Family Treasures~Part 5

3 Jul

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

 

Last time, I introduced some things that were in my Aunt Jessie’s house. Since she and Granny lived so close to us, I spent a great deal of time at her house. When she died, I wished I could have just taken everything in her house and put it in mine. But then Fred said, “where would we put it?” and I had to let it all go. That’s probably the hardest part of it all – letting it go.

Jessie’s house
The stair-step divider between the dining room and the living room – Christmas candles made by Jessie
Jessie and her Geisha dol
The table top was one piece of wood

As I mentioned before, Aunt Jessie never married, and so “things” became the focus of her life.

Jessie told me this was a Duncan Phyfe drop-leaf table.
An antique display cabinet – dressed for Christmas

 

Grandpa started her on the road to loving antiques, and she never quit. She would go to estate sales around Albuquerque and pick up what she wanted. Occasionally, I would go with her on these jaunts. She furnished her house with some REALLY good antique furniture. She was, at one time, the President of the Antique Club in Albuquerque. After she died, Mother was given the name of an estate auctioneer that might be of some help to us. He came to Jessie’s house, and his gaze was going from this-to-that the entire time he was talking to us. He finally blurted out: “this is some of the best Victorian I’ve ever seen!” Jessie really knew her stuff.

 

We held the auction – and the auctioneer suggested we hold it in her house, as it was the best setting to showcase what was there, and so we did. He advertised the auction in papers in New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Colorado. From what we understand, there were about 500 people who came for the auction – and they did, indeed, sell everything “down to the carpet.”

While I don’t have any of these antiques in my house now, here are some of the beautiful things Jessie had. We know they are scattered to four winds now, but we hope and pray that everyone who found something, loves and enjoys them as much as she did.

The table top was one piece of wood
Jessie told me this was a Duncan Phyfe drop-leaf table.
An antique display cabinet – dressed for Christmas
A cherry-wood china cabine
An old pump organ and an antique wind-up record player
An old pump organ and an antique wind-up record player
The dresser in Jessie’s bedroom
The dresser in Granny’s room, with an ice-cream chair
An old “Secretary” with green leather pad

 

All these “things” remind me of my Aunt Jessie, whenever I see them. They might not have been in my parent’s house, but they are still family treasures to me.

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Three questions we must ask before reaching the final destination of life. 

2 Jul

Walking by Faith, Not by Sight

Janet Perez Eckles

His Way

06-24-16 checklistTurbulence made us shake and jostle up and down and from side to side. We were about 20 minutes before landing in Orlando when the announcement came:

“Ladies and gentlemen, turbulence is too severe for us to walk down the aisle,” the flight attendant said. “We’ll go with the honor system. Please make sure your seat belt is on, bags stowed under the seat, tables are secured and your seat is in the upright position. And please look to the person beside you and make sure they have also complied.”

Look to the person beside us? Good idea. We can hold each other accountable.

“Make sure you, yourself have complied first before checking others,” the flight attendant added.

Makes sense. Before we try to correct the person beside us, we have to do a self-check first.

The check list is important as we all encounter life’s turbulence. Whether it’s slight or severe, without exception, we all approach the final destination. And being wise, sharp and alert, and recognizing our human vulnerability in situations out of our control, we prepare.

And in the preparation, fear leaves, anxiety is gone and peace soothes our heart when we answer these three questions:

  1. Are we secure in Jesus our Savior? If so, we’re guaranteed life eternal, and we prepare the attire for the journey: “As God’s chose people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12)
  2. Do we have any baggage of resentment stowed away in our heart? “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” (Colossians 3:13)
  3. What do we hold high, above all? “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” (Colossians 3:14)

In the turbulence of our days and in the fast pace of this world, our final destination may be closer than we think…so…how would you answer these three questions?

Janet

Source: Three questions we must ask before reaching the final destination of life. | Janet Perez Eckles

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What Keeps You Going

1 Jul

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

 

 

It’s important to have an answer to that question.
You truly need purpose as you age.
Purpose is fundamental, so
your day is not hum-drum
or ‘just another page.”

