Father's Day

I am so very late but we had the most wonderful day today.  I am trying to catch up with my blog and could not stop before I wrote a Father's Day post.

Missing my father as I always will. No matter the day, no matter what goes on, I think of my sweet dad and miss him so very much.

My heart is full. it overflows with sadness at the ways of the world. But I Have realized you can not speak your feelings because  not everywhere appreciates honesty. So I will share my favorite photo of my dad. I Just know I am so grateful he is no longer here to see the destruction around us.

My father-in-law Carl always treated me fairly and with love and compassion. I would never want him to come back to this world but I honor him with my own father as two of the greatest men who ever did live.

These are the men who are dad's  in our lives . From Left to right,  Roger (Noelle), Colton (Jacey), Andrew (Tarrah), Alex (Christal), Avery (Anne), Jeremy (Brittany).

Rebekah, Avery, Anne, Zach. A remarkably beautiful day for a Father's Day celebration.

A son and his father.

A mother and her son on his wedding day.

A grandmother with her grandson and his tiny daughter.  That girl does not like  socks and shoes.
Tomorrow I will share more Father's Day memories. It has been a long fun and exciting day but time for rest.

F R I D A Y

Here are questions posed by Ellen and Lorianne. They each come up with two questions each week.

1. ___________motivates me to ____________.

2. I put salt on __________.

3. When it comes to __________I don't cut corners.

4. Never forget__________.

Here are my answers:

1. A healthy lifestyle motivates me to eat better and exercise more.

2. I put salt on plain popcorn. My hubby loves it on watermelon.

3. When it comes to the pets I don't cut corners. We fed them the healthiest food we can.

4. Never forget your freedom living in a free country. I fear it will soon be gone.

Joining Feline Friday

Visit Feline Friday I know many of you are pet lovers and many love their felines. Here is a tough question, who has the prettiest eyes?  This pinterest and google image is so stunning. This is one amazing feline . Like a patch work. Do you know what having two different colored eyes is called? It is Heterochromia It is the Iris that can be one color in one eye and another color in the other. THis cat has been featured at Instagram.

HodgePodge is over at Joyce's page. I decided to try to participate. So here I go:

1. Saturday marks the first official day of summer. WooHoo! What is your favorite thing about the season?

     a. I Love the fresh fruits and veggies available. We are trying a garden this year a little larger

         than past years. Some tomatoes, zucchini, beets, Squash and cucumbers. i also love the daylight

         and staying up later without all the darkness. Funnt, I do love watching the stars, better saved               for a dark night. 

2. Love it!, labor of love, not for love or money, no love lost, love handles, love does, love-hate  relationship, misery loves company, tough love, love will find a way...pick one and tell us how it applies to your life right now. 

     a. I am usually very positive. I think I have experienced all of these ways of love. But I find the               hardest to be, not tough love, but the love-hate relationship. It applies to so much in our lives,             yet as a Christian, it is difficult not to feel bitter and resentful when people, primarily relatives,           treat you poorly for no apparent reason. But as a girl raised around "zero" drama, I dislike it so           much I choose to pray instead of act immature and retaliate.  It is hard, life is so very hard. But           inside my ears I hear my mom's voice as plain as day, "life is hard, pray harder".

3. What is one thing currently causing you to seethe? What is one thing currently making you smile.

     a. I have to agree 100 percent with Joyce. There is so much to seethe about in our world today. I 

         find the ignorance to be the very worst. It is a fact, one easily verified for those who love to 

         claim sites like snopes.com are the true holy grail of truth.  The current president has been                   fought  so hard. The hatred for him boils over like poison.

         So many filled with hate yet scream and holler for the rights of this and that and the other! All              of this created to turn us into a socialist nation. Whether you agree or not it is the truth. Yet                 the go along with the bobble head mentality. This side tells the truth, the other other side lies. I  

           look at it all from the biblical perspective. It is written what will happen and yet the bobble 

           heads want to live under the rule of the government. Whoever said socialism is great until you

           run out of other people's money was absolutely right! The disgust in destroying businesses 

           cities and all the rest I find so incredibly disrespectful and ignorant. I would like to  imagine 

           every single thing important to them to disappear before their very eyes. When your soul is 

           filled with hate only God can cleanse you.  We have been conditioned for ages to follow this

           agenda. My father use to say "you can lead a horse to water but you can not make him drink."

           The same today is our backward world filled with more hate and disgust then ever in history. 

           Those who have never experienced tragedy, loss, despair and hopelessness are in for the most

            miserable time of their lives. 

            Let us continue on to happiness. I also love being with my grands and spending phamily time.

             Our world can not take the love inside our hearts away from us or those we cherish.   

Those who know me well know we lost this beautiful baby boy last summer. I want to live for Jesus, and it is so very hard in this world, because I want to see this child in paradise one day.     

We have been without this boy for 320 days! On the flip side he is enjoying paradise. My hubby struggles breathing with his asthma when it acts up. Imagine how we felt when we heard this boy left us suddenly. Always and forever in our hearts. Until I see you again Alastor Avery I will never forget you. 

