Savannah Part I

3 May 2015  

I'm kind of a history buff -- I guess we don't use "buff" anymore, do we?  Whatever it is that connotes someone who loves genealogy, family history, the history of this country that I love, and the history of the world.  Whatever it's called, I've got more than a bit of that.

Room with a View

This weekend Mr. H. and I went over to Savannah, Georgia.  It was founded around the 1730's and the residents are working hard to preserve it's history. It certainly is full of touristy places, but they are doing an amazing job returning the core buildings and historic sites to their original beauty.  And the small parks that are dotting the city are amazing.  Beautiful huge oaks with gnarled branches, magnolia trees, and nearly everything dripped with silvery Spanish moss.

One of the many beautiful little parks.

Magnolia flower (from the underside!)

Spanish Moss

Savannah River

Cotton Exchange
The Cotton Exchange was the center of activity in the 1800's.

Cobble stone road made from ballast rocks
The roads leading down to the River Street are made from stones the old ships would use as ballast.  These rocks could be from anywhere in the world, and brought here hundreds of years ago.

River Street hotels/loft spaces
On the River Street side of the Cotton Exchange are these buildings that have fairly recently been converted to hotels, shops, restaurants, and loft spaces. When Mr. H. and I came here about 2005, these were still very rough and had "for sale" signs posted. Look at them now!

Shops and restaurants

There is more to talk about regarding Savannah - it really is a lovely place (even more so when the weather is perfect!).  So if you're in the area do take a few days and check it out.  As with most places like this, I'd recommend you take a bus tour just to get the lay of the land.  The one we took when we first went allowed us to get off and on the tour bus all day so we could explore.  

**I should have included a disclaimer as I started this post -- if you really want to find out about Savannah, of course go there. But before you do, check out the official website at savannah.com.

I didn't see it at first...

My grandparents, Edwin and Lela, with my uncles, Les and Ted,
and my mother and sister.  WWII.

12 March 2015

     I'm slowly scanning old photos in and doing what I can via Photoshop Elements to clean them up. The above photo was part of a four tiny (about 1"x1.5") photos all in one little strip.  Scanned, cropped, repaired.

     I didn't see it until I was working to get rid of the spots, stains and scratches.  My two uncles were home on furlough and I'm assuming they were on their way back out.  This was at the height of WWII. The love and concern among them is palpable. 

     And there it is. My grandfather, Pop, is holding my uncle's hand.  I wept.  

     My uncles, Les in the middle of the shot and Ted on the right, were both in the Army Air Corps during WWII.  They both saw "lots of action." Ted was a pilot.  I have a great picture of him in his leather jacket and pilot's helmet.  Les was a corporal and trained as a ball turret gunner on a B24 heavy bombardment crew.  Both of these good men were forever changed by the experiences they endured.  Neither of them ever spoke of their experiences and it was only after Les passed away that his only child, a daughter, was told of his mind-bending experiences.

     I love this picture. My brave, wonderful family.  We cannot conceive the sacrifice and courage of our families during this time.  Years apart. Rationing. Little or no communication. My family was so very blessed as we didn't lose any of our men to war at that time.  All "came marching home" to start and rebuild lives, raise families, and live long lives further leaving their legacy of honor, courage and strength.

     I'm so grateful to know that we will be reunited.  That I will be with these people, whom I love so much, again.  I'm so grateful for their example, their grace, their courage.  I'm so grateful that someone captured this moment in time where the deep love of family is so evident.

FAMILIES ARE FOREVER

Family!

(seated) William F. (Bud), Sarah Ann (Chance)
(standing from left) Verda, Glenn, Lorn, Arthur, Maude

7 March 2015

This is my great-grandfather's, William's, family. My grandfather, (Arthur) is the taller one standing in the back.  I now know where I got my curly hair.  And my height.  William's nickname was Bud, which is what we have always called my older brother, too.  Before working on family history I didn't know that.

Having photos from my family is so amazing to me.  How grateful I am that we have these few photos, and now I can scan them in and save them (hopefully) forever, PLUS share them with all my family.  

My grandfather was born in 1883 in Coffeeville, Kansas.  William was there when the Dalton gang was killed.  Isn't that amazing? My younger brother looks a whole lot like William, although I understand William was only about 5'8" and my brother is 6'5".  

