These pictures were made before the ladies
got here, I think she put these on here to
make you homesick. You will think that
my operator got carries away with the
razor blade, pretty short. Natali made a
plate of her baked egg white drops and
I can't leave them alone. Since you are
the only one who looks and comments
we will say have a great trip to NY and
enjoy Kates 24th.

OUR DASH ! Number 1

Actually, Leonard and I did not know

each other when we were little. I just

became so good with my computer

(with a little help from grandson) that

I took him out of a picture with his two

brothers and put him right in that

little red wagon where Dot had been.

Our parents knew each other and his parents

were always held in highest esteem by

my parents. Leonard came from a

wonderful home, for which I continue

to thank God. I loved his parents just as I

did my own. I visited in their home

on most date nights, because his father

operated a dairy barn and he had to

help there at night. He would rush in,

change his clothes, go to the barn

with his father, and do his chores. Then he

would rush back to the house, shower, dress, then

off we would go on our date. He did his

thing, then we had to do mine. It was

off to the evening worship service.

How I thank God for these four won-

derful people who gave us life, tended us during

formative years, then supported

us in our marriage...Well, it lasted

60 1/2 years!

This picture made in Auburn, Ky at

my grandmother's, just five weeks

before we married.

What a wonderful, handsome man I

married. The one that God had

selected for me long before we, the

little three and five year old children in the wagon,

were even born.

His dash was completed 12/8/05.

Ms Catherine turns 99 years young!

Catherine Pyle Rowland

18475 Kiely Drive, Apt 512

Chesterfield, MI 48047

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

On July 27th we will, with boldness, wonder and
expectation, greet you, Catherine Pyle Floyd Rowland

and send our love to you on this great occasion. We look

back to all that was good yesterday and in hope, face forward,

ready for today. We proclaim that:

Wherein Catherine has been a member of the Floyd Family for

(long enough).

Wherein Catherine has been the oldest member of the Floyds;

Wherein Catherine has recieved every award for oldest attendee;

Wherein Catherine has attended all reunions since the beginning;

Wherein Catherine has brought with her, her wonderful children;

Wherein Catherine always has her wonderful smile;

Wherein Catherine gives us the greatest outlook on life possible;

Wherein Catherine will be 99 years old on April 24, 2008;

We proclaim the 2008 Floyd Family Reunion, the Catherine Pyle

Floyd Rowland day.

We salute you Catherine and the entire Rowland Family who will

be celebrating this great milestone birthday. Perhaps you should

start practicing for 2009, I can hardly wait.

Making Time for God...

Let me show you what Merry and I did when she last visited...

Using colored file folders, glue, scissors, a small sharp knife, a cutting board and an inexpensive, large-print paperback NIV Bible (about $13.00 when ordered from the International Bible Society), we divided the Bible up into six smaller books (Merry had permission from her pastor) so to make it easier to spend time with God. His word being our greatest gift, we decided to spend more time getting to know the author! We study our Bibles in various classes but these little easy-to-hold and read books are just for our pleasure. Our goal is to read the Bible through like a novel.

Thought I would share how we did it with you, in case you too want you very own set!

<----Your supplies




(The hard part!) Gently remove the cover from your NIV Large Print Bible.---->




<---With a sharp knife and one hard, smooth stroke, cut your Bible into sections.




We used these section selections:

1. The Five Books
*(Genesis through Deuteronomy)
Origins of the Jewish race and culture.

2. Old Testament History Books
*(Joshua through Esther)
Continued history of the Israelites. They moved into the land of Canaan and established a kingdom that lasted almost 500 years.

3. Book of Poetry
*(Job through Song of Songs)
These books concentrate on questions about pain, God, life and love. 4. Book of the Prophets *(Isaiah through Malachi) During the years when Kings ruled Israel and Judah, God spoke through prophets. Their primary role was to call God's people back to Him.

5. New Testament History Books
THE GOSPELS OR THE GOOD NEWS
*(Matthew through Acts)
Four accounts of the life of Jesus and the good news he borough to earth. Each of these books has a different focus and a different audience.

6. The Letters
*(Romans through Philemon [Paul's letters]
and
Hebrews through Revelation [other letters])
The young church was nourished by apostles who set down their beliefs and messages in a series of letters. First 13 such letters written by Paul who led the advance of Christianity to non-Jewish people.

