Golden Wedding Anniversary....Golden Memories

As per daughters request:
50 Golden Years of marriage, 52 wonderful years of memories! This is a walk down memory lane. Saturday, December 6th will be hubby and my Golden Wedding Anniversary! How great is that! I am gloriously blessed and today I will share some of the old photos in my memory walk of 1958---backwards and forward. Black and white photos along with color...which, sad to say was fairly new at the time...thus photography colors 'faded' back then.


























Sipping Baptist Punch....strawberry KoolAid and Pineapple Juice"!
Wow, whatawildnight. hahaha As the roc n roll song said: "Raunchie, Raunchie!!!!


THEN...THERE WAS "the Bride"~~~in the awesome gown and veil made by the loving hands of my precious little Mom and the Bride whose photo was on commercial display for one year on main street of our fair city....just a few feet from where we had seen the one & ONLY>>>> Elvis Pressley, going to the movies as a handsome Soldier at Fort Hood, Texas. (instantly the whole main street BLOCKED and everybody was screaming out his name, as he laughs and waves----glad to be known as famous. ha ha


Plus...our "First Date" was to see Elvis in concert ....one of his first in Sept. 1956 at the Heart of Texas Coliseum, Waco, Texas....just so I could hear him sing ...."Love Me Tender, Love Me True, Tell Me you are Mine"....'I'll Be Loving You, Always" with... "Heartbreak Hotel, You Aint Nothing but a Hounddog... Don 't be Cruel....Don't step on my Blue Suede Shoes... and I'll have a Blue Christmas without You.... on and on and on....


While....one of my screaming cheerleading girlfriends totally got too excited and wet on herself and 2 tons of pettycoats....just left a huge puddle of water in front of the main stage...all because Elvis swooped down his hand towards their direction. ha ha M e r cy...
SOME memories are hard to fade. But this Bride always loved Elvis and the guy who took her to see him. Elvis sealed the Deal. ha ha

December 6, 1958 China Spring First Baptist Church
Red and white Christmas wedding (he was Sooo scared that his pants legs shook throughout the whole ceremony...and the guest sitting up front near where we stood started giggling....then he relaxed a wee bit.) It was a nice memory to laugh about.


Below: This was my 'hubby' to be....
on the school football field back in 1958. Great Smile & his laughter won my heart! *along with his being the tallest guy in school....and truly had one of the 'hottest' cars around. We dearly TREASURE our wonderful '1950's era, music & memories!!!

We were voted the Most Popular students

Wonderful Cheerleading Years!

One Classy-Chassie, 1955 Black/Chrome Chevy Hardtop, RED interior-hot 57' 4 barrell carb

BELOW:

I can honestly say that our wedding was one of my Daddy's Proudest Moments (other than standing for my high school graduation honors & scholarships). All of his brothers and their families all came in from South Texas to join the fun. I have 3 sisters and I was the only one that my Daddy got the honor of walking 'down the Isle" to give away his daughter for marriage in a formal church wedding. He and my Mom, along with my favorite sister, couldn't have been more excited. After all I was the youngest child (the baby of the family-ha ha) so they were probably secretly saying, "Halleluia, now--- some time for us-- finally....no more kids to raise". ha ha All great memories & treasures for me! Esp. that my beloved Mom made/created my wedding dress and I absolutely couldn't have LOVED it more!!!! Perfect for me & my personality!

I remember it all just as if it was yesterday. Candles, lots of candles, flowers, floral scented air of the church, fresh ferns, organ and piano music was soft and very touching....and tons of happy smiles and laughter/kidding!!! (and.....er er er and our friends stole our car and covered it in beer cans, old brogan boots, paper and tons of writings....and NOPE, neither of us ever drank, folks... and that's WHY, the kids dearly loved to 'rag out on us'...and we loved it!

So, please, now....won't somebody please tell me..."how can 50 long years pass away SO FAST. 50 years should have taken much longer than this!!! It doesn't seem possible.

