A to Z Blog Challenge - D

Letter D

David

Well, of course he is my #1 pick for the letter D! **Smile** Here's a brief rundown of how we met. David and I met on Thanksgiving of 1981. I was just two weeks shy of being 17, and he was 18. I was a Senior in high school, and he was in his first year of college. I was living in Stone Mountain, GA at the time. David was attending college in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Lucky him!) His mom & dad had recently divorced and his dad had moved to Stone Mountain and was my neighbor in the apartments that I lived in. My dad and David's dad were friends. They shared a love for cars. David came up from Florida to spend Thanksgiving with his dad. His dad introduced us and the rest is history!! We have been together for what will be 26 years on April 19th! It was love at first sight for both of us and I quickly knew that we would be together forever!

Daddy

The second most important man in my life was my Daddy. He was a young 53 when he died of a heart attack. He was very sick, tho. He had a heart disease and he had diabetes. He grew up in Columbus, GA and played high school football. I have been told that a professional football team approached him about playing for their team, but he chose to go into the Navy, instead. He served two years on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War. Luckily, he never saw any battle. I miss him so very much, as I have told you all before. My biggest regret is not spending enough time with him before he passed. I was a selfish teenager and my "social life" was more important at that time than spending time with my parents. I was hardly ever home. I love you, Daddy!

Disney

My first memory of Walt Disney World is of visiting the "Sneak Peak" before the park even opened! We saw a model of what Magic Kingdom would look like and got to see a film about it. Of course, there was a gift shop, too! I have a picture of myself with a stuffed animal of the cat O'Malley from Disney's movie...The Aristocrats. Of course, we visited Walt Disney World after it opened, too. I have memories of riding Dumbo with my cousin and him not letting me make Dumbo go up and down! I also remember riding Space Mountain with my Daddy. He sat behind me and I sat in between his legs. (I don't think it is that way anymore.) I remember him trying to hold on to me, his glasses in his pocket and the side of the rocket ship that we were riding in! It was great fun! ~ When my girls were ages 6 & 10, David and I took them to WDW for their first time! It was SO AWESOME!! The first day, we were standing in line at the monorails, waiting to ride to Magic Kingdom, when a man in a suit and tie came over to us and asked us if we would like to OPEN THE PARK!!!!! We of course said... YES! So, they pulled us out of line and we go to stand in front of everyone else that was waiting to go in and release a banner that announced the opening of the park! Then, we got to ride in the front of the monorail, where Miranda got to beep the horn! We also got an official certificate saying that we "opened the park". It was way cool!! My girls had a blast and so did David & I. It is a vacation that none of us will ever forget!

Dreams

Dreams fascinate me. I dream often and my dreams seem SO REAL! Most of the time, they are good dreams. I don't have "bad" dreams very often. I don't always remember them, but often... I do. I love to try and figure out the meaning behind my dreams the next day. Sometimes I can figure them out and sometimes, I can't. They just amaze me, tho!

Dogs

I am a dog-lover. I especially like BIG DOGS! Big dogs, like my Golden's or even big dogs like Mastiff's! I grew up having a little dog, tho. She was a Toy Fox Terrier. She was wonderful! Her name was Penny. Later, as an adult, I got bit by a small poodle... so, I guess that is why I prefer big dogs. I got bit by a cat once, too!

If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away

My favorite type of music is COUNTRY. I have many favorite artists and groups that I enjoy listening to. There are only a few reasons why I might change the channel and listen to something else. One of those reasons might be when a new artist comes on the radio. I will listen for a moment and see if I like their song or not... and if I don't, then the channel gets changed!

Yesterday, as I was driving home from THE LIBRARY .... (see yesterday's post)... I heard a song that I had never heard before by an artist that I was not familiar with. I liked his voice and as I listened to the song... I LOVED the lyrics, even more!!

The artist's name was Justin Moore and the title of the song was If Heaven Wasn't So Far Away.

Unfortunately, I do not know how to put video's or music onto my blog... but, here are the lyrics to the song.

Every day I drive to work across Flint River bridge
A hundred yards from the spot where me and grandpa fished
There's a piece of his old fruit stand on the side of Sawmill Road
He'd be there peelin' peaches if it was twenty years ago
And what I wouldn't give
To ride around in that old truck with him

If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far away

I'd hug all three of those girls we lost from the class of '99
And I'd find my bird dog Bo and take him huntin' one more time
I'd ask Hank why he took those pills back in '53
And Janis to sing the second verse of "Me and Bobby McGee"
Sit on a cloud and visit for a while
It'd do me good just to see them smile

If heaven wasn't so far away
I'd pack up the kids and go for the day
Introduce them to their grandpa
Watch 'em laugh at the way he talks
I'd find my long lost cousin John
The one we left back in Vietnam
Show him a picture of his daughter now
She's a doctor and he'd be proud
Then tell him we'd be back in a couple of days
In the rear view mirror we'd all watch 'em wave
Yeah, and losing them wouldn't be so hard to take
If heaven wasn't so far
If heaven wasn't so far
If heaven wasn't so far away
So far away
So far away

When I heard the line... "I'd pick up the kids and go for the day...introduce them to their grandpa"... I LOST IT!! Tears filled my eyes and all I could think about is how I wish my girls could know my Daddy... their Grandpa. Yes.... I wish Heaven weren't so far away.

