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Tonja's Gatherings - A Christian Blogger from Dothan, AL
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Family, Friends, General, Remembering

1932—-2009

August 12, 2011 by tonja 2 Comments

This is the day, 79 years ago, that my Mom was born.  She was born and lived in North Carolina until she married Pop and moved to Alabama.  And here she stayed until she moved to her heavenly home.

I think of her so often, and I know many others do also.  When you speak of her to me, it is as if I am seeing her again through your eyes.  When I hear you say that you remember her kindness, or her dedication to her church and missions, or when you tell me of special notes she wrote to you…it reminds me again of how blessed I was to call her Mom.  She loved to pick out special gifts for others, and I could not even begin to tell you how many of her most delicious pound cakes she made to give to friends she loved.

I have written of her often on this blog, and you have so kindly read and commented accordingly.  But, I  have nothing new to add today.  I’ve probably said all there is to say several times over…(I have a tendency to do this more and more the older I get).  That’s OK…I’m just ‘taking after’ her…she did it, too.  🙂

In my files of things I like, I have this poem.  I am sorry that I do not know who to attribute it to.  But, whomever it was who wrote it, did an excellent job.  My Mom lived her dash well.  And, I am grateful to have been there to see so much of it.  And, I am grateful that my children and Joy’s children were there to see how she lived it as well.  As I have said before…she was a wonderful example and we were blessed to live in her heart…as she lives on in ours.

 

HOW YOU LIVE YOUR DASH

 

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning…to the end.

He noted that first came her date of birth
And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years. 

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth…
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not, how much we own;
The cars…the house…the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real,
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile.
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read
With your life’s actions to rehash…
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

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Reading time: 2 min
Family, Friends, General, HUMOR

CAHOOTSVILLE

July 25, 2011 by tonja 8 Comments

I have been in and feeling bad for tooooo long.   I started on another medicine this week and it has helped tremendously in getting my heart rate down.  I’m not near 100% yet, but, I’m lots better! And, so, I was looking forward to being able to go to church today.  I even had our clothes ironed and ready.   I have missed being there and missed worshipping with ‘my family’.

Yesterday,  the Creekhouse played host to my sweet friend Olivia and her 13th birthday party!  It was such a delight!  And, the perfect kind of party for me!  They brought the guests, they brought the food, and they took all the mess home with them!  Olivia’s Mom, Terri,  has been a friend of mine since SHE was a little girl.  (Don’t think too long about that…it may make me seem old…or something).  I was her piano teacher way back in 1976 or so, and then we have been friends at church with she and her husband and 3 beautiful girls.  Terri has known Adam since he was very little, and so came to know Suzanne.  She was instrumental in helping Suze get a job when she came back to Dothan.  And, Terri, her husband, Brian, and Suzanne all teach at the same school.  Whew! Lots of history there.

*********NOTE TO OLIVIA:  Something dredful happened to my pictures.  I don’t know how to explain it, but they were on the card, and then they were on the computer and then a big grey box covered them all up.  I wish I could explain it…or fix it.  I even got Alex up to look at it…he had never seen anything like it before…and he’s a computer genius!!! So, so sorry!  I’m just going to tell everybody about them.  I’m sure they’ll be able to see them in their mind.  XXXXXX Yes, they  will.  ‘K ?************

Here’s some great pictures we made at the party.  Here is me and Olivia Older Sister.  I’m the short one.  She’s the beautiful tall one. She likes artsy things, too!  And, she’s a TEENAGER!   Next is Faith Ellen Middle Sister holding Sweet Levi.  Isn’t she just the cutest thing…and she’s way smart too, and dances, too.   And Levi…well…he’s just so full of cute it’s busting out all over!!  Next is Maybry Younger Sister, doing a very good trick in the pool.  Can you see?  She was standing there and then she bent over and picked up her foot ond pulled her whole leg straight up in the air !  And, she smiled while she did it!  She’s a dancer and a real good swimmer, too.  She wanted me to try doing the trick with her, but we did not have a net on a pole big enough to get me out!  And, I’m pretty sure I would not have smiling either.  Then, here’s the presents, and here are all 12 girls in the pool….playing and splashing! 

After the fun was over, Suzanne and I rode over to Targ*t, to get this:

Have you seen these things?  It is amazing what all it does.  Amazing to me, at least.  But, remember, I’m just a NEW grandmother…not a VETERAN grandmother. 🙂 So, I’m just getting used to how much things have changed since about 1986.

This thing can be a bassinet, or a changing table, or a play mat with toys overhead.  AND…a play yard.  It will sing to Levi, or vibrate.  It even has a remote control, so I do not even have to move…but I will, of course!  It also folds with the touch of a button, has pockets all over to hold my Diet Dr Pepper while I’m changing him, and wheels so he can push it around behind me…..if he wants to follow me.  🙂

All this because he is going to stay with me 3 days a week when his Mom goes back to work.  And, we here in this Owens home, are so excited.   We are Ready Freddy !