My daughter wanted some old photos on my blog for some project that she is working on ....so we may have to dig out more for her...who knows? She is very creative, so we look forward to whatever she is up to!!!

Below....my daddy & me...

Being an avid & very successful Rancher....I had NEVER seen my Daddy when he was NOT wearing his COWBOY BOOTS....and true to form....this wedding got him out of his western leather vest and kaki clothes into a beautiful suit .....but he still wore those cowboy boots....and I loved it dearly. (he did sacarifice his Cowboy Hat tho. ha ha) this was a special moment for me...because from the time that I was a tiny little cotton-top girl, he always grabbed me up and yelled out ''This is my girl,.... she's MY baby"!

(&...just as an added note about my Daddy....which I thought it was sooo funny at the time when......He loved pranks and jokes & talked to almost anybody...anywhere....and once nearly caused a SHOCK WAVE in down town NEW YORK CITY, in 1948 when he walked through grand CENTRAL PARK & 5th Avenue....of NEW YORK CITY,...dressed totally in his usual cowboy attire from head to foot.

My Mom laughed & said it was so funny... because 'every head jerked ....to gaze upon that Texas Cowboy who loved talking to everyone on the street with a huge German broug with Texas slang. (remember in those days...NOT everybody pretended to be a cowboy or Country Western Singer or Texan--as it is so popular today.

(My daddy never, ever met a stranger....lots of strange ONES...but never a stranger) He loved talking to the New Yorkers on the street and equally...Mom said they seemed to enjoy his chatter and didn't mind ...when he walked in specifically.... like Jed Clampitt and bought a brand new bright green pickup (remember black was the main auto color then) right off the assembly line and paid cash. He loved doing that... & he rapidly made even more friends. (Sometimes green backs can change the tone of conversation--ha ha.) He loved to tell about that thrill for him "& Mutheraa". (it was so wonderful that he & my Mom were married overf 65 years before he passed away---but I don't think we will live that long. ha ha, so no sweat there --ha ha But my parents..... and hubby's grandparenhts.... each, gave us sooo many, many treasured memories/parties and lots of inspiration. )

So...below is a photo of a special memory of... just my 'Daddy & me' in our special 'moment in time"!

BASKETBALL (& VOLLEYBALL)......Four District Championships...plus tons of awesome tournaments. We loved that our coach called us the "Fierce Five". We were all SHORT...tallest was 5 Ft. 5''---Basketball...not the norm! (I am the one with long hair) We also won 2 District Championships in Volleyball which I loved even more than BB & was Captain. Fun times!!!

I felt so special when Coach referred to me as his top 'little gazelle''. He constantly encouraged me & truly made a great impression upon my life in trying to challenge the impossible. Back then...Stupidly, I would've jumped off a bridge if he had told me "You can do it". haha

However, today... I also thank God that he can't see me. ha ha (most likely he would change his wording to something more like... 'old goose'...instead of gazelle. ha ha (now, I can say this...but yall can't. ha ha just kidn')))

This was my senior year. Team Captain, 2 college scholarships and nominated by Central Texas coaches as All State player/nominee (only one other player named from our area of Texas) This means a lot nowadays= when I'm old, battling cancer/pain/chemo-drugs... hummm....& where the walking cane becomes your best friend!!! ha ha

Below: The only Championship boys team for our school era. 1957 Boys District Champs and hubby is standing, 3rd from left. He was 'tallest' guy on team (which I always Loved) and yet he slumped for the photo grr...but he could "pop' that net beautifully with... 3 point style shot used by todays rules. This was a Great group! Coach: Mr. S.V. Dickenson

Happy Golden Wedding Anniversary ....to us....

December 6, 1958 - 2008

(God created it....and said, "It is good"......)

Run, Turkey, Run...(Thanksgivings on the way)

Run, Run, Run....stop the man with the gun! Save the wild turkeys!!!!!

WILD TURKEYS.....THIS WAS THE SIGHT WE RECENTLY HAD from my BEDROOM WINDOW a few days ago!!!

