I have to be a proud mother here for a few minutes. Please indulge me. My son, Adam, is a photographer. He has had his own business,Perfection Photography, for about 4 years. Along with his wife, Suzanne, they are building up a great reputation. I am very proud of the work he does…as I am POSITIVE he got his artistic eye from me! 🙂 I can see his work getting better and better and the things he captures in the lens sometimes amaze me. Today, he is the featured photographer on the Pictage website. Pictage, with over 7000 members, is the leading full service photography studio/laboratory for professional photographers. In their blog, they feature various photographers whose work they think deserves recognition. And, they picked MY BOY to feature today. With no bias whatsoever, let me say that I think the Pictage people are extremely wise and insightful! Click here to go to the feature. At the bottom of his article, click on where it says to see more of his work…it will take you to his website and you can really tell more about what he does. Thank-you, and I hope you enjoy seeing his pictures. By the way, he is available to travel…just in case you were to ever…you know…desire the services of an extremely capable photographer!…with a beautiful wife!…and a proud Mom!
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Today, my sister, Joy, and I had lunch with 2 of our dearest friends, Jan and Jolene. They are sisters and grew up next door to us. Oh, the things we have shared through the years! Jan lives in NC and Jolene lives in TX. They were home to give their dad, who is Uncle Allison to me, a 90th birthday party. It really doesn’t seem right to call them friends, because their family and ours are so much more. Their Mom(my Aunt Katherine) and their sister(Brenda) live with Jesus now. It has been years since we have all gotten to sit down and talk. And talk, we did! We managed to sit in Olive Garden from 11:00 til 2:30…and there was never a lull in conversation. We caught up on their families and they on ours. It is ironic have we have gone through some similar things through the years. God has been good to all of us and has blessed us all greatly. When I saw Jolene coming across the walkway toward me, it was as though I was seeing Aunt Katherine again. I never before noticed how much she looked like her mother. After our lunch, they BEGGED me to take them to see our house.:) They approved and made me promise we would have a pajama party next time they come home! And, we will!

Jolene and Jan, you are so dear to me and I treasure the time we get to spend together. I love you both!

Jolene…Jan…Tonja…Joy

Jolene…Joy…Tonja…Jan

Jolene…Jan

Don and I have just returned from the new house. It seems that I may have possibly, quite by accident, totally unaware and not meaning to at all, and never would in a million years…ordered a piece of furniture for the kitchen that is too big for the space that has been allotted to contain it. I know…I know..it is hard to believe that I could do that, and it really is not MY fault. REALLY! I checked with the architect before I ordered it and he said it would be just fine. I even gave him a print out of the piece WITH the dimensions. Well, you would think I had ordered a whole roomful of pink plastic furniture with yellow daisies to hear all the uproar. I mean, this is just a little bump in the road…a mere pebble…there is just no reason to make it into a full blown mountain with snow on top! It is a very cool piece and I will use it in my studio where it will receive the proper adoration….no biggie! I do not know why this has to turn into a barrage on my math skills! Yes, I can use a ruler…and yes, I do know that 66 inches is a higher number than 58 inches. And, yes, I can read and write down the numbers correctly! I am a kindergarten teacher remember…and never you mind that we only use numbers up to as many fingers as we have. I hate it happened, BUT, it probably won’t be the only thing I mess up. Not that I am planning to, mind you….but sometimes ‘things’ just happen. “Just gotta roll with it, Baby…”
This is the piece in question…but in distressed black.

I don’t mean any disrespect by showing you this sign. I have had it for a while, and somehow…this seems like a good time to share it. I’m just saying…

As I told you in the previous post, we spent Memorial Day on a Honda Goldwing. That was because my Mom and Pop agreed to care for Alex. He has been in such pain lately, that I will not leave him for any length of time…unless I have someone specifically agree to look after him. We had a pretty rough night last night. Alex had to take extra meds, which is always a concern to me. Today was Don’s follow-up appointment in Birmingham with his Neurosurgeon. I was planning to go with him. I have not been able to see his doctor or talk to him since we found this intruder in his brain…and that is something I really wanted to do. But, when we got up this morning, I just could not feel comfortable leaving. There are times when my gut just says “don’t leave.” And, through the years, I have learned to trust that feeling. This change of plans, of course, disappointed Don. He had to make the trip by himself. He understood and said I was right to stay, but I just feel so torn in situations like this.

