Interstate Seniors 2011

Memories are made of this...
1st pic, R. J. and Mincie Carnley, 2nd Bob Whitmore, special
friend of Frank and Nancy Bussey playing
a great accordion while old timers Johnnie Eubanks and
Kyle Heath sing. 3rd Home Office rep. J. R.Griffin points at
the singers.
Click to enlarge pictures and see Billie Ransom who was a
traveling cashier and often in the Murfreesboro Office. Billy
in white and beside her our leader Nancy Bussey.
Mr. Eubanks was District Manager at Murfreesboro
District Office several years. Mr. Eubanks claims
to be 90. Still singing as good as ever.

                                                                 Retirement...so soon?
                                        Leonards retirement party at local restaurant in 1986.
                                             With the two best cashiers in the Company,
                                               Nancy Northcutt and Sarah Allen Jenkins.

Retirement party for Leonard given by the two cashiers at Sarah and

Walter Jenkins' home.

Nancy Northcutt and I really enjoyed this trip to

Hawassee, Ga.

Our spring meeting will be in St.Augustine.

Many brownie points to Nancy Bussey for all the efforts

she put into this successful gathering.

Always Passing it Forward...

My life is made so much sweeter, as well as easier, because of the lovely acts of kindnesses received from the people that love me.  Over and over again, I have been over-whelmed at such generosity and affection.

Indulge me as I take a moment to say thank you all for your gifts.  Your time, your love, your encouragement, your shopping trips, your fixing skills, your fish tank cleaning, your sewing skills, your house cleaning, your evening meals, your computer repairs, your phone calls, your emails, your taxi rides, your Mona a-vie deliveries, your Christmas decorating, your violin playing, your hair styling, your trash can emptying and on  and on and on!  How could I live without you!

As you have passed it forward, may it all come back to you, a hundred times fold.  As for me, all I can say is, thank you, thank you, thank you with all my heart.

The pictures are from Merry, she took them when Louis delivered the paper, breakfast, beautiful vine ripe tomatoes (from his early morning Farmer's Market excursion) and Judy sent a text (so as not to wake me!) letting us know it was on the front porch.  She says this doesn't happen much in Atlanta.  I know I am blessed! 

The Floyd Family meet again...

14TH ANNUAL

 FLOYD FAMILY REUNION, 2011

THEME: 1950's

 Commerce Cumberland Presbyterian Church

There was a time in our country that every special event was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, the singing of our National Anthem and a prayer before every meal.  These things have never been lost in the Floyd family.  They are still done and still valued.  It was a powerful way to open our time together.

God Bless America!

 Two of our costume winners!

Wonderful, special music by Nicholle Bagnall, Mike Headrick and Hugh Patton.

Topics for program features:

Family Sharing - Bill Floyd, Michigan

Demonstration of Wood Carving - Chris Floyd, Michigan

"Mint to Do" list by Peggy Cariasco, Il. (Terrific games, too!)

Remembering Mama - Susan Harvey Headrick (so touching and sincere)

Program Coordinators - Paulette Floyd Dorris and

Kenneth Floyd (Thank you for all you do!)

Wonderful 1950's Lunch of Hamburgers, Hot Dogs and

Banana Splits (Yum!)

and THEN...

"Elvis is in the Building!"

A very exciting show by Kevin Roberts had the house rocking

and rolling.

Teaser...

"Elvis has left the building"

Games, gifts and well prepared food, speeches and heartfelt sharing dominated this year's reunion.  I didn't make it back to day 2 of the Floyd Family Reunion but if you, like Peggy, and "tried to give us something wonderful, so we would never forget you"...you succeeded!

*A very special thanks to Terry, Janet, Steve and Susan for their hard, efficient, excellent work in the kitchen  preparing lunch. 

Love to all until the next time we meet!

A sweet visit from the Sabonis-Chafee family...

Like a flash my granddaughter and her family burst into the house with smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts, all just to give love to me.  They were here for only 24 hours, but boy were those hours packed with activity!  It all started with the lunch from Whitts, then before I could get up from the table, Kim (my granddaughter) and Andrew (my 14 year old great grandson) were busy making casseroles to stock my freezer.  Tom (Kim's husband) was turning the mattress and pulling the wrinkles out of the huge living room while Emily and William helped where they could.


Andrew brought me a puzzle book.  Emmy made for me really cute artwork with the word Nana; she also left a sweet letter before leaving.  William and I played a game where he said a word and I had to say something about it...for instance:   


                         He:   Peanut Butter

                         Me:  Sometime it is on Crackers called Eat-a-Snack

                         He:   Some people can't eat it. ( I thought that was very smart.)

                         Me:  Papa loved it.

It went on and on and we had a wonderful time and for a few moments, the blessings overcame the discomfort I feel most of the time.  That's twice this month I have been blessed by my Atlanta family, first Mike (a grandson, Kim's brother) and his family (see post below).  I have been graced with a loving, caring family, not only in other southern cities nearby but right here in Murfreesboro.  

Thank you, Sab-Cha's (that's what the children's friend call them at school) for giving of yourselves.  My cup runneth over with love.  

