Just thinking about one little Firecracker who will be starting kindergarten tomorrow...I tell her to have a great day tomorrow...and she laughs and says OH I WILL! I love that...she's already planning on it...I have been looking at a lot of pictures and so thought well I could look back at different August pictures...and up comes a picture of one little flower girl Firecracker...but the picture I find makes me smile as she is being held by Mike...who she will be a flower girl in his wedding as he marries a Lizzy...
And so I do a search for Izzy in my pictures...and so I throw some in...and I wonder how this time has gone so fast...she will be off for school...another milestone...and I love the joy she brings to life...her happy and so I put in a song her and I like...her mom not so much...but can listen to while you look at pics...I need to do my own...and you see a few of the many lives she has touched...and thankful for every day having a Firecracker in our lives...
And I think back of rocking her and playing the other day and I told her I remembered when I rocked her and she fit on my lap...so we took a selfie in the same rocking chair...So thankful for a happy little girl...and I know she will have a good day tomorrow...cause she told me so! Hopefully she won't have to do jumping jacks!!! And I think of her daddy and wonder if the years ahead she will take after him in school or be like her mama? I am guessing a little bit of both...
God bless you and keep you Firecracker as you start this new adventure...and remember...I am always available to rock you Ahma...
Sorry if any duplicate pics...it's past my bedtime...sweet dreams!
I have been slow in getting all the pictures for Kasey Jo and Kerry uploaded...and so last night I was working on some more and I am sure some may wonder on the Why kNOT theme...that you might have seen and wondered...
So in this blog I dedicate to not only a very special to me...but to their parents...
When a certain Kieran Patrick O'Halloran asked Ted Pennington about marrying his youngest daughter Kasey Jo Pennington...those that know Ted find no surprise that he said, "Well I don't see why not." Or something on that order...I wasn't actually there...but with it...the whole tying the Knot theme was born...the K...Kasey and Kieran...but I came across this picture last night and it is one I caught pretty quickly and not as tight a focus as I like...but there was something about it that captured the moment of a daddy giving away his daughter to a man that he prays will love her and cherish her...take care of her...and of course maybe bring him grandbabies one day...
So I start with the hug...such emotion these two shared as they made a fairly quick trip down the aisle...a kind of let's do this approach...and I think of these two...and how one girl went out in the great big world and got away from those roots...but went and experienced other things that are out there and came back to embrace and cherish those country roots those roots of home that make her Kasey Jo...And I think of the father/daughter song...and yes Kasey Jo...I see it as well...may have to add pictures and make your own video but for now I include the song...
And one usually thinks of the father's and daughter's but there is also the mother's and daughter's... and I find one that I love of my special friend Mary and her daughter...cause it turns out I see a little of your mother in you as well...
And I do see glimpses of another...certain moments...You gotta love a Stella!
And so I focus first on the bride because I know her best...known her longest...but I think of Kerry...I think of the groom's parents...Of not getting a picture of them together until Kerry had made a change into his Ninja turtle shirt and I said something to his mom and she said that's my boys...and how proud they seemed of their son...and share their love with Kasey Jo...
And I think about Kerry not really being a "country boy" but he dressed as one and looked pretty good and seems to embrace it...and I think about he and his mom...and her saying that they don't dance...but she danced anyway...why...for her son...
I think of the song I don't dance as it makes me think of Kerry...(as I also think of a certain guy I know)...but it's words seem to fit...
Kieran O'Halloran a mountain boy just going about his business when into his life would come a Kasey Jo...forever to be changed...and I watched the two of them...and the special things they bring to this table called life...he wearing boots for her and she Ninja socks for him...mingling their own unique styles...as in this thing called marriage...may you continue to bring out the best in the other...making each other be the best that they are meant to be.
So in this "dance" may the LORD bless and keep them...I think about being introduced to the crowd as Mr. and Mrs...and they just had such joy about them...of their heart felt appreciation for those that came to share their day when they toasted and seemed to strengthen each other...
Perhaps the day is over...but memories as well as the Love and Joy will continue on...as they walk off into the green of a little town called Oak Creek...and the journey is only beginning!
Some days you do something you never thought you would be doing...and it turns out to be a fun surprise...so the shepherd had made our game plan...we would be taking a trailer to Rocky Vegas...so since it would be near noonish time we had decided we should just do lunch out...so I look at the clock and go out to tell him that we could deliver pizza to his folks...and he says he had already called them to see if they wanted to ride along and do lunch. So we make it to Rocky and then decide to go to Fowler for lunch.
I loved when we got there and there was J.H. and Mary Beth McCuistion sitting in the corner enjoying each others company. So we go and say hello to them and then find our seats...Fried chicken and ribs on special...but I watch as the McCuistion's table just keeps having different folks stop by and talk and they do not have any time just the two of them. I love their energy that just seems to ooze!
