Sunday Meme

I’ve been tagged by Sandy to do this meme….I hope you will do it and let me know so I can read your answers….I’m not tagging anyone either….if you’d like to play, please do……..

Two Names You Go By:
1. Betty (My Mama called me B.R.)
2...Mam

Two Things You Are Wearing Right Now:
1. White Bermuda shorts
2. Multi-colored sleeveless knit shirt

Two Of Your Favorite Things:
1. My Bible
2. My laptop

Two Things You Want Very Badly At The Moment:
1. God will have mercy on our nation
2. Rain

Two Favorite Pets You Have Or Have Had:
1. Bandit (Our Shitzu that lived to be 12)
2. Ling-Ling (Our blonde seven year old cat)


Two People You Hope Will Fill This Out:
1. Ruthann
2. Amy
(I would say Marion but I don’t think she wants to do memes)

Two Things You Did Last Night:
1. Deleted odds and ends off laptop
2. Watched a movie

Two Things You Ate Last Night:
1. Delicious Fudge
2. Kashi Honey and Almond Bar

Two People You Last Talked To:
1. Granddaughter Ellie
2. Edward

Two Things You Are Doing Tomorrow:
1. Hair trimmed
2. Iron

Two of Farthest Trip Taken In The Last Five Years:
1. Vincennes, Indiana
2. Ashland, Missouri

Two Of My Favorite Holidays:
1. Christmas (birth of our Savior)
2. Easter (resurrection of our Savior)

Two Favorite Beverages:
1. Iced Tea with Splenda
2. Diet Rite Cola

Finally the first night in America........

Note: The segment I posted yesterday about the cabin in the mountains should have followed this one. I'm taking that one off and will post it again after this one to keep them in sequence. Much has been going on this week and I had a senior moment, or hour, or maybe even a day....does anyone relate?


Note: You might want to check out Marion's blog, Reflection of the Seasons, to get a different perspective on our visit......

After leaving the airport in Atlanta, we drove a little over an hour to Mindy, Chip, Davis and Drew's home rather than three hours to our home........




Mindy had prepared a delicious meal for us. Marion and John experienced their first southern dishes of fried chicken, baked pineapple, green beans, squash casserole, biscuits and FOUR LAYER CHOCOLATE DELIGHT..... Edward's favorite dessert or as our guests would say favorite 'pudding.'

After a night's rest, a tasty breakfast, we made plans for the day.....the little town nearby has many interesting shops and gorgeous antebellum homes (Imogene, Chip's Mom) gave us a guided tour and interesting tidbits about many of the homes....the ladies decided shopping was foremost. Edward, John and Davis drove out to the farm to look at the crops.......
Marion perusing 'In High Cotton'.......................
Betty, Imogene, Mary Hayes, Mindy and Marion after a delicious lunch at a popular tearoom.....the men opted to go for a 'man's meal'.
Deciding where we should go next.........let's go to Mary Hayes.....
A guest has beat us there........




Marion, Imogene and Betty on the patio......
Shutters keeping out the sun..........inviting rocking chairs.....
Imogene tries out the swing..................
We like the shelf in the breakfast room.......Mary Hayes has so many interesting collections and antiques handed down from her family.....she is a born entertainer...........
Next, we toured Imogene's friend's gorgeous garden or rather gardens.......It wasn't possible to include all the pictures I made ....
Who wouldn't want to swim in this unusual pool......
The outdoor kitchen........

Marion enjoying the view.......
Beautiful vistas in every direction........
Foxgloves, etc, galore.........
Back porch with masses of pink roses.......
Tiered geraniums........
Reflection pool................
We toured a second garden .....I really like the garage.....
Brick walkways, garden walls, statuary, flowers of all descriptions made this garden a treat to walk through......even had flowers that move themselves.....the swimming pool and outdoor fireplace were very inviting........

John, Marion, Mindy, Betty and Sandra.......
Imogene, Marion and Mindy
Finally back to Imogene's home after a busy but enjoyable day.....we collected Edward and John and headed north to the little cabin in the mountains........

Front porch at the cabin......Happy 17th Birthday to Erin and Elisabeth

Rhondi at Rose Colored Glasses is `having a porch party today and has links on her blog to all those who wish to share their porches...and it's Rhondi's birthday....HAPPY BIRTHDAY!


These are pictures of our cabin porch in the mountains......when all fourteen of our family are here together we make many memories.....we have a few more rocking chairs inside the cabin and red printed cushions for each. Adults usually claim one before the children can.... Their are two openings at the steps and lattice gates that slip down into each opening. It has been like a big play pen for all eight grandchildren....a kiddie pool is placed on the deck end for the toddlers while the older ones play in the creek in front of the cabin........

