Flashback Friday...Twister

Back in January, I re-watched the movie Twister.
This was the third time seeing it.
The first was on the big screen in the theater...in which one of the key scenes involving a semi-truck, was ruined for me, due to loud talkers coming out of the theater.
The second time was watching it on a tiny screen with a wide-eyed South African named Heidi.
I remember after one of the first scenes with a tornado in it, she turned to me and said,
"this movie, where does it take place?"
I answered, "Oklahoma."
to which she asked with a little bit of fear in her voice,
"and this, (insert South African accent) Ok-la-ho-ma?, How far is it from In-di-an-a?"
I could tell there were certain American experiences that she was hoping not to partake.

But I'll tell you, after watching it the third time and then watching just a couple months later the REAL live heartbreak and destruction that this force of nature can bring....I'm not sure if I'll ever want to watch the movie again.

Especially after learning via Facebook that my family was undergoing the threat of dark skies last weekend.
I THANK GOD no one was hurt.
I am sad to see the pictures tho, especially the trees and the landscape that we grow so fond of seeing and enjoying. (see Sister Susie's FB folder named "Storm")

I was in Indy and missed the storm, so I have no first hand story.

And I knew that some day I would post the following pictures, but never knew or imagined or wanted to be linking this Flashback Friday to a current event.

I went thru this storm, I think. But have no memory of it...or first hand story. I believe I must have been cradled in someone's arms...and whoever you were, I thank you.
So, I'll just post the pictures with the captions that were written by my parents and brothers and sisters and I'll let your comments and your memories tell the story of the:

 It must have made quite an impression on these caption writers!

 Directions to here:
What do you remember about the Storm of '65?

Flashback Friday...a Long Line of Strong Circles.

I've been thinking about this one long before I wrote last Friday's story about Erin.

It's a hard one to write.

What I didn't tell you about meeting Erin was the complex emotions that swirled around in my head the whole time I was at the hospital.

Most delivery days are full of expectation, baby wonder, and hope.

I love the thought of being able to tell my nieces and nephews: "I was there the day you were born." and "I've known you your entire life."

I am in awe of those little lives that are less than hours old.

"Brand New" as mom used to laugh about. "Brand New Baby." I don't know why she got such a kick out of that phrase...but she did.

It's hard to comprehend what it means...to meet someone who has their entire lives are ahead of them and only minutes behind them.

When it meets the 24 hour mark, I often say: "you are 1 day old."

At the week: "you are 1 week old."

I love saying it, cause it is so special and will never happen again.

One of my favorite lines, from one of my favorite songs, from one of my favorite bands...says...

"I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself, to hold on to these moments as they pass...."
(counting crows, a long december).

That line has run through my head hundreds of times.
It was there when I said goodbye to someone I love with all my heart.
I heard it frequently when I watched my mom fight for her life, knowing that someday she was going to have to leave me before I was ready for her to go.
It is engrained in my head...it is on the soundtrack of my life. I try to live my life...aware that the moments are fleeting and that I need to hold on to them and experience every second of those moments that take our breath away.

But...in reality, we get busy.
We often don't know what moments we are going to wish we held onto. It's only after they pass by us that we remember and wish we would have been more present or had more moments.

And honestly it is a line that I mostly equate with inevitable endings, leavings, goodbyes and death...
Not at a baby's arrival into the world...where there are SO MANY moments ahead of them.....

That was, until I read the heartbreaking news that James and Shel found out at their last ultrasound.

That news followed me to the hospital and...


There I was, looking at Erin's tiny little face...

...and realizing...that even tho she has her whole life ahead of her...nothing....NOT ONE MOMENT....is guaranteed to us.
So, I held her and I held my breath at the same time....and just looked.

I tried to hold her and see her, really see her and study her like I would not ever see her again.

I tried to imagine not having many moments....and to really "Hold on to these moments as they pass."

And honestly, it was all a little too overwhelming...and I still don't know, How.

How.

How does one?

How will they?

I can only imagine that it will be like the story I told mom the night before her first dialysis treatment...of Corrie Ten Boom and her father .

That Grace will be there.
Not before.
But only and right when we need it.

Grace to help in time of Need.
(Hebrews 4:16)

That is the Truth I hear in my head, but in my heart...
I still wonder.

But when there are things I cannot fathom, I usually turn to my heroes and I look to and learn from the past. Our past.
I stop and say:
"what would my mom do?"
"What would my mom say?"

And in looking to our past.
Our family's past;
 I find that our family has had it's fair share of heartbreak when it comes to babies who have had far too few moments.

Even before Shel's news...

I noticed when I was reading the Kenney geneaolgy book...there had to have been a lot of sorrow and heartache for our ancestors.