So after finishing lunch...the shepherd asks his folks if they were in a hurry to get home...to which they reply no and so off we head to the "dryland". The north country where my husband grew up...where his father grew up...and what is first sold as being a trip to check out some new building...we just keep heading north. It was good to see this country green...it has been a while...the Blue grama grass heading out...not as many weeds as we anticipated seeing for the overflow of tumbleweeds last year...and we just kept driving north...and me there NAKED! No not like that...without my camera...I can't believe I didn't have it with me...but the shepherd says just take it all in.
We drive by many places and some places that aren't really places anymore. I loved hearing my father-in-law tell me of stories of who lived where...where a house used to stand...and I enjoy watching him and my husband just enjoying the ride...
So I stick in a pic...all I had was my phone...and so maybe not real good...but still captured the moments...and good subjects!
Discussion of mailmen...of Ronnie (the oldest son) when he was just a little guy not having time to eat as he rode on his tricycle saying he was Ben the mailman and he had mail to deliver...Tim remembers Charlie Swift...thought he was a good old guy...that they would bring them candy...of the mail being delivered by the train...that at places the train would drop the bag off as they kept going.
I hear my mother-in-law talk of when they worked for Doc Watson and living in the basement house...an underground home...but with it she talked of having to heat the water in the basement and then carry up stairs to the washing machine...and I feel guilty about ever thinking anything about having to do laundry! That lady she worked hard and still looks pretty good! Raising seven kids (six of which boys) taking care of the ranch while Grandpa worked "in town"...
I watch them looking out the window and though this is just a trip checking out the countryside...it is also a ride "home" in some ways...a place to go and visit memories from long ago...the shepherd and I lived out on the "tundra" as it has been called for a shorter time...but with it I also have memories...we drive by the old "home" place where my husband grew up...where his father grew up...and now his little brother lives there...and his son's grew up there...
The shepherd continued going "around the block" and next thing we know...we are in Lincoln county...checked on things for you Marge...the horses were missing you! Saw Shad's flag flying in the wind...saw where Mary Beth who we had seen for lunch had lived part of her childhood...and as we came back around the block...we saw the "Cudahy" how I would have loved to see this ranch back in the day...BUT what caught us was all the water...and so I tell the shepherd...to stop...I don't have my camera...but I need to send a picture to Kelly...a picture from home for him even though he now calls Odessa, Texas or perhaps Midland home...but know even though blurry...it will trigger memories for him as well...
So I tried to take a panoramic on my cell phone and this is what I got...I will get it yet...
So I bring this to a close...enjoyed the green...LIFE...the time seeing new and old country and a little over 100 miles later...we had made the block and were back home. It really was a JOY ride and glad we made the trip...and I think back to work tomorrow...have a great week!
And today is my dad's birthday...Jimmie E. Lance...he would have been 77 years old...not sure I can imagine my dad being 77 years old. My dad was one of those guys that probably would not have been a good old man...oh yes he was a good "old man" to me...but I am sure there are reasons he did not have to go through the things that I see others going through...
It has been 25 years since he has been gone...and it seems like such a long time...I think of my brother talking of dad being gone half his life...Even though there is so much of him still with us...and I see him in my brother...and his son...and my son. I look up and there is the pic of him on my mantle...the same one that I had posted up on Facebook...and I think of all of the comments...of those who knew him...those who did not...
I am reminded of how in our lives there are some that never knew my dad...yet there are others that help keep his love alive by their memories of him...I was blessed to have a dad that I miss...that others miss even after 25 years...a plumber by trade he would say...but not one person who remembers him mentioned him being a plumber...
Today I took pictures for 4-H...and must admit wasn't sure about taking them as I hadn't done it before...but I was reminded of my dad's saying..."I seen it done once"...then I seen where others talked about Dad caring about kids...and as I went to hop in my truck a giant butterfly fluttered through...and it just seemed a sign that I could feel him saying give it a try sis...
There is a young man who recently lost his dad...and he talked of missing him...and I thought how thankful we should be to have a dad that was "missable". Granted my dad was not perfect...as not any of us are...but he loved us...and I had wrote the other day...to love and be loved...isn't that something we all hunger for...
So I bring to a close but just wanted to stop and think of someone special to me. Give pause and thanks for my dad...and one day...see him again...
And one wonders where 30 years go...and how do they go so quickly. Yesterday I said we took in two parties...the second was at Clinton and Melinda's for Gary (Tim's baby brother) and his bride of 30 years Shelley's For what I remember of their day...it must have been longer ago...but doesn't really seem that long ago. But I figured the age of Heather...and decided oh...that is why I might have been distracted!
Hard to believe these two have been married this long...but I share some pics from the day...Looking pretty good you two! May you have 30 more...
Though Gary you might watch out because there was another guy that holds part of her heart...
Of course how could you not just love that face!
Some more of their gifts for being married that long...this picture for the face and expression he was giving me...the camera must like you Clinton!!
Okay so someone might be hidden a bit...love that she was giving the old married man a hard time!
And from across the room...but Calvin and John...quite the pair...
And the rest of Calvin's crew...
Nice hat!
Enjoying the pics...
Okay...sorry but I couldn't resist this one Katy roses and ice cream...now that says LOVE...
May you continue being blessed with many gifts...God bless and lots of love...30 years really isn't that long! Happy Anniversary!