 

I want my life to matter.
i want to touch another soul.
If you take the time to read my words,
then I feel I have reached my goal

 

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We are expected to glorify Christ
in all that we do.
When your heart is filled with His love,
others will see Christ in you.

 

Open new chapters of your life.
It’s important to be more bold.
Take more risks, not physical,
but being more yourself.
That’s growing whole, not old.

 

Painting by DiVoran Lites

Painting by DiVoran Lites

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Nature Deficit Disorder

28 Jun

A Life to Live

Melody Hendrix

Many children today have little contact with the natural world.The average 8 to 10 year-old spends nearly eight hours a day with a variety of different media, and older children and teenagers spend more than 11 hours per day.” Television, long a popular “babysitter,” remains the dominant medium, but computers, tablets and cellphones are gradually taking over. Many come to view the real world as fake.
Electronics plays a role in the rising rates of childhood obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, and other social, physical and developmental issues. It’s about the future — not just for young people but for the entire planet. “If we raise a generation of kids whose activities are all indoors, they’ll never develop a relationship with the environment — they’ll see no reason to care. Connecting kids to the out of doors in a way that makes them realize, ‘this is fun, this is a place I want to be’ — that’s going to create a generation of environmental stewards.”
We must teach our children how to connect with nature and care about earth. Let them get dirty, really dirty. Electronics are good, but not when they never have a chance to connect with nature and God our Creator, their senses will never be awaken by the abundant life surrounding them. They will never wander longingly through the forest in search of mystery. They will never experience peace, beauty and gentleness that comes from that which God has made for our pleasure. This image of my granddaughter, was taken at Lukas Nursery’s butterfly conservatory in Oviedo. It’s a wonderful place to give your kids a camera and let them touch nature and take pictures of flowers and butterflies. Go in the gift shop and buy a little butterfly house and raise some butterflies. They will tell you how. It’s a beautiful world. Let’s wake up everyday and be thankful for it and find a way to share it with our children.

Kayla butterflies

 
I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.

Melody

 

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Dad:Worst Enemy, Best Friend~Part 4

27 Jun

My Take 

DiVoran Lites

Author, Poet and ArtistFunny how many times I could have lost my dad, but didn’t. He was always there for me, and I had the deep security of knowing he always would be. I took him so much for granted, though, that I didn’t realize until much later that his caring for me in the ways that he did were the foundation for my trusting God.

Dad and I went more rounds over the years. We moved to Los Alamos where he became a courier for the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC).

Then we moved to Albuquerque so he and Mom could continue to work for the government. Dad still traveled.

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I ran away to get married, but Dad called the florist in faraway CA, to order an orchid for my bridal bouquet. He wasn’t able to attend because of the job.

We moved to Florida for Bill’s job at Kennedy Space Center. Mom and Dad never failed to visit us once a year, and we also joined them on their fishing vacations at Salton Sea (now defunct).* After Salton Sea came Marrowstone Island in Puget sound, then Sapinero-Blue Mesa Reservoir in Colorado. The vacations were memorable, but I’m afraid I didn’t appreciate them as much then as I do in retrospect. The living was rough, fishing was all, but Mom the kids and I could always go to town (except at Salton Sea which was out in the desert by itself.) And once we did some old-fashioned clamming. That was great fun!

All those vacations were good for getting to know each other, especially the children. I’ll always be grateful that Mom and Dad went to that much effort to stay in touch.

When we first arrived in Florida, the woods that border our home seemed scary and exotic. I’d heard so much about snakes and insects I didn’t want to go out there.

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When Dad came, though, he wasn’t daunted. He started walking every day. Our dog and I soon joined him and we learned the way. We’ve been walking the trails in those woods ever since, first with our kids and dogs then with our grandkids. It is a chief enjoyment in life.

Mother always told me to have plenty of things for Dad to repair when they came so he wouldn’t get bored. The year we had no TV he threatened never to come back again, but we got one and he did. One job dad did was to put up a jar opener under a cupboard for us. He was having a lot of trouble with carpal-tunnel syndrome by then. I use that gripper now because I need it sometimes. I wonder, if he realized what a favor he had done for us by installing it.