Great Grandfather says it best about you. God granted us permission to love you for such a short time but he knew we needed an ambassador from heaven . I had hoped perhaps your untimely death would bring the lost sheep home. I don't want to disappoint you and I certainly have no desire to  disappoint Jesus and Our Father God. Because of you , great grandfather and I will try our hardest to make sure heaven will be filled with those you loved so much. 

4. Of the following summer to dos here which three would definitely make your personal  list of
summer want-to-dos.

roast marshmallows over a fire, go berry or peach picking, dangle your feet off the end of a dock,
sit on a porch swing, watch the sunset from a beach. nap in a hammock, go barefoot in the grass,
collect seashells, play tennis, go fishing, build a sandcastle, catch fireflies, eat a soft serve ice cream,
make a pitcher of Sangria, swim in a lake, stargaze, ride a bike, paddle a canoe or kayak, make a summer road trip, throw a frisbee.

I will make a S'more over an open fire this summer, stargaze and visit our daughter and her hubby again and hang my feet off the side of their dock at the pond. But seriously I would do most everything on this list.

Do you make a to-do list?

I use to and it help me but somedays are different and I can't find the time. I do want to organize my time better. Except things come up that change your whole game plan.

5. Thursday is National Splurge Day. What might you splurge on to celebrate?

     I would love to splurge on a telescope to gaze at those stars.

6. Insert your own random thoughts here.

This is how I was raised. We are celebrating Father's Day here SONday. Our grandgirl Christal and her sweet hubby Alex are cooking. We will have a beautiful array of Mexican food. All 27 of us will be here in person. Hannah and Jake will be in on the other side of the country but in our thoughts and of course, Alastor. you will be shining over us from heaven.

I hope you will visit Pink Saturday. Here is a Peeps S'More. I don't eat Peeps anymore but I use to.  So they fit perfectly for a Pink Saturday surprise.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. I put up a post regarding my late father and father-in-law later this weekend. Today I am going to attempt to get a haircut. Say a prayer for me.

         

THURSDAY

Our world is strange and  scary . I am a true believer we need Jesus. This photo is hauntingly beautiful to me but seems perfect for these troubling times.

I believe our opinion is not worth much but our actions say it all.

Duke "Kaboom" is being so polite and sitting so properly on the steps. What a wonderful canine he is. He loves getting into mischief yet he has such a sweet personality.  Say hello to Happy Thursday and come join the fun.

Such a cute photo from Instagram and cat lovers club. It is a Happy Thursday. Please visit Happy Thursday

I participated in Bev's blog hop about music a while back. There was a list of music related to different things. I am reposting different songs here with those same questions. Join me if sharing your favorite music too.

A song you like with a color in the title.
"Purple Rain"  Prince

A song that needs to be played very loud.
"Authority Song" John Cougar Mellencamp

A song that makes you want to dance.
"YMCA" by Village People
"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying"  Gerry and the Pacemakers

A song by an artist who is no longer living
"Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian" John Prine

A song to drive to.
"Truckin" Grateful Dead

A song with a number in the title.
"Love Potion Number 9 " The Searchers

A song that makes you happy.
" Happy" Pharrell Williams

A song that always makes you sad,
"The End of the World" Skeeter Davis

A song that reminds you of summer.
"Under the Boardwalk"  The Drifters

A song that you remember from your childhood.
"Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" Brian Hyland

A song that breaks your heart.
"Keep Me in Your Heart" Warren Zevon

A song you never get tired of.
"Blessed Assurance (Frannie Crosby) Alan Jackson

A song from your pre-teen years.
"I Got You Babe" Sonny and Cher

A song that is covered by another artist
"All Along the Watchtower: Jimi Hendrix (originally done by Bob Dylan

A song from the year you were born.
"Hey Good Lookin" Hank Williams Jr. (1953)

A song that makes you think about life.
"The Gambler" Kenny Rogers

A song with a person's name in the title.
"Annie's Song" John Denver
"Eleanor Rigby: The Beatles

A song you think everyone should listen to.
"Most People Are Good: Luke Bryan

A song by a band that you wish were still together.
" Story of My Life" One Direction

A song by an artist with a voice you love.
"Jive Talkin" the BeeGees

Please share your favorites.

I could not resist. I like clean humor. My hubby worked with a very attractive secretary years ago. She was very blonde and very pretty. She said one weekend she found all the clean blonde jokes and made a list for her co workers. My husband got the biggest kick out of it! We still laugh over many of those silly jokes. Humor gets you through most situations, It beats hate  or losing your temper.

Blake and Brody were enjoying the summer evening last night with their mom and dad. It has been unbearably hot here so when you get a cool breeze and see the temps drop by twenty degrees, it makes for a quiet evening outdoors. Today it is 74 outside. I am enjoying the break in the heat wave. Three days until summer actually makes an appearance. You would never know that here! Brody loves bare feet. Blake is just happy and content in his jumper chair. Getting those Olympic style legs strengthened.