Five awesomely beautiful WILD Black Turkeys were.....slowly...moseying..(sp), strolling around in our backyard and beside our house. My hubby was just driving into our driveway and called me on the cell phone to 'quickly LOOK out the bedroom window. (it was a cold, rainey day...I was hurting for most of my day and had curled up into a fetal postion in our cozy fluffy bed---which hubby knew about and he had been calling off and on during the work day to check on me...so, when he said "quick...look''...I KNEW it HAD TO BE something MIGHTY DIFFERENT.) AND IT WAS!

We live on a populated hillside, near a very busy highway....yet these beautiful animals FELT safe enough on our property....(probably our back pasture full of tall Johnson grass. mesquites and cedar trees helped) ha ha They seemed so perfectly AT HOME!!!

Both hubby and I sat mesmerized..... on our cell phones...watching....all five of these unique wild black birds...slowly walk with confidence, grace and obvious pleasure back and forth in our yard outside my bedroom window. They quietly pecked the ground, eating this and that and .....just as quietly and peacefully as they moved about....I suddenly felt a very warm, CLOSE touch...something magical...as if God Himself was whispering to me..."this is just for you....to help you remember me... and not think about the pain...these are my creations...their beauty is for your pleasure...soooo enjoy".

And...enjoy I did!!! Hubby and I felt very 'honored' ....silly as it may sound....to have this unusual CLOSE visit from the wild black turkeys. And then.... just as they had suddenly APPEARED....equally so...very gracefully, they marched in a straight line....with one 'fanning' out his tail...as if to say "goodbye...it was a nice to visit with you'.... they then ventured down the fence line of trees and through the over growth---until out of sight on the far hillside and into an earth tank, obviously to get a drink of water...or to their hideout among lots of trees.

We do have jillions of cayotes that have a 'path' exactly WHERE the turkeys strolled...so these HAVE GOT TO BE some mighty SMART turkeys...to outwit MAN....evil GUNS and the cayotes.

I put out lots of feed for wild bird all year and have had so many different KINDS of birds to come to eat outside my window. For a year we have had 3 different kinds/flocks of DOVES that came ....one group at about 9 am..., another @ 10;15 and 3rd around 11 am each day--huge ones---...UNTIL September 1st....DOVE SEASON...and pow, pow, pow, every morning...gun fire on every horizon.....I now only have about 4 small doves left which have lived & returned. Sickening...unless they are actually used as 'FOOD' for someone...but that's not usually the case, sad to say. His creations, His gifts, for food or beauty.

I recently heard on the game show "Are you smarter than a 5th Grader?" that the wild black turkey was originally suppose to be America's National bird as set by our 'founding Fathers" because it was beautiful and plentiful in our nation. I'm equally very proud that the American EAGLE was chosen for it's Biblical meaning. (love it-in fact).....although after watching this sight the other day,....I can very easily SEE how our forefathers wanted this majestic animal to represent us as a nation.

So, as always, I am grateful for America's celebration of our THANKSGIVING....but it's a bit rough for the poor turkey's of our country....even tho their 'yummy flavor is great'...especially when slowly smoked. yum yum. But...This year...in honor of the above...I think I will just enjoy eating that yummy dressing, gravy and pecan pie...and let the other melt my mind... back to 'my special memory'...of a very special day....'when God sent 5 wild black turkeys to my bedroom window' to bless my day to remind me that HE IS OUR HOLY CREATOR, FATHER and Lover of our soul.

May your day be blessed...everyday! Glory 2 Him
(even Turkeys know:) Psalm 119:105 "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path".

Welcome back, Kotter...

Well, it's been a while (sort of like...June 2 to October 1st since I have blogged)...whew, where did that time go?

The 'Dog Days of summer have past and the Autumn Leaves are beginning to fall. It's an exciting time of the year! I LOVE IT. THANKSGIVING & CHRISTMAS is on the way. (Baylor Choir is already singing the awesome Christmas Carols....and lots of Concerts on the way...fun fun fun!)