With maturity, my grievances have melted away. I’ve realized that I deeply loved my Dad in spite of our lifelong battles. The first time I went to visit when he was in the nursing home unable to do anything for himself we both broke into tears. Dad was aware enough to ask, “Is this who I think it is?” Later, I sat alone with him and held his wrist in my hand so I could feel his pulse because I didn’t know how to talk to him as others seemed to do.

This year, on Memorial Day Sunday our pastor asked people to call out the names of their kin who had died in wars. At first there were only a few and then it became a chorus of jumbled names. I felt sad knowing how difficult it is to lose any member of your family. But I also had a halleluiah feeling that I did get to know my Dad for the rest of his life after he came home from WW2. He carried signs of what we now call PTSD. I believe that most families whose parents have been in the military during wartime do. Thanks Dad, for coming back and living a long life in which I got to know you and your true value.

DiVoran and Dad with coats

 

Read more about Salton Sea by clicking HERE

 

 

 

 

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Family Treasures~Part 4

26 Jun

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

JUDY

 

Previous musings have been about items in my family home, and last week I introduced some things that, while near and dear to me, were in my Aunt Jessie’s house. She and my Granny lived about 10 minutes away from us, and they were a huge part of my life – almost daily – for about 10 years. I loved their house as much as I loved ours.

As I mentioned last week, Aunt Jessie never married, and so “things” became the focus of her life. Grandpa started her on the road to loving antiques, and she never quit. She would go to estate sales around Albuquerque and pick up what she wanted. Occasionally, I would go with her on these jaunts. She furnished her house with some REALLY good antique furniture. She was, at one time, the President of the Antique Club in Albuquerque.

Whenever we go to Walt Disney World, and Magic Kingdom, and do the Haunted Mansion ride, I am always struck with the thought that Aunt Jessie would go crazy on that ride, with all the antiques they have in there!! Many of them remind me of some of what she had in her house.

Some of the antiques she had were of interest to me, but not all. I actually thought that most of her antique furniture was rather stiff and uncomfortable. But there were a couple of tables, a lamp, a mirror, and other things that I enjoyed, and have with me today.

There was just something about this pedestal table that intrigued me. And so I adopted it, and have enjoyed it all these years. There was a “ruby” glass lamp that usually sat atop that table, and it has a golden dragon chasing around the ruby globe. I believe that, at one time, it was a oil lamp, but now has been fitted with electricity. Beautiful.

There is a relatively small table that I have always enjoyed, with a marble top. It wasn’t until I had it “appraised” that I was told the top didn’t really go with the table – and realized that it really did not! It is rectangular, as is the table, but the marble hangs off over the corners! Never occurred to me! I’m definitely not the sharpest knife in the drawer!

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There is a marble column stand that always stood by the foot of the small staircase in her living room that I always liked. She had a large pot with a plant in it, but I have the stand with another of her antiques on it in my living room. It is a silver-plated dancer, holding a bowl. Just the thing for decorating – which Jessie loved to do, especially at Christmas time.

All these “things” remind me of my Aunt Jessie, whenever I see them. They might not have been in my parent’s house, but they are still family treasures to me.

 

 

 

 

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You Are Not What You Think You Are…

24 Jun

From the Heart

Louise Gibson

Louise Gibson

”You Are Not What You Think You Are,
But What You Think, You Are’

 

Now that is controversial,
and truly is confusing.
You are toying with my thinking,
But I do find it amusing.

 

If I think that I am coping
with the problems of old age,
And truly believe that my life
is not ruled by a calendar page,
Then I will continue on my journey-
finding meaning as I go,
Trusting God to teach me
all that He wants me to know.

 

It never ceases to amaze me
when I think about the past.
The trials never seemed to end-
While the good times went so fast.

 

Everything in life happens for a reason.
God wants to conform us to the image of His Son.
When confronted with life’s problems,
Remember, the battle has already been won.