I did not know that:

Aunt Lulu lost not one, but 3 infant babies. Her daughter Ruth lost her first born as well.
Uncle Guy Tilton's 2nd grandchild died at birth.
Aunt Phebe's first born died at one month old.
Uncle Ralph and Aunt Iris' first born died as a baby.

I did know that:

Grandma Bryant's first son died at one month.
And Aunt Gladys' 2nd girl, Barbara Gay, lived just one day.

I read these names and dates in the book that Ruby wrote and they look so simple in black and white type.

But, the sorrow, pain and untold stories that lie between the lines of those names is, to me, unfathomable.

Iris, Lulu and Phebe

But, they survived.
They made it through and lived and grieved and loved and laughed and I suppose, learned to "hold on to the moments as they passed."

How?

How did they?

Faith?
Grace?
Hope?
Love?

It appears that...

Our Family has been and is a Circle of Strength and Love
With every Birth and Union the Circle has and does grow
Every joy shared has and does add more love
Every crisis faced together has and does
make the Circle Stronger.

My intention in writing this is not to take away the wonderful joy of having a newborn in the family.
Continue to MARVEL and hope and ooh and ahh...away.
I am not trying to dwell on the past or fret for the near future.

It is simply to find a map.
A map for the great journey of life, no matter how long or how short our moments may be.
To know that someone in our family has been there before.
Our Mothers, Fathers, Grandmas, Grandpas, Brothers, Sisters, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins....have walked this road and survived. I don't know how, but they did.

I find great comfort in this and I can only hope and pray that it brings comfort and grace to help our family in time of need.

And remember, Hold on to those moments as they pass.

Flash....FORWARD Friday....

Yes.

Flash Forward.

I admit it.
Being a memory keeper, I spend a lot of time in Flash......back mode.

I am working on scanning my photos, mom and dad's photos, cousins photos, your photos.
I've read The Kenney book that Carl Kenney Jr. wrote and cross referenced it with Ruby's genealogy book and I am finally starting to wrap my head around these ancient photos, stories and crazy, related to each other 3 different ways, family.

I spend a lot of time thinking about people who are not with us anymore.
Walking thru the grave yards with Ruby was a sobering experience. At some point she turned and said "I know a lot of people here!" Sadly, she probably knows more people below ground than above ground.

And it made me want to cling to every moment I have in the present.

I have done a lot of wishing that I could have known more about our ancestors. And I'm trying to track down stories before it is too late. To keep those memories. And in so doing keep the memory of those people alive.

But the memory keeping is not just for those who have left us.
Yes, I hope they look down and are pleased that I am remembering them.
But, I've found that a very big part of being a memory keeper is not just in order to honor those who have gone on before us...but to preserve memories for those who will come after us.

To write it down, to tell the story, to take the picture, to save the picture, so that the little people who we spend our time with will have an idea of who we were.
Of how much we loved each other.
Of how much we loved them.
That THEY may look back and know who they are and who they come from.

It is with this AWESOME awareness...that I flash forward to the day that I tell Erin Elizabeth about the day she was born and how her Grandma and I changed her name 6 times on the way to the hospital to wait for her to be born.

"I don't know how Grandma Susie found out what your name was to be, because apparently your big brother, Drew knew your name, but was not telling anyone...no matter how much or with what your Uncle Bobby tried to bribe him. All he would talk about was "taking baby to the beach."
Anyway, we knew you were supposed to be a girl, and someone had told me that day that your mom and dad had picked out the name, Erin.

I was up from Indianapolis for your cousins, Adam and Ali's wedding shower...and I was VERY happy that you decided to make your birthday on a day that I was there!

There was Sunshine when we left the shower and got to the farm. But then it turned very Windy and the clouds started to roll in as well as Uncle Bobby, who was on the tractor planting corn. Grandma Susie was hustling me along, trying to get to the hospital before it turned Stormy.

We got in the car before the Rain started, but it really let loose as we headed up Colorado. Of course this didn't slow Grandma Susie down and as we flew over the hills in Southeast Grove, I thought of your Great Grandma Helen, who grew up and played in this Grove and I wondered if, while playing with her baby doll, she ever imagined having a real live doll, let alone 3 generations of babies : )

By the time we turned west to cross over to the nine mile stretch, the sky was looking pretty scary. Even tho there was still Sunshine ahead of us the sky behind us looked like it had turned into night. And that's when the Hail started to hit.

Now, hail is pretty scary when you are safe inside, but with your Grandma not slowing down and lightening and thunder all around, it was pretty crazy having that hail fall and hit our windshield head on, but your Grandma was on a mission and kept right on driving. I turned into my mom, your Grandma, and started quoting her "oooh. I don't like this lightening!"

By the time we reached the hospital, the hail had stopped, but it was still pouring Rain, but never fear, we used our umbrellas that we had just received as favors at the wedding shower.