Thank you so much ...to those of you who have asked me about WHEN that I was going to get back to writing. Thanks, your words encourage me and I appreciate you. However, this summer was busy and for me... it is easy to 'get "OUT of the habit of bloggin....just as it is to get... addicted TO...BLOGGIN. ha ha And like many of you have shared, sometimes it can also get tiring and taxing....being on the computer... when there are more important things that need to be done. It goes both ways I guess. But again, thanks....I DO appreciate you for asking me about my blog. Maybe I can 'get my groove' back on. ha ha whatalaugh!!!!

So, for today may the pictures speak for themselves....Blessings 2 U and yours!(isn't 'Mother Nature....and Father God....THEE best! so cute....

The tricky Power of the human mind...or weakness???

This is a fun way to see just what the human mind can do if we let it go.

However....to a degree... I disagree with the last line because..... Spelling may not be important for our own reading, but it DOES sends a powerful message to whoever reads our words...(much like the way we choose to dress...says so much... about who we are).

It's also funny that I find that the older I get... the more I often un-intentionally MESPELL words...ha ha---so this little test helps me feel better about myself. ha ha Hope you enjoy it as well. Also...this is WHY that I LOVE blog-world....proper grammar/most standard strict writing rules are cut or abbreviated.

Run on sentences are SUCH FUN. HA HA ===(I had a LIFE TIME of the other...)

This is a bit weird...but reflects the power that God gives us via the human brain....

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fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too
Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!

Smile...how well did you do?

I bet you were pretty awesome! Have a happy day, everyday!

Moses, Moses, Moses...God's gentle voice ...to a duck hunter.

Moral of this story is that when we are attacked and troubled...to just remember that Satan does not attack....what he already controls.... (and that's why he tries to beat us up and break our faith) Hang on tight...keep up the fight....but enjoy every blessing in the day...life!

Our local newspaper has been printing some awesome Civil War stories of local families. I have always loved anything that has to do with our history, heritage, and geneology, these stories draw my quick attention. Sometimes OLD photos tell MORE of the true story of our nations shame...than what we read in history books.

Equally, I have also loved hand carved figurines of artwork of the OLD SOUTH and the black culture working in their daily task such as around the old black washpot, the little black boy with his fishing pole and string of fish, etc. So, naturally, these true local photos and stories of our slaves that SETTLED and BUILT this wild arena called, Texas... Waco, Texas to be more specific...goes straight to my heart.

The following is a TRUE story (tho...not in our newspaper... but certainly should have been) that happened during the Civil War. It is a beautiful tribute to the faith, the wisdom and the hearts of many black Christian slaves who suffered greatly, worked diligently for their masters but their stories carry such a great message from God to man....back then....as well as today!

In this story...MOSES is a very large black man who was a slave, like his parents, to a very rich plantation owner. Moses was always obedient to his masters and mistresses of the plantation. On this particular day, the rich plantation owner had decided to go 'DUCK HUNTING' and as was the custom, he took Moses with him to do 'the work" and help gather up the dead ducks as well as ...endanger his life in the alligator/snake infested nearby lake, rather than the master.

As they walked through the high grasses, weeds and reeds...they began to talk as friends, not just as master and slave. However, with a bit of arrogance, the white plantation owner asked Moses a question.

"Hey, Moses...why is it that you always DO all those GOOD things...you know...good deeds for everybody else....you don't cuss...you don't ever sin...you always do whatever we tell ya. You are really a mighty good man, Moses. So why's it that YOUR GOD lets you remain a SLAVE to suffer so badly... and work all day from the break of dawn till the sun goes down?"

"Well, Sir...Mr. Bossman, I can't say...cause en... I jes don't know", Moses replied gently.

Hours passed, the rich man had shot a large number of ducks on the lake and they slowly floated to the shore. Moses quietly did his job, picking up and bagging the ducks for his master.

