Once a Queen, always a queen. (In school I was called Queenie).
I am an 80 year old great grandmother who adores her family and loves learning new things.
With heartfelt emotion, trying to keep tears from spilling over I observed once again, what I have been privileged to observe for three quarters of a century plus eight years.Down through those years I have always felt the driving force of these wonderful children.They keep me going, they keep me happy, because of that wealth of tenderness that they store in my heart, it makes my life so sweet and bearable. This day was made so sweet with the presence of my three children, my beautiful daughter-in-law, one of my grand's Rob, and my soul-mate and sister-in-law, Geraldine. Just can't wait for 84.
Grandson, Rob
Leonard's beautiful sister. Gerry
Cooks and Cleaners Thanks!
The greatest gift, a Kindle, I read 78 pages last night! I loved it, my wonderful children. You're like a ray of sunshine that gives life a warm touch -- And that's the special reason why you are loved so very much - - My birthday was filled with delight and pleasant surprises from morning to night - - - What a Royal celebration !
I had a need for someone to love me To teach me of life, and Heaven above me. Someone to comfort, encourage, protect me To laugh with and tease me and gently direct me.
Now that she's gone and I'm turning gray too All the more evident is my need for you You were always there to share in my joy Whether with my girls, or my little boy And you were there too when my eyes filled with tears Showing your great wisdom and calming my fears.
I thank you today for your tender touch For your prayers and your love that meant so much For in this big world there will never be another Who magnifies Jesus to me more than my Dear Mother
Sunday, May 23, 2010
I AM EXPECTING !! My eleventh great-grandchild. Along with that eleven I have been given an awesome opportunity to call five more my Greats, too. Adalyn will be the third little girl and we are all waiting patiently for her arrival. This afternoon a few of Tonya's friends gave her a shower to which I was invited, along with about eighteen other ladies. How wonderful it is to have such excitement at this time of my life. Matthew and Tonya are going to make such perfect parents to Adalyn. The nursery waits patiently for someone to lay this little bundle in that new beautiful bed. Her closet is filled with little clothes, and the mother and dad couldn't be happier. May God continue to bless the three of you.
These were our years, every one wonderful. Even the declining years.
PAPA I remember when you walked In autumn Across the mountains, Alongside the streams that seep Out of the rocks where one hill cleaves To another, Your silver hair tangled in the clouds you Were bigger than mountains.
Even then, muffled by our shuffles through The painted autumn ruffles on the ground The sound of your blood was A hammer Welding wings On the anvil of your soul I do not mean that you were old Or you were dying then But that your spirit knew of Flying then long before your feet ever Left the ground.
I hope I paid enough respect To your trains in the basement. I think I was properly awed by the careful details of Your creation But perhaps I should have Paid more attention To the ways you made Electricity Because your spark is still keeping the lamps lit In our hearts.
Once you drove me to the farm in your truck And even though it was just the two of us You let me sit in those funny little -girl sized seats in the back But eventually I had to crawl forward to investigate The emergency candy in the glove compartment. I ate it With grave seriousness Then we sang along to radio songs {Though neither of us knew the words so we both made up baselines: bum-bum, bum-bum,bum-bum..}
I'll miss you throned under the gilded tree With your Queen Surrounded by mountains Of gifts like Father Christmas But like Father Christmas Omniscient you are ever-present and benevolent And I believe in you.
I chaperoned these Seniors on a fun trip to Jackson, TN to see Jeannie Robertson. Also on the program was Carl Hurley. It was a very rewarding trip. These Seniors always make me feel good. We took a little sack lunch and ate while driving down and stopped in Dickson for a nice meal on the way home. My friend, Nancy, went along and I had a nice arm to hang on to. Pam Pilot, our Director for Seniors, was our Pilot. Pam did an excellent job and our thanks to her and our church for the trip. It is so much fun to be a senior.
The four beautiful ladies above are part of what made my 28 years at the courthouse so pleasing. These old girls continue to include me in lots of their outings, especially at Christmas time. Today Maxine picked us up one by one and took us to Manchester to a great Tea Room for lunch. You can imagine our car rocked all the way there and back again. During those years, work was where we, as young women, spent most of our time. Some of us almost 20 to 30 years, thank goodness most of the time was joyous, and what a blessing to be one of a creative, caring unit. Thanks to these four, who lifted morale and provided momentum to do more and do it better! May the memories of this place, these bonds, nourish me tomorrow. It is OK to be sad it is over! Thank you, Lord for bringing back the joy today. Yes ! we need to feel it again now and then!
I know that my children were hand selected by God, and I praise him every day for each of them. What a wonderful day I had with them and their families yesterday. Leonard and I always thought they were the wind beneath our wings, he would be delighted that they are still just that for me. I wish I could picture each one here, but I can't, but I am picturing my Head Chef. Ken and his family went to the first of five services at their church, at seven thirty o'clock, They were here early and what a help they were. Ken took care of all lifting and cooking over the stove. Anna took care of deviled eggs. Casey took care of the egg hunt. All 28 never stopped until the last plate was washed and put away in the proper place. Every table and chair was back in the basement. For this I am grateful. Did not stop with my children but their children also. LETS DO IT AGAIN !
Last week on Tuesday night my siblings and I lost our last Uncle on both my mothers or dad's side of the family. His lovely sister had passed away late last year. They were my fathers sister and brother. The above picture was when Aunt Lillie celebrated her 90th birthday. She was in Nursing home in Merietta. and Merry who lives in Atlanta went out and got her and brought her to her home in Atlanta. My brother, Ken, sister, Polly and Uncle Jim drove down for her birthday. I believe we did this three times last year and I treasure those days with Uncle Jim. He was not sick, just had pain in chest after he lay down for the night. We ask that God will wrap his arms around his wife and son and daughter during the difficult days ahead. He was a devoted family man. We were told that he took Aunt Mary Ann flowers every week. He will be missed.