We made our way up to where your mom and dad were walking the halls, trying to coax you to hurry up and make your appearance.
By the time we settled into the waiting room...we looked out the window and we were back to SUNSHINE.

So, little girl. As you can see you were a child of the Elements!
Your crazy Aunt Nancy suggested changing your name to "Sunshine" or "Windy" or "Stormy" or "Rain" or "Hailey" because you went thru all those to get to us on that "Spring" day that you joined our family.

Fortunately for you, no one listens to crazy Aunt Nancy and they stuck with Erin.
And I have to admit when I met you and you were just 40 minutes old, Erin was a perfect fit.

Now, you take that memory and keep it and tell it to your child on the day your first grand baby is born. And don't forget your umbrella...you never know what might happen on the way to the hospital!"

Directions to here:

Write it down, take a picture, record it all. BACK UP YOUR HARD DRIVE!!! Keep those memories!

Flashback Friday...High School Sweethearts

Tipping my hat to the Keeper of the Stars

and to these two High School Sweethearts!

Happy 10th Anniversary 

Luke & Tammy

Mother's Day

Some people imagine heaven is where streets are paved with gold.

Forget the gold, I'll just be happy to see her waiting for me on this porch...just like in life.

I love and miss you mom.

every.single.day.of.my.life.

Flashback Friday...Egg Hunt

Dozens of Eggs...

Loads of Candy...

Egg Hunt at Mom & Dad's

Egg Hunt at the Haydens

Egg Hunt at the Moores

 Kids with Grandma Fern after an Egg Hunt at the Lowell Nursing Home

Egg Hunts at the Vandercars

  Want to know what Bob Vandercar as a child might have looked like hunting Eggs? Here you go:

Drew spots an egg in those shoes!

.....and years of cuteness!!!!

Flashback Friday...Baby Fern & Baby Deandra

Here is the answer to last weeks question:

You can find Baby Fern in the right bottom corner.

It looks like someone took a blue pen and circled her face.

But here's the rest of the shot, just to make it easier for you.

I wanted to get a "Welcome to the World" picture of Baby Deandra posted on here, but I am years behind on this blog.
I also have pictures from her Baptism last Sunday, where she was pretty happy to get baptized. This picture is afterward and she's pretty mad and hungry in this picture, but as soon as I saw her Baptismal gown, I knew that I would put this picture of Baby Fern and Baby Deandra together for

  "Today's Yesterday" 

which, yes, Susie, I know I'm behind on that as well.

Life moves too fast for blogging.

Flashback Friday....Baby Fern

This Flashback Friday is a episode of "Where's Waldo," er, um...I mean, Grandma Fern.

Can you spot 

Baby Fern?

Hint...if you look closely...it looks like she's already been identified.

And speaking of being identified....I'm looking for anyone who remembers or has info about this photo studio in Lowell:

Does anyone know the who, what, where, when history of this business, photo studio or photographer? It would have been the late 1800's early 1900's. I want to know where it was and who E.H. Handley was, what became of the business and if any relatives remain.

Ok. You all know me. Honestly, I want to know what happened to the archives and negatives.

Also, Vilmer Studio and Hayward Studio in Crown Point.

Directions to here:
Ask any old timer you know and report back!!!!
And stay tuned for the full portrait that will identify Baby Fern!

Flashback Friday................dance with nance debuts in Columbus.

The Farmer Takes a Wife......Happy Ten!

There are Golden Birthdays.

Are there such as thing as "golden anniversaries?" 

well, I guess that would be the "50th"...but these two are well on their way.

Happy Tenth March 10th to Matt and Chari!

Flashback Friday....George's day.

I had my "President's Day" holiday not long ago. I didn't get it on the actual "President's Day," but had what I call a "rebate" holiday...a day off on a day different than the actual holiday.

Now, I've been told that anyone a little older than me remembers the time before there was a "President's Day."

The generic, always on a monday, "President's Day" holiday is a fairly new version of an old holiday. You can read the official history here, but the long and short of it, is that the government stepped in and lumped two birthdays/holidays together and moved it to a monday. My older and wiser brothers and sisters can probably tell you these two birthdays belong to

President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln. They might even be able to tell you the exact dates.

All I could have told you was that it was a day to honor Our Presidents.

Anyone younger would probably say it's a day/weekend to shop and/or get a deal on a car.

But if you talk to someone as old and wise as Aunt Gladys West, you might hear something about this holiday that you never knew before!

According to Aunt Gladys, Grandpa George (Vandercar) was originally supposed to be named Grandpa Raymond (Vandercar). But when he decided to make his way into the world on February 22 (George Washington's Birthday), Albert and Hattie decided to name him George Ray instead.

And that, as Paul Harvey would say...."Is the rest of the story."

Directions to here:

Time will only tell what stories the littlest ones will say about George Washington's/President's Day/Grandpa George's Birthday. But hopefully, this will help them keep the old stories alive.