...and one more day of 2021 to come.
Monday, December 20, 2021
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Morning cast light on the bedroom wall
as my eyes brave their opening upon a new day.
I snuggle a little further into the warmth
of the quilts and the just right, fluffy pillow.
Just a few more winks…
Moments pass and I fully wake
to sounds of movement my one here with me makes.
Expectation of our day, and I arise too.
Stretch & make bed to start the day.
Clothed, I walk to my Treasured Space,
a click brings soundscapes to set a tone of peace & calm.
Ready for the day’s Broken Bread,
I snuggle a little further into the warmth
of the quilts and the just right, fluffy pillow.
to sounds of movement my one here with me makes.
Expectation of our day, and I arise too.
Stretch & make bed to start the day.
Clothed, I walk to my Treasured Space,
a click brings soundscapes to set a tone of peace & calm.
Ready for the day’s Broken Bread,
I read and lay truth into my heart and
smile gratefully for His presence.
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Monday, November 29, 2021
We left early the morning of November 24th to drive to SC. It was super cold as we were packing the truck. Thankfully we had loaded some items in the truck's bed the night before.
Early morning captures…
A
little after lunch we stopped in Columbia for a visit with Donna. We’ve been friends for a
long time. She is recovering from surgery. We had a wonderful visit.
Our
time in Bville was good. We saw family we haven’t seen in almost 2 years, and some we recently saw in months past.
Monday, November 22, 2021
Everyone knows that Fall is my favorite season.
Two trees near our house.
Leaves of red and leaves of gold,
Colors of Fall as we see nature unfold.
The raking of paths and making of forts.
Young kids as we were, we rarely played sports.
My days long ago you helped me shape and mold.
I cling to the memories that my heart doth behold.
Written December 1997
Melanie Franklin
Sunday, November 14, 2021
Thursday, November 4, 2021
Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Welcome to my workspace...
When I was in school, I despised having to read my textbooks for the classes I took. Let’s face it…I didn’t like school. I was more interested in art drawing and music.
Years
after I graduated from college and married, I picked up a fiction book and
read. Then I picked up another…and read. Today I am an everyday reader.
My favorite authors are Robin Cook, Travis Thrasher, Tess Gerritsen, Steve Brown, and all authors of Amish books. My favorite book is The Bible.
This workspace is loaded down with donated books. They are boxed according to subject matter or author’s first letter of last name in preparation for our next book sale. Another storage unit is loaded down with empty copy paper boxes.
I am having so much fun
I am a Volunteer with “Friends of the Library”.
Monday, October 25, 2021
Glenn's dad graduated to Heaven this evening.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"There will be another angel around the throne tonight.
Your love lives on inside of me and I will hold on tight.
It's not my place to question, only God knows why.
I'm just jealous of the angels around the throne tonight."
~ Jealous of the Angels ~
Donna Taggert
The Franklin Guys
Sunday, October 24, 2021
Rebecca "Becky" Charlene Trimble
My sweet, sweet neighbor Becky graduated into Heaven early this morning after a long fought battle with breast cancer. We had the best relationship, and I often thought of her as a sister. We would have wonderful conversations. I will miss our wonderful laughter sessions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You can always tell when two people are best friends because
they are having more fun than it makes sense
for them to be having."
~ Author Unknown ~
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Thursday, October 7, 2021
For years the daily addiction of "checking in" became too consuming . From sun-up to sun-down with phone in hand or laptop open, I'd check FB Newsfeed. Didn't want to miss any post.
If only I had measured this time of "addiction" to a more worthy journey in my life.
Just a little over 3 years ago I left social media. It was difficult at first. Prayer helped me.
I did, however, leave my Facebook account online so Messenger would be available to me for contact with friends. I'd not spend daily time "scrolling thru FB"...just catch a few conversations with Messenger.
Today...I laid it TOTALLY down with the deactivation of Facebook. Wow!!! I am free.
Life is.....
devoted,
embraced,
new,
& treasured.
Joyful days.
Thursday, September 30, 2021
"Even now, it feels as it did that first moment I came out of isolation---
shaky and fragile, I continue to hold both grief and gratitude, and
some days, the tears pour out more easily than the laughter, and
other days, joy is deepened by the gravity of what we've been through."
The Comfort of God's Silence by Grace P. Cho
*******************
Ten years later...
Each morning I wake and each night I lay down, I see the picture on my nightstand of the two of us. It's my picture memory of a great love between us...dad & daughter. You taught me so much about life, family & myself.
I am so grateful that I retired when I did. I treasure the times that I visited the summer of 2011 and had the chance to spend time with you despite the hardness of your illness. I wept for you...and for us because I knew I was losing you daily to your illness each time I visited.
My days of earthly living is still a struggle but our God sustains me. Music helps. You always loved to listen to any of my music, and we danced wildly at times. HA! My go-to memory is of you and Garrett doing the "Brightsville Shuffle" to some music being played at the home. The picture brings a BIG smile to my face. My phone's lock screen displays the picture.
I LOVE staying home since retirement. Oh the plans we made some years before my retirement of the two of us and projects. Several days may pass, and I have not even left the house. Your love of the outside flows through me as I work in the yard.