This family settled in the Oklahoma Territory.  I have the wheel hubs of the wagon they drove. 

If I can encourage you to do anything, please preserve your life through photos AND the written word.  Keep a small journal.  Doesn't have to be elaborate.  Make it a habit.  Even writing an email to yourself and printing it out. A dearest friend and I exchange daily emails and I use it as a good portion of my journal.  How hard is that?  Letters, emails, pictures.  All good.

I recently watched an episode of "The Generations Project" on BYUTV.  A young man was trying to make a decision about his path in life.  He was able to access the journals of a family member from very early 1900's, from the mid-1800's, and found information written about a relative from the 1600's-1700's.  If someone hadn't taken the time to write, he wouldn't have found clues as to who he was and why he had such diverse interests.  It was an awesome story

So please write.  For yourself, for your children's-children's-children.  For those who will come after us.  It is so very important to them.  History preserves the important and famous, you need to preserve a record of you and your family.  

You ARE important.  

You are a Child of God.

Cheers!

Just Grateful

February 10, 2015

I came across a post I had written, but not finished, from last November.  It was about gratitude.  Since it wasn't completed nor published then, let me express what I was trying to say then… now...

I know how blessed I am.  Incredibly.  My husband and I are able to provide for ourselves and live in a comfortable home.  We have relatively good health.  Our home is simple, but warm and safe.  After 10 years of marriage I think we have this thing figured out - we love each other and we like each other.  My husband told me the other day that he has never had a relationship where he trusted someone so much.  I'm honored.

I love my family - I can't imagine this world without them in it.  I have a brand spankin' new beautiful grand-niece born just a week after my dad passed away.  Another grand-niece is due in about a month.  The cycle of life.  

We are expecting our second grandson this coming summer.  Our nearly three year old grandson is doing great, as are his parents.  They have made the decision to make the sacrifices necessary for her to stay home with their kids.  We are proud of them and they are doing well.

I have incredible friends who have supported me through thick and thin, and who are infinitely patient with me.

So this is just a little snip of all the things for which I'm profoundly grateful.  Things aren't perfect, and I certainly have an endless list of things I need to change about myself.  But I know I'm a daughter of God and He loves me. And I have a deep and profound faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which gives me peace that surpasses understanding. I wish for you the same.  (Learn about it here…)

Cheers

My Dad

I've been away a bit.  Some will understand when I say that I needed a bit of time away…  you see, my Dad died about a month ago.  He is/was a hero of mine; I love him more than I can put into words.  

Some may wonder why I need(ed) time to grieve, after all, he was 96 years old. But I couldn't imagine this world without him.  Until about three years ago he was in amazing health. Then he did OK until about a year ago. This past year has seen a steady decline, although he's been living on his own and his determination and drive to live his life to the fullest has been without question.




He passed in the most kind and gentle ways possible; he had gotten up and ready for breakfast, then he evidently sat back down on the bed and passed away.  So after 40 years apart, he is finally reunited with the love of his life, my Mom.  Another incredibly amazing person who still influences my life for good today.  





My Dad was born in very, very humble circumstances in Kansas. So it was there we returned him to be encircled again by family.  The cemetery is across the road from the farm where Dad grew up. Close to him are my grandparents, my uncle and aunts and many others.  As I stood and looked out over the rolling hills, in my mind's eye I could see my dad and his brothers running through the fields. 

Healing takes time.  It doesn't seem real most of the time.  A couple weeks ago I was at the store and saw they had Valentine's Day cards available and my first thought was that I needed to find one for Dad so I could he would have it before Valentine's... and then reality hit.  I have written to him or emailed regularly and I miss that.  We put his townhouse on the market and it sold almost immediately.  He had lived there for longer than any other place in his life -- 24 years -- so many holidays, evening meals, watching sports (with the sound turned off as he liked it better that way), hearing stories from his life.  It is still surreal that I will never go visit him there again.

Through it all, I know and understand the Plan of Salvation, also known as the Plan of Happiness.  I know Dad is now surrounded by the people he loved and who loved him most in life.  I understand that death is a part of this mortal life and I am so very, very thankful for "goodly parents" who loved us. I am so very thankful for wonderful memories, for having been raised in a humble, but safe home by parents who cared.  

I am so very grateful to know beyond doubt that 

Families are Forever 

and the day will come when we will be reunited.  

The fullness of 

the Gospel of Jesus Christ 

has been restored.  