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Today should be declared a National Holiday.....it's Erin and Elisabeth's 17th birthday.....seems like yesterday that the twins were born.....so tiny yet so perfect......what a blessing they've been to us....'the girls' as they are always referred to and I are going out for lunch and a shopping trip. What more could a grandmother or in my case, a Mam, ask for? If you have time, please drop by their blogs to wish them a HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

We meet at last........Marion and John arrive.......

What an exciting, wonderful, fantastic time we've been blessed to have during the last few weeks......finally we met our dear friends, Marion and John, face to face......




We had spent a few days up in the north Georgia mountains at our little cabin...we don't go up through the winter months so we needed to do some cleaning before we carried Marion and John up for a couple of days........on Sunday, May 18th, we left about 11:00 am going to the Atlanta airport to meet our long awaited friend's plane. Everything went well until we were almost down to Atlanta where the road paving began....creeping along inch by inch.......we......along with all the people on their way to the Brave's game. It got nearer and nearer the time for the plane to land and I became tense and more tense. What would they think if we weren't there to meet them?

Finally, we made it to the airport and to the area we had agreed to meet. Edward walked around and found where Marion and John would enter.......we decided to wait there.....Edward asked a couple of times, "are you sure you will recognize them?" I confidently answered, "yes."

At one point a handsome young man walked up to me and asked, "what are you doing here?" Taken aback for a moment I didn't answer. Then I recognized Rob who is a friend of our daughter and son-in-law......He was arriving home from a trip.....Imagine running into someone you know in all those thousands of people!

After nearly two hours had passed I began to get a little anxious that we had missed them.....I asked a passing stewardess about customs and imigration and she said it very well could take up to two hours.......many, many people comprise a steady stream as they walk by to the baggage carousel. Suddenly I recognized (I thought) John who was nearer to the side where I was standing....I said, "Marion?"
The man stopped and the lady looked at me and I knew instant
ly it was Marion and John.......Marion and I hugged each other and it was a wonderful moment.....time stood still......

After retrieving their luggage, we left the airport and headed to spend the night with our daughter, Mindy, Chip, Davis and Drew...........

To be continued...........

Dreams Do Come True.........

Many months ago, I ran across a lady's blog from Wales....I was very new to reading blogs, I certainly didn't have one at the time.....I read her blog for several weeks before I had the nerve to leave a comment. A few weeks later I emailed her to tell her how much I enjoyed reading about her life in Wales and looking at pictures of her beautiful garden......

To my delightful surprise, the next morning I had a reply....to say I was thrilled is an understatement......thus began my friendship with Marion.....we are the same age, share our faith in Jesus, love our families, mutual gardening interests, enjoy our homes, among many other likes......

We often wrote how wonderful it would be to meet face to face....I have never flown and doubt that I ever will unless a dire emergency arises.....Marion is a retired travel agent and she and John are seasoned travelers.....Edward and I issued an invitation to come for a visit....and they graciously accepted. Six months ago we set a date ......and now the time is at hand.

On May 18th, we will meet them at the Atlanta airport....finally we will see them, Lord willing, and can actually embrace them....friend to friend.

They will be here for 12 days and we plan to travel some around our state and perhaps neighboring states......our church congregation is planning a 'southern church dinner' on the Sunday they will attend services with us. Our children and grandchildren are planning a special event in their honor......

So, dream dreams....sometimes they actually do come true....mine did......meeting someone from another side of the globe with like interests.....God is indeed very good......


Marion and John
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I won't be posting until the first of June probably unless Marion and I have time between visiting......and talking........and talking..........and talking...........
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A Tribute to Mothers.......

A baby asked God, 'They tell me you are sending me to
earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and
helpless?' God said, 'Your angel will be waiting for you and will take
care of you.'

The child further inquired, 'But tell me, here in heaven
I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy.' God said,
'Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will
feel your angel's love and be very happy.'

Again the child asked, 'And how am I going to be able to
understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?' God
said, 'Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you
will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach
you how to speak.'
'And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?'
God said, 'Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you
how to pray.'

'Who will protect me?' God said, 'Your angel will defend
you even if it means risking its life.'

'But I will always be sad because I will not see you
anymore.' God said, 'Your angel will always talk to you about Me and
will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be
next to you.'

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but
voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, 'God, if
I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name.'

God said, 'You will simply call her Mom...........

You Are A Fireman Now, Billy........

I think this email is worth reading..there are still caring people in the world...are you one of them? Am I A Fireman Yet?? In Phoenix , Arizona , a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer pos sible. The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true. She took her son' s hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?' Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.' Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.' Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix , Arizona , where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix . She explained her son's final wish and Asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.' 'They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.' Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's' van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible. One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition. The chief replied, 'We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?' 'It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?' About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window-------- 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, 'Chief, am I really a fireman now?' 'Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand,' the chief said With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and The angels have been singing..' He closed his eyes one last time. Philippians 4:13