a pro at teaching them. These are some characters similar that she would use.

Aunt Doris passed away in 1996, she was 85 and I really miss her smiles, cooking and encouragement.

Linking with ABC WEDNESDAY

Ann

Blue watering can

Well our mild summer weather was last week and we actually got one of our big trees trimmed.

However this week starting tomorrow it will be the high 90's, no time to be working outside for hours on end.  As setting on our deck this morning before 9:00 I spotted my blue watering can for today.

My patio plants will need this probably a few times a day this week.

Linking with BLUE MONDAY

Thank you Jeanne for keeping us looking for blue.

Ann