Well That's a "Fine Kettle Of Fish"

 On my way to  church Sunday morning I started to not feel well. I didn't stay for church but came back home and slept off and on until late this afternoon. 

As I was sitting in my chair I remembered seeing some wild flowers along the road from where I live. I need to start getting my strength back so I walked down the driveway and across the road and picked these wild daisies.

I love where I live. A 17 acre nursery  where Japanese Lace Leaf Maples and Dogwoods are the specialty. And this time of year everything is in bloom.

And every where are Rhododendrons of every color.
So I want to finish what I started at the beginning of the Memorial Day Weekend. I had said the weekend could potential be a hard one for me. But it wasn't. I went up to Willamette National Cemetery. Sad and somber but also It was beautiful. Saturday Joe's Horseshoe Club was having a tournament in Oregon City. It was so nice to see friends I haven't seen in a long time. That's two "Joy's"..... Sunday, I was looking forward to Sunday School and Church. I was disappointed that I had to come home, but it didn't take my joy away...because my Joy doesn't depend on what kind of day I'm  having or how I may feel. My Joy comes from with in. You may think "well where was her Joy when Joe died, when every time you saw her she was in tears?" The same answer. Jesus was right there beside me, he was my comforter, my strength my peace and my Joy.   
 

Second Day of a Joyful Weekend

I borrowed this from the Internet. The only thing missing  is the action taking place here this weekend a Tournament Saturday and Sunday. Lots of people.

Two of many of my friends here, Rhonda and Barbara are the statisticians. As the score sheets start coming in, they record all the pitchers scores and update their percentages. The girls husbands, Dave and Barry are pitchers too. But when the tournaments are here in Oregon City, they are busy hosting and keeping the things going as smoothly as possible and they do a great job!

Russ and his wife Kay and Larry and his wife Diane are just two of the many friendships we have made at these tournaments.It was nice to hear from them how they miss Joe. And Joe is usually in the middle of this threesome....I'm usually the photographer but this time I handed my camera to someone else and stepped in for my Joe.
Taking those first few steps across the grass to the table where the girls were was hard, and yes the tears were there as I got the hugs, but not for long. Reminiscing was fun, and the hugs and hello's from some I hadn't seen since last September was fun. I only go to the tournaments that are held in Oregon City and Gresham. The club travels all over Oregon.
Tomorrow is  Sunday School and church. I look forward to that. I'll be back here tomorrow for an update on my "Joyful weekend"

In Honor of Joe and All Members of our Armed Forces

Thank you to all the members of our Armed Forces who are currently serving, to those who gave their lives for us and to those who have served our country in the past.

Joe served in the The 101st Airborne Division ("Screaming Eagles") He also played the trombone in the 

101st Airborne Division Band 

I'm sorry the picture is so blurry, This picture hung in his mom's room until she died then I passed it on to his son Rob.

This picture was taken at a Veterans Park in Buckley, Washington. He also loved visiting air bases and air shows. The weren't many military planes he couldn't tell you about. 

But the F-15 "Screaming Eagle" was his favorite. He called them "The Boyz." It didn't matter if he was cleaning the car, pitching horseshoes, or working in the yard. Everything came to a stop, as he watched them pass over until he could no longer see them.

I went to Willamette National Cemetery this morning. The gates opened at 8:00AM and I thought if I was there at that time then traffic wouldn't be an issue.....WRONG!! But it wasn't as bad as it would be a couple hours later. 

It was a somber but beautiful scene. Every grave had a flag beside it.All placed by boy scouts.

This could be a tough week for me. The key word is "could be" Not only is it Memorial Day weekend, but It is a big horseshoe tournament weekend.And those who knew Joe knew he loved horseshoes and Pickleball. Then a week later...June 4th, would have been our 14th wedding anniversary.
I have said a  a couple of times but mostly on my Facebook page. JOY is my word for the year. That doesn't mean there aren't tears over special memories past. But I don't stay stuck there. I think of things that make me smile now. Like there is a very tall, dying fir tree at the cemetery that's not going to be standing much longer....That's been my marker to find the section of the cemetery where Joe's buried. I now laugh to myself every time I see it. But I've just about got a new landmark memorized so when the tree is gone I can still find my Joe.
Instead of avoiding the horseshoe tournament.... I'm going to go watch. I have a lot a friends that will be there. They miss Joe too. So what better way for me to be there and cheer them on and visit with the wives.

And on June 4th, I will spend the day with a very special couple that we met on our travels about ten years ago. We did so many things together including playing games, eating together, sightseeing. We've supported each other when spouses were sick, prayed together.  It will be a Joyful day.....because I choose Joy. "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10b

Remembering our Mom's

I thought this would be a nice time to drop by and say hi. It's been 18 months since Joe died. I'm adjusting to the new normal.  I just recently learned great grandbaby number 12 will be here in December. Another granddaughter graduates from high school in June. I now have hearing aids in both ears. Kinda fancy  in the fact they match the color of my hair...Silver. I'm suppose to be using my cane because my gait isn't good....I lean to the left.. so I suppose I need to swallow my pride and start using it.  I have two rose bushes, a Mr. Lincoln whose fragrance is 2nd to none, and a yellow one, the last rose bush Joe bought. I was thrilled to see the yellow roses will be in bloom in time for Memorial Day. I take the first rose of the season and place it on his marker. The crowds at Willamette National are horrendous during that weekend. So I make sure I am there a couple of days ahead, and at the gate when they open so I can "beat the crowds. 

~~~~~~~~

My Momma

Esther C. Waterer
June 21,1921-April 10,2012 

Joe's Momma

December 6, 1914 - November 5, 2013

HANDS

By My Sister Jan

I look at my mom’s hands. These nearly 91 year old hands, now so lifeless, have done so much. They have tenderly held her dolly and pushed her in the doll stroller that I still have.

As a young girl, they helped take care of her little brother that was only a year younger than her. We’ve heard stories but I’m sure there were more. Her hands were busy as a teenager working in the orchards near Walla Walla.

Soon after marrying at 19, these beautiful hands helped her husband build a home

Not long after the home was completed, her hands received the first of three children. Her hands tenderly picked up the infants and touched each face with a love that only a caring mother can possess. The same hands bathed each girl and her boy, washed their clothes and picked them up when they needed her.

When mom and dad bought an 80 acre dairy farm, these busy hands now became a working set of farming hands. They worked in the soil, cut heads off of chickens and milked cows.

The years passed and these hands were trustworthy in many ways from counting and taking the church offerings to the bank and then working at the bank. Many hours her hands sewed beautiful doll clothes, dresses for her own daughters as well as mending for her son.

They have mowed lawns, ironed for her family and hired out to do others. Mom’s hands have punished when it was needed. Amazing how the same hands can show love with a caress yet can also sting with a powerful force. But aren’t both touches of the hand administered to teach that a child God’s way of love through obedience?

Growing up and watching mom’s hands, I can’t leave out the hours I’ve seen them holding her bible. Because of this, Betty, Dick and I are all followers of Christ and one day soon these hands will again hold her precious son’s hands. We only get one set of hands in our lifetime. What are you holding in your hands?