Children's children are a crown to the aged And parents are the pride of their children. The glory of young men is their strength, Gray hair the splendor of the old. Gray hair is a crown of splendor; It is attained by a righteous life.
written by her son, my precious grandson, in her memory.
She took him home from the hospital at four days
old, and he has been a joy in our lives since.
Matthew Willard Engl. 1010K Professor Ford February 4, 2010
“When I Get Where I’m Going”
Songs in ones life have an impact that influences them in one-way or another. The way these songs make an impact vary in numerous ways such as, a child hood memory, a time and place or special person in their life. Many songs have a great capability to bring all these emotions back to someone and may cause happiness, tears, or maybe just the recollection of another place and time.
The duet by Brad Paisley and Dolly Parton, “When I Get Where I’m Going” was a song that I had heard many times on the radio. This song always found a way to hit my heart and stir emotions that I never felt before. It wasn’t until the passing of my mother that this song found an apparent stronghold on my soul and brought into my life, a new way that I perceive the passing of a loved one. When we lose someone who means the world to us, we frequently find ways we can remember them in our daily lives by our surroundings such as pictures, trinkets, and in this case, a song.
Many country songs nowadays often talk about similar situations that lead to the same point. In this case, a picture is depicted in our minds of what the end will look like once we are reunited with the ones we’ve lost and so dearly miss. Whenever I here this song now, I automatically think of my mother and how she left this world long before it was her time. Once the melody hits my ears, I know what thoughts will soon develop and replay over in my head.
Thinking back to the last time I saw my mother in the airport terminal as we said our goodbyes before I left to serve in the military overseas is the first memory to play out. With eyes overflowing with tears of a mournful goodbye, I did my best to drown out the loud and discerning babble of the overly crowded terminal. With my time to leave finally upon me, I found myself looking to where I once stood so close to my mother and father as I made my way to my departure gate through the midst of scurrying soon to be passengers. Once my parents were out of my line of sight, the last memory I have of my mother weeping because of her son leaving, always hits me the hardest. I was leaving for a three-year tour in England, but would seem like an eternity, which a few months later became reality. At the time of my absence I came to know what my mother had already known, that it was time for me to get where I was going in life, and her tears were those of a proud mother who’s tear soaked face would be my last visual encounter of her.
October 31st, 2002, was an event that has not yet to this day, become easier to cope with. “When I Get Where I’m Going” had not yet been released by this date. In 2005, Brad released his album, “Time Well Wasted”, which included this memorable song, that from time to time, finds its way into my ears and reminds me that just because I have been parted from my beloved mother, we shall be reunited in a place that God has set for us. Then those dreadful memories will be nothing but.
In the opening lyrics, the song’s title words are the first to be sung. The words portrayed in the chorus are so eloquently put together and heart felt, that they would touch anyone who hears it.
The chorus is as follows;
“Yeah, when I get where I’m going, I’ll cry only happy tears, I will share the sins and struggles I have carried all these years, and I’ll keep my heart wide open, I will love and have no fear, yeah when I get where I’m going, don’t cry for me down here.”
These words that I have heard time and time again shows me that we need not cry tears of sadness when a loved one has left us. Instead, live life headstrong, full of love and when the time comes for us to leave this world, the reunion with our nearest and dearest will be like nothing we have ever contemplated. Brad sings of the pain and darkness that this world beholds for us as our lives travel through it. This world, without our loved ones, can contain a greater deal of darkness and sometimes feel impossible to navigate.
It may feel difficult, and every now and again, hopeless to try to deal with the loss of a loved one. We need not let this tragedy hold us back from what they would have us do. The lyrics “don’t cry for me down here.” let us know that their passing is to come it is that of a better place. This song contains different analogies that can help one who hears it be aware that their loved ones passing is not the end. Many times throughout the year, there are a multitude of occasions when my mothers passing is more difficult to deal with than other days. Mothers Day, her birthday, and even Christmas are holidays, which just don’t have the same meaning without her presence. Of course these days were not meant only for me, but without her here, they will never be the same, and some are not celebrated the same without her.
This song is not heard but maybe a couple of times a month, and when it does play on the radio, I think back to the wonderful woman who I knew loved me so much to give me a life I would have never known had she and my father not adopted me. The fact that my mother was able to give me the life I wouldn’t have had otherwise, is such a major reason, but not the only, I miss her so deeply. I now relate this song to her memory in a way that I know would suit it best. She would not have me morn, but rather keep that beloved memory alive with the life she lived and all the lives she touched.
This song by Brad Paisley, since it’s release, has made an impact on my life that will remain with me forever. The detail of the lyrics is just enough to paint a picture in my mind of the better place where I know my mother now resides. Those of us that believe in that better place realize that even though we have lost, we shall regain, and the tears of sadness once shed, will be wiped away forever! I can’t say that this song is my all time favorite song, but the meaning it has to me is one of someone who was and still is one of my favorite people, which cannot be replaced by anything that this world has to offer. No song can ever replace the feelings that my mother has given me, but “When I Get Where I’m Going”, always helps to remind me that the day will come when we shall be reunited forever.
I believe that everyone, regardless of what genre of music they enjoy, should hear this song at least once. They then may realize that many songs in country music can be attributed to real life and how it can be related to some part of their lives whether it is a loss, a gain, or just a memory that maybe had been completely forgotten about.
To all who come to face the loss of someone special, the remembrance of their life and the better place they are, is what should be embraced everyday.
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