*************************************************************************

Once you have divided the Bible into sections, fold the scored line of your file folder, making a 1/4" pocket that will hold the text. With folder folded, measure and cut along the length of the folder, then flatten, measure and cut along the width. Our measurements were 9 1/4 x 6 1/4, but that will depend on the size of your Bible.

Title each section with the above suggested information (or any titles you prefer). Run a line of glue down the center of each folder, between the two creased lines. Align the spine of each section with the glue and prop up between two supports (we used cans) until glue is completely dry (at least six hours or overnight).



I could hardly wait for mine to dry. I've started with the New Testament, and I'm already on Chapter 20! What a wonderful project to do with my daughter. Great idea, Merry! :)

We Raise our Voices in Grateful Praise for Family

For the pleasure of seeing the great provision, for the pleasure of hearing other voices and music, for the delight of knowing - feeling this blessing of family, for the pleasure of laughter and gathering us in families: I praise.

This is the blending of all experiences into - the excitement we call life;

For this I raise my voice in grateful praise, for all my children.

Merry and I enjoyed cooking a meal for Judy and Lou, after seeing a dozen or so patients at her backbreaking job, we knew it would be great if she didn't have to heat up the peanut butter when she got home.

You have all experienced it, around the kitchen table at Mom's house.

Merry and I are working on our "Time with God" Bibles and all the other stuff we can squeeze in and as always grateful for our times together.

My brother Edsel, Mr. Watertown

Driving through Watertown the other day, I looked up and on the
side of Watertown's newest store, I saw this sign. "THE LIFE OF
MY WONDERFUL BROTHER." From school days, service in the
Army, courting and marriage to my beautiful sister-in-law, Margie.
Alderman, Mayor, Post Master, Banker, a part of Watertown Fire
Department, and once again with Margie at the naming of the
Edsel Cordell Floyd Bridge, earlier this year. A few words of my
own; Friend to all, Perfect result of our parent's upbringing, A Joy,
Dependable, On the go, Deep in his world of doing, Faithful, Mr.
Watertown, avid fisherman, and A Tiger to the core. ...MY BROTHER
Was easy on the eyes, too. I love you sweetheart! Queenie

Bill Shults is the owner of the market in Watertown and our family
salutes him for keeping memory alive in our home town.

A Reason To Celebrate!

(Click the dialog box, in left corner of screen, for comments.)

….and I was there too, eating the good food, listening to the music and the

chatter and wishing to be there for the 50th year anniversary celebration! It can be done, you know.

Nana, the Queen

My Friend and Helper, LILLY

About thirthsomething years ago I said "How about some
help around this house, Lord. I need your help to make
homemaking a shared endeavor rather than a "Mom's
Motel". That evening at the dinner- discussion table and in the kitchen afterward with the new cleanup crew, Leonard
and Me, he allows that he knew just who I needed. He took
me to see "Lilly". We knew immediately we were meant to
be together, side by side at least two days a week. After
my friend, Waltyne, became in a worse shape than I, I offered to let Lilly go to her house on one of my days.. This was only after she promise not to love her more than she did me. She and I are almost the same age, and I beg her every
day to hold on as long as I do. The only difference in Lilly
and I is that you have to pay her to stay at home and you
have to pay me to go anywhere.
During all these years around the Patton home, Lilly taught
grandaughter Abby the blessings of home cleaning and at the
age of 19 Abby formed her own housecleaning business called
"Maid for You Cleaning". Abby cleans about 20 homes each
week including three or four Kindergartens. She has done
this through college.
We love to shop together, to go somewhere and eat together,
and we love to share our children with each other. We start
every Wednesday with breakfast and prayer.
We are having old ham in the morning, Lilly.
God bless you ...........and me!

Easter and the hope of Spring...

THOUGHTS ABOUT EASTER

by Gwen

When has there not been a Little Patton child
to hunt eggs? Tomorrow will be a first. I think

Mickenna, Jacob, Todd and Casey will be the

young ones here. All four of these boys are

taller than I. Our little ones, and also the older

ones change with the season, but the reason for

celebrating this day will never change. I just

pray great blessing upon each family that has

branches out from the LOP Family. When you

look around you today, know the blessing of

seeing God in every smiling face. Reflect that

blessing in your own eyes, silently with a kind heart.

