the riveters

On Sunday I was trying out a retro pin-up/Marilyn Monroe makeup look (winged liner, red lips). I also wanted to try a pin-up/Rosie the Riveter/Bandanna/50's Housewife hairstyle after watching a tutorial by Kandee the Makeup Artist. I pulled the whole look together and decided...I really like it! And I put on a little Rosie Jo the Riveter Show for my parents. ha.

Today my mom came across this picture of my grandmother rocking a similar look!!!

That's Grandma and my mom (and a dog who was probably named Lady...because that's what all of Mom's dogs were named...)at Aunt Myra's house in the early-mid 1950's.

like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land - Proverbs 25: 25

(Or...Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens, from there the LORD your God will gather you and bring you back. - Deuteronomy 30:4)

That pretty girl in the blue shirt standing next to me is my cousin. She's about to embark on a new adventure and will be moving far far away. Farther away from our family than she's ever lived. While we've always been within a few hours' drive of one another (like our WHOLE lives) we're both busy gals who don't get to see each other very often as it is. But there is something about knowing she'll be states and states away (I counted four) that I find distressing. I will just have to be proactive about going to visit. All the new places and things to see! I'm already packing my bags in my head and her moving van hasn't even pulled out of her driveway.

I remember when she told me she was going to be moving. We were standing in the Columbia, Kentucky Walmart printing photos of us grandchildren with our granddad to be displayed at the funeral home after he passed away last summer. She told me where she was planing to move to. And right there in the middle of the Columbia Walmart next to the Kodak Picture Maker tears began filling my eyes before I could even process her words.

Despite my tears, I am flat out incredibly proud of her. She is being so bold and following God's call. She knows the cost and the merits of following and trusting Him. Boy, does that take courage sometimes. Like when that call takes you away to foreign lands...four states away from Kentucky.

so sweet...

My Aunt Linda sent Derby a get well card. How sweet is that?

april 2, the family holiday

Each spring my father's side of family usually gets together in Columbia, Kentucky to eat broccoli casserole and birthday cake. We picked early April for this annual gathering because my grandfather's birthday was April 2. This is our first April 2nd without him. And my mind has been on him a lot today, the day that would have been his 97th birthday.I'm not sure I have yet found the means to put into words what its like to be a family that has lost its patriarch. But I feel it a lot today. If there are birthdays in Heaven I know Granddaddy is celebrating his in the Place he wanted to be for so many years. And I hope Jesus cuts him a BIG piece of (non-chocolate) cake. With a generous scoop of ice cream.

week end last

Friday…
Laura and I went to the movies and finally caught Slumdog Millionaire.

Saturday…
My new (yet to be named) car and I took our first road trip (that did not involve Nashville). My parents, Uncle Wayne, and I headed to Louisville to Uncle Kenneth’s house. We have a lot of family birthdays in February – so it was a good excuse to get together for some broccoli casserole and birthday cake!We went through some old family photos that had belonged to my grandfather. I’m setting out on a project to scan them all and put them on discs so that we all have copies. I love photographs. And I saw a lot of photos that I had never seen before. My dad and uncles were such cute little boys! I also love seeing photos of my grandparents from their courtship and early married days.Sunday…
(LYLASarah's birthday) After church I made a batch of The World’s Perfect Brownies (thank you Ina Garten). Then I headed to Nashville for some love and Oscar viewing with these fine people…

My cousin Eric, his wife, and son.

I'm getting back to the swing of things with work. Some days I'm really tired at the end it all - like today. But it is good to be back in a normal routine and eating lunch with LYLASarah again!

sixty-five

I'd like to wish my daddy and Uncle Harold a very very happy birthday.

Uncle Harold, Dad, Uncle Kenneth, Uncle Wayne - Mid 1950's

Uncle Wayne, Uncle Kenneth, Dad, and Uncle Harold - 2009

they do...they did...

I am exhausted.


But it's a good tired. The kind of weariness that comes from a busy, but rewarding day. My cousin got married today to a really really great man. I am so happy that he is part of my family.My cousin, Katrina, is 6 years younger than me (or 5 and a few months...). Most of the time she feels more like my younger sister than a cousin. Her brother, Eric, is one of my best friends (and the funniest person I know). Growing up my family moved a lot. So did theirs. Our dads, who are twins, are both pastors. And no matter how many times we moved and how many friends, schoolmates, or church members came in or out of our lives we always had each other as touchstones. It was an honor to be part of Katrina and Jonny's big day. And they didn't even care that I wore hi-top Converse Chucks.

My family had a really nice and simple Thanksgiving. Originally we had planned to go to my uncle’s house in Louisville. But my cousin, Eric, came up with the bright idea to have everyone come to our house in Bowling Green so that my dad and I would not have to travel (my dad has a broken foot). Two of my uncles and some of my cousins joined us for turkey, dressing, green beans, and our family tradition of broccoli casserole – my Nana’s recipe. Or as my Aunt Trudy put it, “We’re celebrating Thanksgiving with Gimpy, Limpy, and Jo.”.

Yeah, I'm Jo.

My second cousin, Jackson, just celebrated his first birthday and is going to take his first steps any day. We were all anticipating his walking on his own for the first time whenever he’d start to take a step or two, while holding onto something, before softly landing on his bottom. My immediate family and I gave Jackson the Fisher Price Little People barn. I think my cousins and I had more fun playing with it than Jackson did. We all agreed it had been one of our favorite childhood toys. Only now it’s all plastic with “safe” rounded corners. And, get this, it now takes batteries and says more than, “moo”!