On days when I work outside I feel that you are right there alongside me. We are digging in the dirt, planting or pulling weeds, or just walking around looking at what beauties God has given me to tend. The four o'clocks you brought from SC and we planted are still beautiful. They have multiplied greatly.
I talk to you while working. I hear your voice in my heart and bring to mind the outside life teachings you shared with me about yard work. There is a Navy gnome that sits on my patio outdoor shelf; and when I am sitting and resting on the patio, I see it and...there you are. Also, I can see you from my kitchen table on the large pine tree where the "tree face" is there. One of your boots is at the base of the tree. You were so funny! MOLE!!!
It seems like yesterday we were exploring in our waders along the creekbank & Kistler's dam. We had been gone about 15 minutes when through the climbing vines you got your foot tangled up and fell...slowly & backwards. Even though a branch poked through your waders, we were thankful that it did not impale your thigh area. Then we got you up and had a little laugh. Those walks were so much fun.
Thank you Heavenly Father for my Earthly Father, Frank Goodwin. I am so grateful to have been chosen to be his daughter. I love him so much.
Soon, very soon Dad.......
Love,
Rat Eyes
*****************************************************************************
I only have to close my eyes & memories flood. Here are great treasures...
*****************************************************************************
I only have to close my eyes & memories flood. Here are great treasures...
- "MOLE!" ... gotta have that finger under the eye
- when you and mom caught me & Huey riding around when we should have been at the movies. Ha!
- When I would always make it home just seconds before curfew...whew!!!
- your magical popcorn
- snow ice cream made from fallen snow scooped off of our cars
- riding the horse you bought
- gathering eggs only to drop them when I came upon that snake...harmless...yeah, right
- driving that tractor around the land. Remember when the girls from Lander came home, and we rode around so much.
- you bringing me pomegranates from your Suburban Gas driving days
- Breeden's Grocery sausage...yum
- homemade ice cream...sitting on the churn as someone turned the crank handle
- slugs on Patterson Avenue backdoor steps
- Family Swim Club...trying to beat you swimming across the pool
- sliding down the pine straw hill. Ginger even slid. We had enough cardboard for the entire day
- when y'all came to Lander, and we went to the mountains
- Garrett seeing his first real snow! It did not snow at your house but it did in Blenheim so you drove us to an area where Garrett could play. He had such a good time...and with you. Thank you dad.
- the day you taught Garrett how to do "The Brightsville Shuffle". That picture is a favorite treasure.
- Walking through the woods on a trail that you had made with the golf cart
- wading through the creek in our waders
- Looking at, counting, polishing your pennies
- Looking at your Navy log book and hearing of your Navy adventures
- taking a picture of Garrett & Samuel wearing your Navy uniform...Garrett still has that 3 photo frame of the pictures in his office
- riding with you in the country for you to tell me stories from your memories
- visits to Dothan, and you insisted upon me having a "list of things to do"...so much fun
- the four o'clock seeds you brought and we planted at my house. They multiply & bloom every year.
- the two of us working in the flower beds in Dothan
- long walks through my neighborhood here in Dothan
- The monkey bars on Patterson that you put in the yard for Frank & me...and tetherball.
- Oh that tire swing in the backyard! Boy would you push us up high in the air.
- the year that you & Skebby climbed our pecan trees and painted the cut limb spots black
- riding my bike to Mrs. John's for piano lessons...ugh!
- our neighborhood plays in the backyard little room
- Yard-leaves pathways in our playing and ditch-leave forts
- Gilmores Store & Fred Quick Store
- crawling under the Patterson house
- you giving Garrett "rabbit tobacco" to smoke...that picture cracks me up!
Planted deep in my Memory Garden and
watered daily with my tears.
Sunday, September 26, 2021
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Friday, September 10, 2021
Sentimental as I am, I began to
realize some years ago what a great blessing I would receive if I shared a treasure
from my life to someone that I love. The increase of joy!
On Christmas Day when I was 13 months
old, one of my gifts from Dad & Mom was a rocking chair. This treasure has
been with me for over 40 years. The original forest green cushions are still attached to the chair. The rocking chair is in great condition and 66 years old this
Christmas 2021.
Garrett loved “his” rocking chair, and my heart was full of this "joy" I speak of. He was
such a “cheese” when he would sit and watch cartoons. I absolutely love this picture
of him!
As I prayerfully consider who to
gift, I am so grateful that God has always directed me to the individual or
couple. His purpose is always explained to me in my heart, and I excitedly follow His plan.
My treasure, the rocking chair, now
has a new home.
The proud owner of the rocking chair is
my great-great niece...
Gracelynn Ruby Matthews.
Thursday, September 2, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Thank you Lord for our week.
Nothing surprises you. You already know our steps. You are before us in every circumstance, to greet us and hold us up. What an assurance of Your mighty love for us!
As I was walking each morning of this week awaiting the day's beautiful sunrise, I felt peace...a calmness of the soul and a love for God that continually grows. Each sunrise is captured in my mind, and I often stop & take a picture to show hubs.
Sunsets are just as beautiful. The following picture is from our patio Wednesday night. We just love these views. Look at those rays!
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