My beautiful brother and his bride!

Though the memories and

photos of your wedding day

may fade with time,

Your love for one another

continues to shine brightly

with each new day.

Congratulations on

Your wedding anniversary.

Love always protects,

always trusts, always hopes,

always perseveres.

1 Corr 13:7

God bless you today and for all the days to come!

Our Song

Love songs are never out of date...

Once again I was touched by love when my dear friend and neighbor came through the back door, violin in hand  and played the perfect song in celebration of what would have been Leonard's and my 66th wedding anniversary.  She played it once before as I danced around the floor, with the love of my life, at our 50th Anniversary Party; with all our friends and family looking on.  Both times I will never forget.  What a precious gift, "our song" played fresh and new right here in my kitchen where Leonard and I spent so many years of our lives.

Thank you Susan, from the bottom of my heart...and 

Happy Anniversary, Darling, my memories are perfect...so

Play it again, Sam

You must remember this

A kiss is just a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.

The fundamental things apply

As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo

They still say, "I love you."

On that you can rely

No matter what the future brings

As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs

Never out of date.

Hearts full of passion

Jealousy and hate.

Woman needs man

And man must have his mate

That no one can deny.

It's still the same old story

A fight for love and glory

A case of do or die.

The world will always welcome lovers

As time goes by.

Oh yes, the world will always welcome lovers

As time goes by.

Again, thank you, Susan, for the dance.


{And thank you, Lord, for giving me a fourth daughter
right next door.}

Visits from #1 Grandson and beautiful family

I had such a great surprise last Friday when I got a call

from my Grandson in Atlanta saying his family would

be attending the U2 concert in Nashville and on

the way they wanted to stop and have a little

visit with  me. Children grow so fast you can imagine

my delight to see these two great-grands that

I had not seen for over a year.

They stopped and brought Italian food and we

had good lunch and a four or five hour visit.

He said if they had time on Sunday they would

stop by just for a hug, because they would not

have much time.

They stayed over another night in Nashville

and did stop by on the 4th for that hug,

I had quite a suprise, when Issy whispered

something to her Dad and went running to

the car. She came back with a beautiful silver

neckless with a watch on it with a

sweet crown on it. She bought it at

the Hermitage. She whispered to me that

she got it for me for Christmas but she

just could not wait til then.

Precious family, precious visit and just

a great feeling to know you are loved.

Though days will pass and things may change,

I will always be proud of you,

and will always love you.

I w ill hold you close in my thoughts and

prayers, as you  continue to love and

                                                            nuture your sweet children.

                                                            This was my first grandchild!

                                                                     I now have 15.

Happy Fathers Day - 2011

We Love You

BMJH

YouTube Link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPein1GmXPc

I AM SO PROUD OF THIS FATHER I GAVE MY CHILDREN !

Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid

{as we're inclined to do}

I do not need a handsome man

but let him be like You;

I do not need one big and strong

nor yet so very tall,

nor need he be some genius,

or wealthy, Lord, at all;

But let his head be high, dear God,

and let his eye be clear,

his shoulders straight, whate'er his state,

whate're his earthly sphere;

and let his face have character,

a ruggedness of soul,

and let his whole life show, dear God,

a singleness of goal;

then when he comes

{as he will come}

with quiet eyes aglow,

I'll understand that he's the man

I prayed for long ago.

                                RBG

 I was reading a book of poems that Leonard gave

 to me a few years before he got sick, written by

Ruth Bell Graham,

We read all the poems together and marked a few

things that we liked, and I realized that as this poem

              says, I knew he was the man God had picked for me long

before I knew the the man.

In the front of this book, Leonard wrote, which I just adore

finding things he wrote,

To Gwendolyn

 From Leonard

Dear Gwen,
My love has long been

yours - - - -

Since on that day

when we first met.

Forever yours,

Leonard

Happy Fathers Day, my Beloved

With a song in our hearts...Happy Birthday, Kenneth!

As I went to my Posting chart today I saw that I had already put
this video on there to let go on June 8th, my wonderful brother's
birthday.
Then I began to figure it out, I just turned 84, so my
memory might have slipped a few days ago.
As I watched this video again today, it brought back
all the good Musical Good Times  the family
 has had, mostly due to the musical
ability of this special brother.
It is my wish and no doubt a fact that
your birthday was filled with all the things you
count as special:
Good friends,
Good family,
And enough joy to last all year.

Just wait until this young man turns around,
Who would believe he is 78.
I love you sweetheart!

Your Mother Especially missed you on your birthday.

Betty with her beloved grandparents
7 months old

Betty with her sister, 2 years old

Betty with her life mate .

Yesterday I did the same thing that I have so often done
before. Thinking it was her Dad's birthday I
felt a little pantic.
I suddenly thought it was Dad's birthday and
I had not thought of a blog.
Then as I read comments and her sisters referred to
Betty's birthday, I felt my age.
Again I got the two birthdays out of order.
I love and miss you my baby girl.

First Date - Life Long Friends

My first date with Leonard was 12/31/1942

New Years's Eve

It was a double date with our great friends

Raymond and Carolyn

We remain best friends today!