This was our first holiday gathering since my grandfather’s death in late June. It was a sweet moment to gather around, holding hands, and celebrate a long time family tradition of singing the Doxology before digging into the turkey and broccoli casserole.

through the years: part 2

My mom went through a Blonde Phase in college. It seems she and her friends would have Lady Clariol nights in the dorm at Kentucky Wesleyan college.



I wonder if she was trying to match her horse...



I *love* this green coat with faux fur collar and it's chunky molded buttons that she's wearing in these photos. Sadly, it has never fit me.

"through the years, through all the good and bad" - kenny rogers

LYLASarah took home a batch of photographs I had given her to scan. Today she brought me a CD of pictures taken during the 1950’s-1980’s. They are mostly family photos. Birthdays, holidays, and other gatherings. It was so fun to look at the enlarged versions and notice details I had missed before.

Here is a photo of my parents. This was taken at one of their wedding showers in 1969. I love the expression on my dad’s face. It shows a certain, “What have I gotten myself into?” I’m sure that was less about my mom and more about the painting they are holding.

when earth's last picture is painted

Tuesday, at my grandfather’s funeral, my Grandma Margie spoke about the love of poetry that she shared with Granddaddy. I have many memories of Granddad quoting lines of poetry and Scripture. He also enjoyed reading, learning, language….and playing Scrabble. Grandma Margie shared how they had something of a light hearted contest going to see who could recite the most poems from memory. Granddaddy always won.

Grandma Margie shared one of his favorite poems, one by Kipling. What a classy lady. I don’t know how she got through it. I think I would have gotten choked up or been in a puddle. But she recited that poem with such confidence and assurance. It was beautiful.

"When Earth's Last Picture Is Painted"
by Rudyard Kipling

When Earth's last picture is painted
And the tubes are twisted and dried
When the oldest colors have faded
And the youngest critic has died
We shall rest, and faith, we shall need it
Lie down for an aeon or two'
Till the Master of all good workmen
Shall put us to work anew
And those that were good shall be happy
They'll sit in a golden chair
They'll splash at a ten league canvas
With brushes of comet's hair
They'll find real saints to draw from
Magdalene, Peter, and Paul
They'll work for an age at a sitting
And never be tired at all.
And only the Master shall praise us.
And only the Master shall blame.
And no one will work for the money.
No one will work for the fame.
But each for the joy of the working,
And each, in his separate star,
Will draw the thing as he sees it.
For the God of things as they are!

"i'll fly away, too-da-loo, too-da-loo, too-da-loo"

Many years ago my granddaddy was preaching a revival where the song leader had an interesting way of leading the hymn, "I'll Fly Away". It's kind of become a family favorite since then. Our family is one of those where someone ends up at the piano as we sit around singing hymns. Time and again we’d spontaneously break into “I’ll Fly Away” while gathered in the living room at my grandparents’ house. That song always makes me think of my grandfather.

Granddaddy passed away about half past midnight, early Saturday morning. He was 96. He was ready. Our family was probably about as ready as we could be. We are relieved and sad. We are comforted, hurting, celebrating, mourning, and rejoicing.

Until recent years Granddaddy was always an energetic man who loved to cook and garden and visit with people. As a child he taught me to play checkers. Only years later did I realize he was letting me win. My cousins realized the same about their checker games, too. Granddad continued to preach and serve well after his official retirement. Several small strokes in recent years had made it difficult for him to speak. He still had so much to say and never wanted to pass up the opportunity to tell someone about his Lord. I think his slurred and labored speech made his desire to share a Scripture or what God had done in his life all the more beautiful. He was going to put his energy into sharing The Gospel.

Granddaddy let us know he was ready. He was ready to give up this life for the next. Several times within the last few years we’ve thought, “Okay, this is it”. Then Granddaddy would get better and return to the nursing home. Because of this my mom gave him the nickname the Energizer Bunny (although, sometimes she got confused and called him the Eveready Rabbit). He kept going…and going…and going… When Mom came to tell me the news of his passing she simply said, "The Energizer Bunny's battery ran out."

He had spent much of the past week in the hospital. Most of the family was able to visit. That song, “I’ll Fly Away” seems to sum up the last few days of Granddaddy’s ninety-six years on this earth. “Just a few more weary days and then, I’ll fly away…”

Shortly after we received word that Granddaddy had gone Home I sent a text to my dear friend, Christy. She wrote back something that I have thought about all day. She said, “I’m somewhat of jealous of him. I can’t even imagine the glory he just walked into!”
I am overwhelmed by the thought of it.

Words by Alfred Brumley

Some bright morning when this life is over
I'll fly away
To that home on God's celestial shore
I'll fly away

I'll fly away oh glory
I'll fly away (in the morning)
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away

When the shadows of this life have gone
I'll fly away
Like a bird from these prison walls I'll fly
I'll fly away

Oh how glad and happy when we meet
I'll fly away
No more cold iron shackles on my feet
I'll fly away

Just a few more weary days and then
I'll fly away
To a land where joys will never end
I'll fly away

today

HAPPY 96TH BIRTHDAY GRANDDADDY!

happy 38th wedding anniversary mom and dad