Happy New Year

We Survived...

Another Christmas has come and gone. It's all fun until the picture taking begins. I love to be behind the camera but not in front.

I decided to take pictures of the picture takers. I don't think they minded at all.

I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year !!

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Wordless Wednesday

At My House

When The Men Cook

During the winter when the lawn mower business slows down, the men in the neighborhood still like to come and hang around out in the shop. Someone will suggest cooking a big pot of Something and all eating lunch together.

This was cooked last Friday at lunch... Shrimp Stew... and this was the bowlful brought in for me to taste. Looks yummy, huh? It WAS!!

Wordless Wednesday

Sunday night after church, a party was given for my Grandson-in-law, Matt. It was a going away party. He will be deploying in January.

Since this will be their first Christmas together, it was suggested that a Christmas ornament, would be a nice gift for Matt and Jessica's first Christmas tree.

A prayer wheel was made and the church members signed up for different times that some member of our church will be praying for Matt while he is away. Matt reminded us that while we are sleeping, he will be working.

I think that it would be a good idea if any of us have sleepless nights or awaken during the night, we should remember to pray for all of our troops in harms way.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunshine

Late afternoon sun casting long shadows.

It has been a good day. Warm and sunny!

Saying Thank You on Veteran's Day

Some family members that served.

Owen Whaley WWI

George William Benson WWII

Hudell Whaley Korean War

Billy Benson Vietnam War

Richard Davis First Gulf War

Addie Collins Zinone (right front row)Two Tours in Iraq

Matthew Zimmerman soon to be sent to Afghanistan

Troy Duncan starting Basic Training in January

This is just a few. Many members of my family have served their country in every war in which the United States has been involved. Today I want to say THANK YOU!!

Blood Done Signed My Name
By Timothy B. Tyson

The very first sentence will hook you into reading this book. “Daddy and Roger and ‘em shot ‘em a nigger.” I found this to be a very interesting book. It brought back many memories, of what was going on during the Civil Rights issues in the 1960’s. The theme of the book is about what went on in Oxford N.C. after a black man was killed by a white family. The town erupted when the blacks thought that justice was not done. Marches, firebombing of businesses and riots prevailed . The author spent many years, researching records, trying to understand the history of this era.

As I read, I recognized many familiar names and places. Although I didn’t remember all that went on at Oxford I kept thinking that the same things (marching, school bomb threats, fear, and anger) were going on in my own little home town.

Timothy B. Tyson is a professor of Afro-American studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He believes most of the information he found in papers and public records of the time were slanted toward the white man’s point of view. He interviewed many black people from Oxford to get their perspective. Mr. Tyson thinks we have been lied to all through out history because both races were taught that “Whites” were superior.

Photo Hunt - Veterans

A local veteran requested to have his funeral at the site of his motorcycle club. Since no grave had been dug, I assumed his ashes are scattered there as well.

Cotton Picking

The cotton has been picked

There were six large "bales" from this cotton. Three are still in the field.

My Cousin's Halloween Decorations

This is my cousin P.J.'s home. She goes all out for Halloween. They started with four pieces of fence in 2007. They added to their collection every year. They are still putting stuff up today but it will be all ready for tonight's trick or treaters. Just scroll down and enjoy. All photos can be made bigger. Sorry it is an overcast day so picture quality is not the best.

BOO !!

My Sweet Aunt Betty

My Sweet Aunt Bett

Remember about two years ago I had a post about my Sweet Uncle Joe, well this one is about his wife.

My uncle was determined to keep her at home. She had Alzheimer's but she still knew who he was. When he passed away I don't think she even knew it was Joe although her children took her to the funeral home and to his funeral. But maybe she did.

The children were just as determined to keep her at home, if there was any way possible. One of her great-grandchildren came to stay with "Granny" and was her caregiver for the rest of Bett's life. She lived two years and three days after her husband's passing. Her children still came every Sunday to have dinner with Mama. That was something Betty had always done. They took turns cooking and whoever could, came to sit around the table as they had done every Sunday.

I'm sure they are going to miss Mama so much. They all said they know Daddy has been waiting by the gate for Mama to get there.

So this post is a tribute to My Sweet Uncle Joe and My Sweet Aunt Betty.

Betty B. Whaley October 23, 2009

Tarboro

Betty B. Whaley 80 died Friday
Graveside service will be held Monday 2:00 P. M. Edgecombe Memorial Park with Chaplain
Dan Davis officiating.
Mrs. Whaley was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Joe Whaley and a son
Johnny Whaley.
She is survived by her daughters, Jo Ann Bottoms, Tarboro
Judy Hucks, Tarboro
Nancy Williams White, Rocky Mount
Son, Frankie Lee Whaley, Greenville
Sisters & Brothers, Esther Ammons, Robert Blackmon, Mary Herring
James Blackmon, Annie Pearl Ammons & Katherine Ammons
7grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren
Family will receive friends at Carlisle Funeral Home, Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 P. M.
and other times at the home.

online condolences may be directed to the family by visiting www.carlislefuneralhome.com

So Today I Broke FaceBook

I found out early this morning that Facebook is not working today. They said they are working on it.

No problem, I thought, I have other things to do today. Mama had a doctor's appointment that I was taking her to this morning. So I did that. It took almost all morning. There was only one doctor working today. I didn't mind. Mama and I got a chance to spend some time together.

We even rode around town looking at the halloween decorations. Graveyards appear overnight all over town. Some of them so real looking you'd think they had been there forever, until you notice the men coming up out of the graves. My cousins have the most realistic one in town.

So I come home and have lunch and turn the computer back on. What? Facebook is still broke? Oh well, lets see what's going on outside.

This is the new flag my daughter gave me for my birthday to welcome in Fall. I love it.

This is a close up of cotton growing across the road from us.

This is the whole field.

And this is a close up of my neighbors dogwood tree.

Today is a beautiful day. Temps in the high 70's and sunshine. So different from all last week of rain and cold temps.

Think I'll go check on Facebook again. I have crops in the fields and mean people after me. Facebook has so many fun games. My family is telling me that they have 800 numbers for people who get addicted. I think they are trying to tell me something ......

Wordless Wednesday

Photo Hunt - Free Choice

Wordless Wednesday

Friday of last week...

Wordless Wednesday

OBX one more time

Photo Hunt - Words

Happy Birthday Holly !!

Holly, we met twenty four years ago. INSTANT LOVE!! You were my first granddaughter. Born two days after my birthday. You were so pretty!.

Eventually, all the grandchildren took to the water. However, you were the one who was never afraid. I think you enjoyed it the first time your toes touched the water.

I remember one night that you came to stay with me, we were already in bed, and you remembered that you forgot to put on your new housecoat. So we got back up and you put it on and buttoned it up. I took your picture. Then we went back to the bedroom, you took it off, and we jumped back into bed. I loved when you came to stay with me!

Always at Halloween, I could count on you coming to "trick or treat" at my door. I loved your costumes.

I remember that you liked to read. I looked and looked for a picture of you with a book and this is the one I found. I think this one was a photo album that you and Will were looking through. I always loved to read and was so happy that you did too.

You were a good driver. I was not afraid to ride with you on the golf cart. I remember picking you up after Driver's Education and you told me that I did not come to a complete stop because the car did not rock back. That has stuck in my mind and I rock that car back now...ha ha...

You grew into a beautiful young woman. And one day Ken came and stole you away. You had a beautiful wedding. I was such a proud grandma!

You and Ken and your dogs are now a happy family. You picked a fine husband and we all love him too!

Holly Happy Birthday!! We love you!!