This tiny girl stopped by last night. She moves quick fast, like a tiny Bruce Lee baby. See how she swung her arm as I shot the photo? Baby bumble bee girl. She is a delightful addition to our phamily tree. She loves that Grandfather holding her. I have a gift with babies, if I hold them long enough they will need  a serious diaper change! I asked her to be kinder to me so this won't always happen but she ignored me. Strong willed baby girl.

I was not born yet, this was taken about 1948-49 but this is how I grew up! Saturday night with Grandma S. and SONday afternoon with my grandparents K. My older sister was being held by my grandmother and a chair they used outside for these photo shoots sits in my home today. It is one of the rare treasures I was able to have. Our youngest daughter Hannah carved her name across the seat of that old wooden chair and I do not have the heart to erase that memory.

W E D N E S D A Y

Wordless Wednesday

I love Snoopy and I love pop art.

During this troubling time I have days when I think, I wonder if God hears me? Then I read this and know he does.

Rebekah loves Gunsmoke. It is her favorite show and so her sweet hubby has been buying her the DVD's. Wow 634 episodes. He had this beautiful birthday cake made for her. In case you aren't a fan of the show, that is James Arness as Marshall Matt Dillon, Milburn Stone as Doc and a young Dennis Weaver as Chester Good. We celebrated Saturday with a barbeque and enjoyed the company of phamily and friends. Oh heck, who am I kidding! Everyone here is phamily. Rebekah makes the very best artichoke dip. Brittany makes a delicious pasta salad . She enjoyed the company of several good friends. Alyssa brought the wonderful fruit and veggie trays. Rebekah received several great gifts, including ladder ball from her brother Jeremy and his phamily.  Jeremy brought over his corn hole game and the day was delightful.  Welcome to 3-2 Rebekah! My thirties were truly the highlight of my life when my kids were small. I wish her many more wonderful thirty something birthdays.

Some photos of the birthday festivities. Poor sweet Blake is teething like crazy! He loves being in the arms of his daddy.

T U E S D A Y

I know I need better organizational skills. Life just happens and I miss my blog and all of you faithful friends who stop by. I found this at pinterest. I have a friend who is nuts for T-Rex so she loves tea too. I sent this to her. Made me Happy so Happy Tuesday

I seem to be  number 6! So my share will be Tuesday Show and Tails and it is hard not to stop sharing to Angela. She is a busy gal, her 16 year old son just passed his drivers test! Jarod is a good kid and very responsible. YAY Jarod! Congrats!

Maxine has the best opinions, at least she does, today!

Wouldn't our world be cool if L O V E prevailed? Love is....forever in my heart.

No matter how busy I am I trust Scripture to help me through difficulties as well as happiness.

Although we aren't quite here yet, my friend Karen is my oldest friend. We played in the playpen together. I am four months and eight days older then she is. She retired in January, she was blessed with a 30 year career at the State of Idaho. She is grateful not to be in the thick of this weirdness today. She and her hubby Chris have one daughter, Catherine. Catherine is married to a Chris too. They have an 18 month old daughter. Oh she is so cute! I have had Catherine's little phamily on my heart. They live in Seattle. I gave Karen a call, and left a message. She called me back shortly and we had the nicest  conversation for a long while. Her kids are safe as young Chris works from home and Catherine was furloughed from her hospital job yesterday. She is a Physical Therapist. Times are so difficult but I am so grateful they are all safe.

June 3, 1921 my hometown of Pueblo, Colorado experienced a devastating flood which caused a great deal of loss of life and ravaged the city.  A great joy arose from this devastation for my paternal grandparents. Their daughter Stephanie was born. My dad had a big phamily. Two of his brothers, one older, one younger, passed away in childhood. His older brother Uncle "Moon" passed away young too, in adulthood.  But my daddy adored all of his sisters, Mary, Angela, Anna, Stephanie and Millie.  All of them are gone but one thing I would not do, I would never wish them back to this horrible nightmare we seem to be part of today. They all loved God, their phamily and each and everyone of them, would have helped anyone out in need.

Some of the devastation from that flood. When my daddy built our home in 1946, he told me later he built on high ground since the biggest loss of life and destruction was in the area closest to the river and lying on low ground.  In 1965 while on vacation at Fort Bragg, NC and Myrtle Beach, a second devastating flood hit our city.

Although it was a terrible tragedy I am so grateful my phamily home was spared. I knew a gentleman years later who lost his brother in the flood, his brother was a newspaper reporter. It was very difficult for him to talk about it. He was a teenager like I was. I can not imagine losing a loved one in such an unpredictable natural disaster.  This was a photo from downtown Pueblo.

Auntie Steffie on her wedding day with Uncle Art and older sister Anna.

I would like to pose a question to all of you. What is your favorite breakfast food? The summer time, with heat waves, is especially difficult. Please tell me or perhaps you just have something you like to have regularly. Thank you.

A bit of humor to close my post.