Today would have been

our Mama’s 80^th birthday…

Wow.

 I’ve scheduled a cRaZy busy week to keep my mind busy…

but wanted to take a moment to share a bit about her ---

Maybe some things you know, or didn’t know – or have forgotten…

 Mama was #9 of ten girls

[bless her mama's and daddy’s hearts…]

She has a niece that is the same age as her…
thus, I have second cousins my age...

She was a junior high cheerleader, 
in the homecoming court,

and salutatorian of her Senior Class

[She was the only one of the girls to graduate from high school…]

She grew up in the country and picked cotton to earn spending money…

They would ride in the back of a truck to go the North Alabama Fair each year…

Mama worked as a telephone operator before meeting and marrying our father…

She was blessed to be home with us…

 She enjoyed creating beautifully wrapped gifts,
and loved setting a pretty table...

She also loved to talk on the phone...
[but I'm sure we ALL knew that - ]

 She canned everything from jelly, to tomatoes, to beans, 
apples, peaches, and peas
-- for us to eat all winter long… 

And she made the best biscuits and blackberry jam I’ve ever eaten.

She enjoyed gardening and cooking fresh veggies, 
Southern Style – fried or with lots of bacon. Yum.

She loved having flowers in her yard and in her home.

Mama miscarried a couple of years after I was born and

her life was complete when she finally had her baby boy 10 years later…
[This photo is not 'shopped' - it's soc 
with slide film from one of our dad's old cameras -]

 She was terrified of storms and we somehow [ha] always ended up
out at my gr-mother’s house [and in her storm cellar]

whenever a storm was brewing- lol.

She played softball at Robbins’ Field when we were kids –

And apparently wasn’t afraid to swing from the rafters on occasion – ha.

She loved to read and could easily devour a few 400 page books a week –

Some of my earliest memories are of our weekly trips to the library in Sheffield…
Tough Enough was one of my favorite series...

She also loved studying her Bible

and reading commentaries for theological insights

[I think she owned at least two different sets – of the BIG ONES – ha.]

She had the [spiritual] gift of teaching

and taught Sunday School most of her life –

She so enjoyed seeing her Sunday School members grow in the Lord…

She wasn’t perfect – but was perfectly forgiven, and

taught us that this forgiveness was available to all of us as well.

She loved butter pecan ice cream, or was it peach? 
Or strawberry? Ha.

She also loved visiting and taking little gifties to ‘her shut-ins’ [as she called them]

and I really believe that’s where my love for the elderly and disabled first started…

I can remember weekly visits to Ms. Gas’ house

and also to people in nursing homes when I was a kid…
She loved her grandsons --  

 Oh how she loved them -  

and was generous to the point of Lorna and I having to

tell them that they couldn’t give them money 
every time they walked in the door – lol.
She was an excellent seamstress too - 
and made us many, many beautiful outfits - 
and fun things like ET, bugs bunny, clowns,
and ninja turtle outfits for Halloween costumes...

But she was overcome with joy when little MK was born!

There hadn’t been a baby girl in our family since I was born…
So she was beyond thrilled -- 

And oh how she loved her sisters and many nieces and nephews

and she had the ability to make everyone who knew her feel special and loved.
[Is that Ruby or Lorna peeping out of the back bedroom?]

Each one of us believed that we were her ‘favorite’ –

And truly, we were –

because she could see something special and wonderful in each of us
and would encourage us in just the way we needed it.

Saudade…



Celebrate Me Home 
[a song I've only recently heard --
and it touched my heart ---]

When the time comes and I am standing at the river
That separates the two worlds that I love,
Torn between my precious friends and my family
and the place of peace that’s waiting up above,
Hold my hand and stay there by my side.
And when I finally step into the tide,

Celebrate me home!
Celebrate me there.
Celebrate me in that land of wonder where nothing can compare.
Celebrate me in that place
Celebrate me saved by grace
Don’t just sit and weep because I’m gone
Celebrate me Home.

I have spent most of my life on earth preparing
To take the trip from here to Heaven’s throne.
With the Shield and Word of God to guide me
Its a comfort knowing I am not alone.
So when I take my final fleeting breath
and fade into the gentle sleep of death,

Celebrate me home!
Celebrate me there.
Celebrate me in that land of wonder where nothing can compare.
Celebrate me in that place
Celebrate me saved by grace
Don’t just sit and weep because I’m gone
Celebrate me Home.

No more broken dreams
No more tears to cry
Into my Father’s arms I’ll fly.

Celebrate me home!
Celebrate me there.
Celebrate me in that land of wonder where nothing can compare.
Celebrate me in that place
Celebrate me saved by grace
Don’t just sit and weep because I’m gone
Celebrate me Home.

Celebrate me Home!