Finally, towards the end of the day, Moses turned to his master... "Sir, Mista Boss man, I been thinking about what you asked me about earlier...about 'why God do what he do" and I guess that after thinkin about it...I really DO know the answer after all...you know... why I has to suffa"

"What's that, Moses"

"Well, sir...it's sorta like those ducks out there on that beautiful lake. You know, you and me can SEE the dead ducks that you shot---now they are DEAD. But now you look out there at those OTHER ducks---their living. Yes sir, their struggling, they be afraid...they be swimming hard to get away from the evil of yor blastin gun that killed all their brothers. But sir, I guess my God knows that I feel like dim ducks...cause, sir...I'd lots rather be a working and a swimming away from the troubles....being ALIVE and not DEAD floating around in des waters."

****Like dear sweet Moses...God has a plan for each of us....we may not always understand or know "why". things/stuff happens to us.....but by His Grace and goodness...we DO know that we are still blest and alive. So, grab a smile and your umbrella and let's face the storms...we have so much to be thankful & humble over. I hope you enjoyed Moses' sweet message & story.

Have a happy duckie...day, today & everyday!

Ten Most Important Things that I KNOW that I will NEVER forget in life...

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(Oh well, OK...er, er, Never mind...)

50th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION for old Codgers, ooops, I mean COUGARS

50th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION....

the Cougars arise again...

wow...canya believe it?

Where did the time go? How can it be? May 16 was an awesome memorial date for my beloved and me! FINALLY ...our HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION! (and now they tell us that it has been 50 LONG YEARS! That seems absolutely Impossible!

Yes, now I am planning ANOTHER PARTY...one of my favorite things to do in life. I love planning reunions for our class, our school, our family, friends and groups....I JUST LOVE to plan parties.

Naturally...in planning the party....I've called and spent hours on the phone with all the old (ouch) classmates and friends....and families. What fun! Everyone's life has been so different, but ever so interesting, each in their own way!

Some have been awesomely blest... while others have been the greatest blessing...even when the ladder they had to climb in life had a lot of broken rungs...and some even collapsed during the 'paint job' itself. (ha ha)

But they are still tops and have a special Message to Man from God by just their walk through life. Each Special.

I have had the absolute JOY of blessing my dear, dear friend who is in the depths of descending Alzheimer's disease....whom... in a broken voice and flowing unstoppable tears of brokenness...she cries and shares how HORRIBLE this dreaded diseases is to accept...to live...to endure...even with God...with prayer...with dear family and friends. PTL...she has always been one of the most devoted Christians that I have known throughout the years...but again---ONLY GOD can really know the depths/heartache/pain of ANY disease. Pain is truly not something that can be explained. It comes to us physically, mentally, spiritally by forms... but millions of ways. But it is NEVER FUN!

My friend has had her car keys taken away....so sadly....because she has always been so independent ....driving in the impossible Houston traffic with ease for years. After a very successful life, they now live in an awesome new home in rural private estates--country life atmosphere... She built her own beautiful 'little prayer garden' to God's glory...where she spends her favorite times. (she's always made Him an altar in her home thru the years) Physically, she is tiny in stature... but she is a giant in her Chrisitianity.


The day she lost her car keys, started off innocent. She simply went to the nearby grocery story for a can of tomato soup. The store was only about 5 blocks away....and SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY....she found herself in northwest Houston...about 100 miles away...driving around ...not knowing where in the world that she was...what she was doing???

With greatest humor and laughter...she so cutely tells that she saw a POLICE CAR and so she stopped her car and him....and told him, 'Sir...I have Alzheimers and I am LOST, WILL YOU TAKE ME HOME?"

She said the man was soooo very nice....took her keys---which she handed to him first...he looked into her glove compartment for her insurance information/address--(she couldn't even remember her own address/name/phone number.

Thus the policeman kindly TOOK her home....100 miles away. (as she said she 'rambled on and on in embarrassment and graditude to him...and kept telling herself to 'shut-up' but she couldn't shutup.)

