Flashback Friday....Turning One

Flashback Friday is One Year Old!
First Flashback Friday post
The Family...1970
Last Flashback Friday post
The Family...1982

I've enjoyed our walks down memory lane
Hope they bring a smile to your face

Even more exciting...Levi will soon be One Year Old!
Taken on Easter Sunday...the day we met.

I've never been more excited for a one year birthday.
After all this kid has been thru, he deserves a party!

Wednesday's Wonder...

Oscar Wonder

Bust a Move Monday....The Little Leaguer

Finally can say I lost a pound or three
only 100 to go to get back to my bad Little League self

Directions to here:
okay...don't really want to loose 100 pounds...'cause that freakishly large Vandercar head does not look right on a skinny body.

Oscar Home Work

Trying to catch up on my Oscar to do list so I can fill out my ballot.
What are your picks?
Play along at home here:
Oscar Home Work

Flashback Friday...Grandma Bryant

Her name was Florence.
Florence Genevive (Turner) Bryant.

I never met Grandma Bryant.
She died on Feb. 19, 1964 and I was born three months later in May.
I always have speculated that my bent toward the melancholy comes from being in the womb and absorbing the sorrow of my mom grieving for the loss of her mom.

Mom told be about her own February once.
We were on the way home from dialysis and she said it was snowing like this on the day her mom died.
I asked her when it was.
She said it was in February.
I asked if she knew it was coming.
She said that Grandma had been in the TB ward and Grandma Fern had visited and somehow knew that it would be soon.
I took a deep breath and asked her...how did you get thru it?
She said her famous line...you just do...one day at a time.
I held back the tears and gave a little sigh.
She gave me a sideways "it will be alright" smile.

The next February it was my turn.

I wish I had more memories and I wish I had asked more questions.

Perhaps you would be so kind as to tell me a few of yours.

My new LTR

Big News...
For those of you who have wondered when I'm going to settle down,
thought you'd like to know that I'm finally in a LTR (Long Term Relationship).
His name is Harris and we see each other about once a month.
I'm still getting used to the benefits and sacrifices of this type of commitment.
Here's a picture for you:








Directions to here:
Sandy says this makes me an adult!

Bust a move Monday...fore!

Flashback Friday...32 Valentine's ago

Valentine's Day 1976 Style !

All My Love...Then and Now

Happy Valentine's Day!

Will you be My Valentine?

Directions to here:

...and Happy Anniversary, Patty & Jeff !

Bust a Move Monday...Cousins

Think and fee the disco beat:

"Upside down, boy (brother, cousin) you turn me, inside out...and round and round"

God be with You 'til We Meet Again...

When the darkness appears

and the night draws near
And the day is past and gone
At the river I stand
Guide my feet,
hold my hand
Take my hand precious Lord,
lead me home

Flashback Friday...Our Circle of Strength and Love

This week.

It will forever remind me of the glue that began and continues to hold our family together.

Mom and Dad.

We speak of their strength and know that our circle of love started and grew from their lives.
It was their influence that made us the people we are today. It shaped our morals and instilled in us a love: for God, for them and for each other.

I wrote yesterday of mom's great desire to live and fight the good fight;
and yes, Mike, even as I typed out my story about talking to Levi about his great-grandma, I also thought I could have told him about the other fighter, who at such a young age endured horrors unspeakable and survived, never forgetting how lucky he was to be alive.

It was their faith, their spirit, their genes, who they were.
And we are the benefactors.

But listen.

It was because of you too.

Someone, and I can't remember who, once told me that mom had said that if she lived to see her kids (us 6) graduate from high school, she would be happy. I thought, really? It seemed like such a small goal, seeing that I drove her to several of her GRAND children's graduation ceremonies. (Hence, why I was so determined to get that picture of your kid with mom and dad).

Yes, my family.
Look at this picture...it was also, because of you.

Each and every one of you is what gave her the will to fight so hard to live.
And I know that these days, Dad might often seem somewhat lost...but now and then, I see that will to fight in Dad's when he focuses in and recognizes a face he knows and loves.

Yes, they were the original glue that started this circle that held us together.
But as the Good Book says...they reaped what they sowed.
They sowed love and strength to us and in the end...they gathered and still gather love and strength to run the race to the end.

This week.

It will forever remind me of the glue that began and continues to hold our family together.

Directions to here:
We are so dang blessed!

The Kid's Alright

Dear Reader,
Thank you for your prayers for my great nephew, Levi.

Not only does he have great taste in shoes,


but he also has great taste in genes.
Well, just as I'm sure he didn't actually pick out his cool shoes...he also didn't choose his genes. And with all the physical struggles he's endured one may wonder what's so great about his genes.

But let me tell you about a little conversation I had with the kid.

I don't get to see Levi very often.

But after he survived the scarey rush to the hospital incident after he stopped breathing, we were somewhere together and I got a chance to hold him; I quietly wisked him away for a little face to face time just between the two of us. He was wide eyed as I looked him in the eye and told him about his heritage and how he was the great grandson of someone who knew what it was like to have all kinds of physical problems but also knew how to put up a good fight and to be strong and to overcome pain and discomfort and to somehow be joyful in the midst it all. I told him that he was cut from that same fabric and that those genes were alive in him and that if he could just hold on and hang in there that those genes along with his family, our faith and the example of his great grandma and the care of our God could turn him into just as strong a fighter.

He didn't have much to say. He mostly just listened.
I think he smiled and maybe winked and we left it at that.
And as I paced back and forth I ended our conversation with a prayer for him.

So even though he didn't pick out his shoes...he's still cool enough to wear them.
And even though he didn't pick out his genes...he's still showing that he's related to and has the same spirit of one of the most spirited fighters I've ever known.

Keep fighting the good fight, Levi.

Directions to here:

Thank You God for taking care of Levi!

Please....

Pray for Levi

Directions to here:
Surgery today...all day...so please remember him and the family.

One more (Tues) Day

One More Day

Last night I had a crazy dream
A wish was granted just for me
It could be for anything
I didn't ask for money Or a mansion in Malibu
I simply wished, for one more day with you
One more day
One more time
One more sunset,
maybe I'd be satisfied
But then again
I know what it would do
Leave me wishing still,

for one more day with you

Bust a Move Monday...Sister Susie Style!

Oooo...la...la...!!!
The 7th grade (??) Twist Contest Champion

Directions to here:
"Shake it up, baby now...twist and shout!
Shake it up baby now...Work it on out!" (and off !)

"Are you Ready for some Football?"

Happy Super Bowling !!

Flashback Friday...The Bandits

Tom's memories of Grandma Fern (see previous post), reminded me of a few particular pictures in the family archive.

Perhaps these were taken on the very day of said "robbery."

Although Tom's not pictured he may have been behind the camera!
Or maybe this is just another one of the bandits "jobs"
(maybe when they robbed Aunt Iris)

Do you suppose Elden, the horse, was their "gettaway" plan?

Directions to here:
Yes, Sandy, more black and white photos that look like we grew up in the early 40's!