 

Travel Together copy

Painting by DiVoran Lites

 

 

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Memories

23 Jun

On the Porch

Onisha Ellis

I'm a winner

I remember Summer vacations and the trips we made from Florida to North Carolina to visit with my parent’s families.  Getting together with my cousins was always fun but the visits where my parents sat and talked with their elderly relatives were torture. They would sit in rocking chairs and rock, talk, rock, talk, asking if this relative or that one was still living. Had it not been for my love of books I would have disgraced myself and pitched a fit to relieve my boredom.

Years later as I reflect on my childhood boredom I have a better understanding of it. As a child my memories were written on a virtually blank space, consisting for the most part of things my brothers did to aggravate me.There was very little to stimulate pleasant memories, because only a few had been written. Now, in my senior years, my mind bounces like the steel ball in a Pinball machine. A scent, a song or even picking up a frying pan used by my mother all set my memory bells dinging. My present and past mingle in pleasant harmony and sometimes my mind is so refreshed that the sharp pain of an aching knee comes as a shock.

My body betrays.

Disconnected from my soul.

Childish dreams remain.

Back in the “day” I had a tape by Beth Nielson Chapman. Her writing is poignant, expressing deep feeling.  I love the song Emily which talks of lasting friendship and Like a Child Again, which portrays the inner being of a person with Alzheimer’s. I decided to share Years with this post as it seemed most appropriate. I hope you enjoy it and check out her other songs.

Am I only one who is surprised when their body is not in sync with their mind?

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Just. One. Book. Thoughts from the Airport

22 Jun

On the Porch 

Onisha Ellis

Last week I shared a blog post about a town that had no Library for their students. Well the call for Just One Book has been answered. I am sharing a small part of the post, be sure to read the rest. It will be worth it. With so much discord going on, this is heartening.

The 2016 Silver Buckle Rodeo Queen, Hannah Lambach, stopped by for me to interview her for the local paper. She’s 16 and a Greenville High School student. Her words, “You mean we will finally be able to check out a book?!” She stood there amazed. Then went and got her truck to back up to the building and haul the recycling to Evergreen Market which employs students. The store owners Centella and Ken Tucker are volunteering to pick up boxes while I’m gone and bring them to the library. Ken told Hannah to have the students who work for him help unload the recycling. Hannah promised to come back and tell others to come help.

IMG_7821  These were the bags from Saturday’s UPS haul. That’s not counting the Fed Ex afternoon bags, or the post office which had 5 rolling carts of boxes.

IMG_7824Sue (on the left there) instructed Jazmin how to orderly open and sort. Jazmin was sort of dazed for the first few minutes. “These books are for us?!” As I was unloading the UPS bags Jazmin opened a box and stared at the book inside. You could tell she wanted to pick it up and go to a corner and start reading.

“It’s impossible to open the boxes and not want to read everything,” I said. “Oh yes,” she said.

Then more students started to arrive to help as I was leaving. I was nervous about my trip to Wisconsin for a few days, but one of the things I love about Greenville is that when there’s a project, everyone is all in–doesn’t matter whose idea it was, or what your affiliation is. If there’s something that needs to be done, someone is there to help. Weber wants the students active in this. There’s a whole lot of thank you cards to write.

This attitude is why I like this little hamlet of a town. Despite it sometimes not quite being in the 21st century, despite the Internet going out in the middle of the day, despite the crumbling sidewalks rolling up at 5 pm (hey they have a grant from the state to fix our potholes and highway and sidewalks!), it’s a great place to teach kindness and breathe fresh air. It’s a place where there is always something that needs to be done and there are people willing to show others how to do those things.

 

Don’t miss out on the rest of this story.

Source: Just. One. Book. Thoughts from the Airport – Throwing Chanclas

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No Stress Zone

21 Jun

A Life to Live
Melody Hendrix

“Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they’ve started.”
– David Allen

“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
– William James

“Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it.”
– Hans Selye

“In times of great stress or adversity, it’s always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive.”
– Lee Iacocca

“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.”
– Winston Churchill

Take rest a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.”
– Ovid

 

 

Dawn Twilight on the River

 

 

I am retired and enjoying life. My hobbies are my 5 grandchildren, son and daughter, and my loving husband. I am a photographer and extreme nature lover. I love spending time in my garden or in the wilderness connected to God my Creator.
Melody

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