Clockwise

At their 5o th anniversity

Our 50th anniversity

Just before we married

The day we married, 1945\

HAPPY 87TH BIRTHDAY MY SWEETHEART

Vivid Memories of Easter Past

Patton Family Easter (around 1952/53).  Back row:  Leonard and Gwen, (mother and father of Betty, Merry, Judy and Hugh), Geraldine and Johnny (mother and father of Wendell, other children not yet born), Lela and Herman Patton, (mother and father of Leonard, Geraldine and Robert, (Talmage, Phyllis and families not pictured.) and Jean and Robert, (mother and father of William and Kathy.)

Top picture: cousins, Judy, Hugh, William, Betty, Wendell, Kathy and Merry

Bottom left: Grandmother Patton, Betty and Gwen

Bottom right: Judy, Hugh, Merry and Betty

1. Putting the final stiches into each precious Easter outfits.

2. Eight freshly polished white shoes lined up and ready to wear.

3. a. "In Your Easter Bonnet"

b. "Hear comes Peter Cotton Tail"
c. "Old Rugged Cross"

4. Three little pairs of snow white gloves.

5. Happy faces with Easter Baskets in hand...all made by the REAL Easter Bunny!

6. Church with family all dressed up in our finest.

7. Always singing a solo for the Easter service special music.

8. Alternating years; lunch and an Easter Egg Hunt at the Floyd's, dinner and an Easter Egg Hunt at the Patton Farm.

9. Ham and deviled eggs.

10. Colored candy Easter Egg.

11. Four happy but tired children at the end of the day.

CHRIST HAD RISEN INDEED!

The Top Of Jones Hill

This place embodies the true meaning of bitter-sweet...

My husband, his father, his father before him and even his father before him. Maybe that was confusing...Leonard, Herman, W.W., Richard, and many family members in between the generations, their memory all still lingers on the tombstones atop of that beautiful hill. If you stop cleaning the stones or arranging new flowers in the permanent pots long enough to feel the wind softly blowing through your hair, smell the faint scent of freshly cut hay in the air, feel the rich black dirt under your feet...you can close your eyes and transport yourself right back to the Patton farm located in the valley below. The farm that Richard built, that W.W. farmed (and preached in the churches near by) and where Herman farmed and raised Leonard. They all are part of this land and we are a part of them...How rich is our history here in Watertown, Tennessee.

Last to live on the Patton farm was Leonard's sister Geraldine and her husband, Johnny. She was raised in the big white house, then owned it for 27 years before Johnny became ill and they had to move where less work was required of them. Johnny, too, is buried on Jones Hill, where the family comes and makes sure no grave site has been neglected.

This is not about death and dying, this is about a great legacy of generations of solid folk, each working for the next generation, keeping the faith of 'til death do us part. Makes me so proud to be a Patton.



Merry and I drove up that steep hill today and lingered for awhile. Enjoyed the unseasonably Spring-like day and talked with a smile about those who went before us:

"Scotch-Irish, blue-stocking Stock"

"Owned slaves, was good to them and had them come into the home each night for Bible readings and prayer"

"served in the Confederate Army"

"were teachers and ministers" John Patton and His Descendants...1922

Sweet, because they were here; bitter, only because they are gone. Sweet, because we can carry on the legacy and enjoy the memory of their lives.

I had a daughter once, who loved the idea of being a Patton and going to the Patton farm. How proud she would be to know that her grave was among the company of her forefathers. When she died, it was all that was left to give.

WE ARE PATTON

Valentine's Day 2011

My valentine to him on our 57th Valentine Day

His favorite of all days.

Always, my Sweetheart

His steps became slower

As he walked with his hand in mine:

And although his hair was grayer,

He was still my Valentine.

The years had not diminished,

But our love had been refined;
And I found joy and pleasure

With my special Valentine.

The love we knew so long ago

Had become richer with time;

And the joys we shared grew deeper,
For we were lifelong Valentines.

Happy Birthday to HLP

No matter how many birthdays go by this face will always be that of my baby boy...

And I wish for you this Birthday blessing.

That God's grace be with you,

His peace surround you,

His love enfold you

On your birthday and always.HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SON

The Christmas Mantels at N'Church

These are three of the five mantels that were decorated, this year and every year, for Christmas at the home place. I think there has never been a house with as much warmth and with as much rich history, for the same family, as this one.

Thanks to all who help put it up and take it down since Mom can no longer do it by herself. We are all blessed by your efforts.

Guest contributor to Queentalks by: Merry (hope you don't mind, Mom)

Granddaughter, Abby, and I, will tearfully take all the decorations
down Sunday afternoon, bidding our tree goodnight until November
25th 2011, when Granddaughter, Kim and her sweet family will
make their nineth trip back to the Boro to decorate Nana and Pop's
tree and mantels for Christmas. What a joy granddaughters are,
absolutely as great as grandsons.
Into a world of darkness He came..........
The Prince of Peace
The King of Glory
The Hope of the World
Let us rejoice.....throughout the new year.