Adam came and he and Suzanne took Levi swimming.  We sat and talked,  and talked and sat, and they swam and we talked.  I made some supper and we ate in shifts…between the sitting and talking and swimming.  After they went home, we went to bed.  And when I tried to swing my legs over the side of the bed to get up……

I can hardly move.  A soon as the pain meds and muscle relaxers wear off…it starts back.  And, those of you whose backs go out know there is not really much to do but rest, and take your meds, and wait.  At least I can use my computer a little.  But, between this pain, and missing church, and the computer destroying my beautiful pictures of Olivia and the party . I’m losing it.  Maybe it’s some sort of conspiracy to drive me bonkers!  The computer and my back must be in cahoots.  Well..maybe they are or maybe they’re not…no mind…I’m still very close to the BONKER level !

 

 

Well, that makes me feel a little better.  Are you one of the ‘best people’, too?

PS.  It’s Monday and my back is a teeny bit better…at least I can go to the potty without yelling!

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Reading time: 4 min
Family, General

LEARNING HOW TO SMILE

July 19, 2011 by tonja 7 Comments

SMILE:

A facial expression characterized by an upward curving of the corners of the mouth and indicating pleasure, amusement, or derision.

A pleasant or favorable disposition or aspect.To have or form a smile.

 

A SMILE WILL MAKE YOU HAPPIER

Know that wonderful feeling you get when you have a great workout? That’s from the happy chemicals the body produces called ENDORPHINS. Athletes experience this after their workout or competition. They call it a natural high. Smiling releases endorphins. Endorphins not only create a happier state mentally when they are released into the body, but they also have a variety of other health benefits.  Smiling and laughter have been proven to release endorphins in the body in the same way that they are released for an athlete.  So, by increasing laughter and smiling in your life can release endorphins in your body, ultimately providing you a variety of health benefits above. Smiling allows each and every one of us to provide our body with healing benefits. In fact, it can be your own prescription to heal and prevent ailments. So, SMILE !  Right now !  Coooome on…..THERE!  Now don’t you feel better?

“A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”    Proverbs 17:22   NIV

 

 

The most wonderful smile of all, however…..is your grandson’s FIRST smile…at YOU !

 

 

 

Life is like a mirror, we get the best results when we smile at it!

 

 

 

 


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Reading time: 1 min
Faith, Family, General, Remembering

WE REMEMBER

July 14, 2011 by tonja 6 Comments
 WE REMEMBER

At the rising of the sun and at its going down, 
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter. 
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring,
At the shining of the sun and in the warmth of summer. 
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
At the beginning of the year and at its end. 
As long as we live, she too will live....
.....for she is now a part of us, as we remember her.
 
When we are weary and in need of strength, 
When we are lost and sick at heart.
When we have joy we crave to share, 
When we have decisions that are difficult to make. 
When we have achievements that are based on hers,
When we fulfill her dreams, and our own. 
As long as we live, she too will live...
.....for she is now a part of us, as we remember her.

copied

..........graduation picture..........

 


..........in front of the house I grew up in....pregnant with me...
loved the maternity fashion back then.........




..........Mom and Pop took a trip around the world...and this is 
somewhere with ruins. Greece or Rome, I don't really know.But, I love
these 2 pictures because she is striding forth with such confidence. 
I know these pics are not easy to see...but in the first one she does
not know she is being photographed...and in the second...she see's him.
and out pops the smile!. I love how stylish she looks here...flared
pants, big sunglasses..........




..........I had to include this one because it looks as if I am looking
 back to see what she is doing. Because, she loved this old, ugly bush
 behind her...planted so conveniently right by the back door. I tried
 to tear it down numerous times...but never any luck. This, you see,
 was the switch bush...and Joy and I were both very familiar with it.
 And, believe me when I tell you, she truly believed that verse in
 the Bible that says something like..."spare the 'switch' and spoil the
 child". There was no chance of me getting spoiled. Ever. 
 No chance at all..........




 ..........Doing what she loved to do ...feeding her family..........
 


***And no matter what anybody says about grief and about time healing
 all wounds...the truth is, there are certain sorrows that never fade
 away until the heart stops beating and the last breath is taken.***

Mom moved to heaven 2 years ago today, and we remember.

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Reading time: 2 min
Family, General

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, POP !

July 9, 2011 by tonja 7 Comments

Today is my Pop’s birthday…he is 85!  Isn’t that wonderful?  We are so blessed to have him with us.

I love this pic of him and my Mom.  Don’t know where they were going…but they were dressed to perfection!

Motorcycles have been a big part of his life…all of his life.

Joy and I were blessed with a happy childhood, and wonderful parents.

These days he’s doing as much of this as he can!

And, he loves doing this…

But, he is especially happy on the days he can do this…

and this…

So, have a good one, Pop…

You are loved…

 

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Reading time: 1 min
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I am a Christian woman who has survived many years on the planet. God has blessed me with a wonderful family: husband, 3 sons, a dear DIL, and a precious grandson. I also have dear friends to keep me inspired. I am an artist of sorts and am finding my way through the great blessing of retirement. I recently retired after 20 years as a music teacher. Life is good!

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