He lives, and because of this, we will also live.

I love you, Dad.

I am a "Pollyanna"

November 24, 2014

     Or perhaps it's more that I WANT to be a Pollyanna.  For those who don't know, years and years ago, Disney came out with a movie of that name based on a 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter.  A little girl named Pollyanna came to live with her grumpy aunt when she was orphaned.  Pollyanna was a perennial optimist, always looking for and seeing the good in everything.  She played the "glad game" where she would look for things for which she was glad.  

     But it's very hard to fight the negative beasties!  My goodness there is a SOOOOO much negative out there. Everywhere.I.Turn. Commercials are even rife (which may also mean I have the TV on too much, but that's another story). 

     I work very hard to not listen; no news, no newspaper, no online news sources, nothing, zero, zilch, nada.  There is absolutely nothing I can do about it (or 99.9999% of it anyway), so putting it into my brain is so wrong.

     And that works to a point.  But a few of the people I hang with (kinda can't not hang with them) live on that stuff.  And want to share it.  Every juicy, ugly, depressing bit of it.  It doesn't affect them like it does me (it totally crushes my soul).   Even though I've told them how I feel.  But they forget.  And sometimes gleefully share.  

     Someone shared that psychologically we need to hear three positives for every negative.  I told that to one person and they looked at me like I had three heads!  

modernmarried.com

     I really do believe we need to "see the good in the world" as much as we can.  Yes, fix the problems when we can, but all the negative diatribe does nothing but chase the Spirit out.  And I really don't want to do anything that will cause that to happen.  Gratitude and faith are powerful, and very positive, tools to overcome the world.  Make your mind a "no negative zone."

Cheers

     

Recycle/Up-cycle - Please stop and think before you cut into that t-shirt (sweater, jeans)...

November 22, 2014

     I am a huge {HUGE} proponent of the tome "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."  I am also huge fan of hand crafted items.  So recycling items that are no longer of use in their present form is super and I love the opportunity to save money and not contribute to the landfill when possible.  I love taking raw materials and making something beautiful and/or useful.

     What I have an inner conflict with is when we take perfectly good items that either no longer fit us, or are no longer our style, and cut them up or tear them apart to make something we may use once or twice, or more likely, we may never use.  And frankly make things we don't really need.

     All over the craft sites, blogs, and Pinterest there are tutorials on how to take a sweater and make a purse or pillow cover; how to cut a t-shirt into a yarn and make a necklace or scarf, how to make (yet another) bag out of legs of jeans or trousers. {Although, IMHO, I can never have enough bags!}

      And for full disclosure, I have taken Mr H's worn out trousers and a shirt and made little pants and a shirt for our grandson when he was born.  I think they turned out super cute.  So I do understand and again, am a proponent of recycling and up-cycling items.  I have taken old computer parts and made items, and am even working on making a lamp base out of old CDs (it's going to be a very cool addition to Mr H's office).  Recycling and up-cycling are fantastic ways to "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."     

But please, before you cut into anything that is otherwise in usable/wearable shape… know that there is someone who has a whole lot less than you do and would LOVE to have that item to wear.  

     Here in North America we have been hit like a runaway bulldozer with fall/early winter storms and extreme cold.  It's to be a particularly cold winter this year throughout our continent.  Sweaters, sweatshirts, flannel shirts, trousers, jeans, all these things would be so welcomed by those who struggle to just get by.  Even in places that are typically warm and mild, the night temps are dipping down into the 30's, 20's and even teens.  Here in Georgia we have had overnight temps into the high teens already.  WHAT?

     If you don't know where to take your still-wearable-but-no-longer-what-you-wear clothes, call the local woman's shelter, call a church, check with your friends to see what they know.  I have a local acquaintance who does awesome work with an organization in Appalachia that takes donated clothes and other household items and immediately makes sure they get to families in need - all volunteers, no middle man, no over-paid executive staff.  Although I don't get the tax write-off for donating, it is so very worth it.

   So please do continue your handcrafted goodness and share those items with people who will love and cherish the time and effort put into them.  Do recycle and up-cycle those items that can no longer be used otherwise. But please, before you do, DO think about how that perfectly good sweater, sweatshirt, pair of jeans, or T-shirt may be worn by someone who doesn't have means.  Your heart will thank you for it.

Cheers!