One of the hardest things throughout our years raising our boys with their difficulties, is feeling like there was never enough of me to go around. One brother got most of the attention and the other brothers sorta of fended for themselves.(I don’t mean Don didn’t help…he did, but I am talking about the ‘mothering’ things). At least they all had their turn at being the one to have my attention. And, now, I feel the same way about Don. I am not able to spend the time with him that I would like, because Alex needs someone near. I feel as if I am always asking the qestion,”Who needs me the most?”

There is no neat and tidy answer to this dilemma…it just is what it is. I am not whining…just stating facts. Because all the moments I spend with Alex are so sweet. He is so appreciative and so concerned for my well being. It has been several months now since he has had any break in his pain. It just gets overwhelming at times…and someone needs to be near. I pray for him to just get a good night’s sleep.

Don just called with his report from the doctor. All looks the same. The mass has not changed in 6 months…so we Praise God for that! He goes back in a year unless he begins to have some problem.

He also found some teak outside furniture on sale at Restoration Hardware, and he loves to buy things on sale! So we discussed and bought a lanai full of furniture…he in the store connected to me at home by cell phone. Whatever works, huh? Sometimes you just have to be creative to make things happen. Most times there IS a way…if you try hard enough!

So, we have lovely furniture for the lanai and poolside….but nothing for inside the house. That is something else I have learned….do what you can WHEN you can…that may be the only opportunity you have. Matters not if it is out of order…that;s what keeps life interesting!

What a perfect day to celebrate the beauty of God’s world…up close and personal! Don and I are ready to ride!

But, not just by ourselves…this is a day to spend with friends who are like family…Tina and Buddy and Pat and Bill. Fabulous breakfast compliments of Pat and Bill…YUM! Let’s go!

Oh, the open road! Sun shining, trees blowing in the wind, good music playing in the headphones…this is the life! I’ve heard that the only folks who really understand why a dog likes to stick his face out of a fast moving car window are motorcycle riders! 🙂

We passed little country churches…

…rivers just waiting to be fished in…

…sleepy little towns, decked out for the holiday.

But, even on this mode of travel, there must be stops here….

Well, I think I was getting a little bored here! But, hey, it’s a cool picture, isn’t it? Can you tell I am holding the camera?

The sun is beginning to set and we’re close to home now.

Memorial Day…remembering…and making new memories.

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“Greater love has no man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends.”
John 15:19
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I can recall talking to my grandmother Merritt years ago and getting her to tell us about her family when she was young. She recalled a time when her brother went off to war. Her Mother was very sad while he was gone and always felt uneasy. Once when she was walking down the dirt road to their house, her son came walking up the road to meet her. He told her he loved her, and walked on past. When she turned around to call him back…he had vanished. Granny Merritt said that she was inconsolable…she was certain he had been killed. The next day the “war men” as she called them came to their house to tell them about his death.

I know there are many stories such as this and similar to this that circulate among those who lose loved ones. Is it true? Do they really see their loved ones?
I have no clue. But, I will say this…the Bible states that to be …”absent from the body is to be present with the Lord…” 2 CR.5:8. So, I believe at the moment of death we are immediately in the presence of God. But, that’s what I believe…because I believe the Bible is true. However, does this mean those who are to undergo terrible pain and loss soon are not granted one more sight of the person they love so much? A loving God must grieve along with a mother and father who have lost their sons in battle…or those who have lost husbands and wives. I know God is great and powerful and is in control of all time and space. He can do what ever the situation warrants, if it is His will.

So…true or not? I have come to the conclusion…I’m not sure, but …”with God, all things are possible.” Matt.19:26
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Hope your Memorial Day is filled with FOOD, FUN, FAMILY, and FOND REMEMBERENCE!