Meet Esther the Easter Bunny

We know He died for us.

We enjoyed going to

church at the home

church in Watertown

on Sunday. Polly invited us to lunch and she had

a beautiful lunch. Of

course she has a cook.

I found my nephew

taking care of all my needs. Pollys two

beautiful daughters,

Michelle and Nicholle. Nicholle in pink is her

cook. Another favorite of

mine Keith, husband of
Michelle. can't believe

it but Polly actually cooked that great dinner.

Mike serving his plate with his wife not far behind.

Was such a wonderful time for our family, to all

attend church once again together. Nicholle certainly

filled our hearts with a great sense of worship. Her

solo was the greatest. I believe it was "I Believe He

Died for me. Was wonderful Nicky.

Kirill's Big Day

Well Kirill had a big day this past Friday at 3:00PM California time when he and Lena Crylova became Mr. & Mrs. Kirill Nikilayev. Natali and I are pleased to add this new member to our family. We are hoping to bring them home for a few days before Kirill leaves in Mid-March for a sea tour on the USS Ronald Reagan.

Here are a few picture of the happly couple....

BUILDING BRIDGES, NOT WALLS

• 
  
  

  A few weeks ago I ask the question "Where did the years go?" " Where did my youth go?", "Where did my babies go?.A good friend of my sister, Paulette, found them. Now aren't they precious? I am not sure but they were probably 2 -3 -4 and 5. What fun I had growing up with my precious children. They are still the wind beneath my wings. I was young and from that day to this, I trusted God to bless my youthful drive to risk making bad choices. He did bless me with children who honored me then and now. I thank Him that he gave me ears to listen, a shoulder to lean on, or cry on, and the good sense to build bridges, not walls. My girls still think I am one of them. The little boy with dark hair was a little friend, Ricky Driver.

WE ALWAYS LET MIKEY DO IT!

Gwen Frances, Dorothy Dean, Mary Susan and Mikey

I love the sound of bells. The church bell reverberated throughout our little town with

urgency. It is energy, it is enthusiasm. it is noise! OH! I have just described ONE of my

favorite nephews. I have just described my nephew that, needless to say

loves me. Last September he took me, along with my sister, and his wife on a great

excursion of the old town of Charlotte, stacking us away at a National Historic Landmark,

Middleton Place just out of Charlotte. He and his wife saw to it that we saw all the lovely

landmarks, especially dolphins, and great food. Just last week he came to the Boro and

picked me up and took me to the Gaither Concert in Nashville. Just September, 2006

they took me along with them to historic Savannah. He always knows the right places

to eat, including Paula Deens. I am pictured here with my sister on that trip in 2007,

at the age of 80 and 81 Also pictured with her in a red

Wagon in 1929 at two and three. My phone rang today and when I answered, you won't

believe, my favorite baseball player Javy Lopez was on the phone. My nephew stood

in line waiting to dial me at just the right moment. I talked to Javy.

Anyone can put on a coat of paint to cover up the weathered passing of years, but

this one needs no paint. He is who he is, thank God for the Gift.

When the Coffee Perks...

Last Wednesday night my sister-in-law, Geraldine, called and asked me and my guest to dinner. Merry was spending a few days with me and we were just delighted to visit Geraldine in her home in LaVergne.

One of the first things that we observed in the kitchen, heavenly scented with home cooking, was her old fashioned coffee pot, perking on the stove. We knew, then, that we were in the friendly atmosphere of family.

Freshly perked coffee, from a stove top pot, runs deep in the veins of the Patton family. A shiny chrome pot sits waiting to be used by Natali and Hugh, Judy and Louis, and Merry and Terrence, as well as Betty when she was with us. Many good conversations have been had over a steaming cup of java that was perked to perfection. After years of drinking the dark golden brew, it stands to reason that we like our coffee very hot and fresh (and me, full to the brim)!

1) Geraldine's pot...Merry's pot...and of course my pot!

Yes, when the coffee is perking, you know something good is about to happen. Life slows down, people sit and visit for a while...or maybe even when you are alone, a morning paper is waiting to be read. There are lots of fancy coffee pots out there today, but I wouldn't take anything for that old stove top percolator, and I know a few others who feel the same way.

Thank you Geraldine, for the visit, the wonderful dinner, and for the cup of hot coffee with warm conversation.