Later her son went back to Houston and got her car.
But on our phone call she went on, very acutely & shared about 'this freaky/horrible disease of confusion... her constant fear...horror, desparation, confusion and being so ashamed and guilty....for a disease that she has absolutely no control over even by taking tons of medications...that so often don't work.

Equally important to share.. because EVERY human being needs to know and realize the horrors of this dreaded disease. Throughout our years...50...of friendship....and esp. since she has been told about having this disease....she has constantly told me about 'how awesome and wonderful that her husband...our school mate &...dear friend from childhood....about HOW GREAT he was to her in taking care...helping her...his kind heart, love, etc. etc.

Yesterday however, her first words...(remember the disease)....'Oh, Gloria, I am so glad that you called, (over, over & over) ....you have no idea but all I have been thinking about is you.... and I WISH I HAD MARRIED YOUR HUSBAND...I know ...with all my heart that he would be so kind to me and not like my husband. My husband is soooo mean....soooo this ....that....on and on ....and on & on it went....

All the opposite of 2 months ago...and years of past. The disease had her tears... rampant...I say disease because....NO way....was this my old friend. (yes, the good part...but not the negatives... that have OVERTAKEN her once positive brain cells of appreciation. This disease is unspeakably horrible. It tortures everyone that cares for you...plus you!

Needless to say...my response was stuff that only God could bring forth....humor...old memories and silly jokes/events of the past ...things that she dearly loved....dearly needed...severely deserved. She was roaring in laughter. Her tears turned to those of hilarious joy... and memories that 'just NEEDED to be brought back INTO her brain...for survival. (I have to say...it was such a joy for me as well. So wonderful to hear her laughter once again...as we had as kids...as young MOM's...as retirees. Wow, God is so good, while satan is so rotten!

My heart very deeply went out to her poor husband (along with my friends own dear hurts and heart)....because most likely.... he is giving or has GIVEN HIS ALL ..or all that he CAN give..but this disease won't let her see/realize the truth. This is certainly a case where DEAFNESS is a blessing. (he was a very successful Houston Contractor building sky scrapers, lost hearing due to jackhammers.)

Anyway, today, I just wanted to pay a special tribute in writing to all dear families who are hit by this wicked disease that steals the human brain first...then the body... then the life---but regardless.... for my friend....GOD has her forever!

Also, another of my phone calls to another classmate was where I found her also crying as well because they had just called to tell her that her beloved brother (our neighbor) had just died also.... from Alzheimers. He, too, has suffered for about 8 years...along with his family.

So, again in that phone call, God allowed me to minister with MEMORIES of funny events that we had all done back in our youth and childhood days. Again, God turned sorrow to laughter. If I could say 'what I learned yesterday....it would have to be....'TREASURE EVERY MEMORY of life---esp the funny stuff'....because someday you may be able to HELP somebody else (even 50 or 60 years down the line..ha ha) get through their bad time or horrible health situations. We never know how we will be called upon to 'be God's instrument' to help and heal our brothers, sisters, friends, enemies and strangers.

So...for the party....it's STILL ON. Our Lord wants us all to 'make the best of everyday' and.... SO.... we, Old cougars....OLD cheerleaders...Old football, basketball and baseball players, OLD HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS....and EVEN.... our favorite homeroom TEACHER...(who is also in stage 5 cancer and my best buddy/friend...but fighting like a warrior) .........
WE SHALL CELEBRATE to the max....THAT 50th HIGH SCHOOL REUNION.

We chose to have a simple Dinner together, followed by a small River Boat Tour/Trip of the beautiful beloved Brazos River. (remember the song..."Across the Brazos at Waco"...well, that's our plan. ha ha) (we've done this a couple of times before in our family and it is so wonderful and beautiful...peaceful drifting along....

oooops I drifted off...just thinking about it. ha ha

Well, we'll update the blog later down the line...after the event.
Meantime...may God bless your day ....in a very special way.
Please remember to pray for all those in need....as well as for...YOU and Me. hugs/smiles. g