Sadly, my Daddy died of a sudden heart attack when I was only 18 years old. I miss him so VERY much! It took me a long time to understand "why" God took him --- It was the only way that God could "heal" him.

That is the prayer that I pray for my mom, now. I pray for God to "heal" her. When she is "well", again... then, she will be happy. Right now, she is not.
I didn't mean for this post to be such a "downer", but I really wanted to share this song with you. I know that many of us wish that we could visit Heaven. Wouldn't that be a wonderful way to spend the day! **Smile**

A Good Day with My Mom

Last week, when I visited my mom, she barely talked to me! But, today... she was in a more talkative mood, which is always MUCH more enjoyable!

Sadly, our pastor's father passed away this morning in Mississippi. He (our pastor) and his family were supposed to leave this morning to head that way to see his father one last time before he passed. Unfortunately, they didn't make it in time. He passed too quickly. They knew that he wasn't doing well, but still... I am sure that it was news that they weren't ready to hear.

I had planned on sharing this news with my mom when I went to visit her this afternoon, but another church member had been by for a visit and had already shared this sad news with my mom. That's ok. I didn't mind. It, apparently, stirred up some thoughts in my mom's mind, tho. She, fortunately, does not mind talking about when "her" time comes and she goes to live with Jesus, in Heaven.

Today, she said to me... "I've been meaning to share something with you. I would like to have butterflies released at my funeral". She loves butterflies, birds and flowers... so, this did not come as a surprise to me. I am just not sure how I can make this happen! It's a beautiful thought, tho. We live close to Callaway Gardens and they have a butterfly center there. I may ask them about this and get their thoughts on the idea.

She also started to talk to me about going on a picnic with her Sunday school class... way back when! This was her "Young Adult" class. They were headed to a park in Columbus called "Flat Rock Park". This was right after she had met my Daddy and he was with them. I think she had invited him to the picnic. She said that they were all riding in the back of someones pick-up truck and she was the one standing behind the "cab" of the truck, giving the driver directions. (Sounds like my mom!) When they arrived at the park, it was closed, so they had to find another place to have their picnic. She said that she asked her Daddy (my Grandfather) if they could have the picnic and bonfire at their house and he agreed.

She said that they picked out a spot in the yard, that was at the edge of the woods and was mostly flat. Her Daddy asked the young men... many who were soldiers from Ft. Benning... to follow him to get a "arm load" of wood. She used another term for that, but I can't remember what she said! It was a southern term, and the soldiers didn't understand what he was telling them to do! He had to explain to them that it meant an "arm load".

She went on to say that the ground was more wet than they expected and she had to ask her mother (my Grandmother) for some old magazines for them to use to sit on. (I can just see my Grandmother scurrying around the house, searching for old magazines!! **Smile**)

Apparently, when my Grandmother learned that the class was coming to "her" house for the picnic, she went across the street and borrowed the neighbor's big coffee pot so that she could serve everyone coffee. The neighbor's owned a small restaurant at the end of their drive called "The Brown Buggy".

My mom went on to tell of how my Grandmother had begged for a new rug for their living room and my Grandfather had finally "given in" and bought her one. (I still remember that rug from when I was little!) The rug was brand new when the Sunday School class came for the picnic. I am unclear as to how the picnic went from being outside to inside, but apparently one of the soldiers spilled coffee on my Grandmother's new rug and she had a fit!! (I can just see her, in my mind!! LOL!)

My Daddy must have asked my mom out for a date while at the picnic, because the next night was their first date! She said that my Daddy came to pick her up and she asked him if they could first stop by the neighbor's house and return the coffee pot. They did and then ended up eating dinner at the restaurant... The Brown Buggy. (I wish I knew more about this restaurant. I may try and look it up!)

We continued to talk a little bit about the house that she grew up in... the same house that I remember visiting as a child. My Grandmother lived there until I was about 12 years old. My Grandfather died a year before I was born. Sadly, I never knew him. But, I learned that my Grandfather had sanded all of the wooden floors in that house, by hand! I also learned that the floors were pine, which is not a hardwood. I remember those floors well, and also that rug!

I know that I did not grow up living in that house, but I did spend a lot of my childhood there and have SO MANY wonderful memories of it! That house is about 6 miles down the road from where I live now. Another family lives there. I still get the "warm fuzzies" whenever I pass by it... which is just about ever day! .... But, I also feel a sadness because I miss it so much.

Anyway... I am so thankful to have had such a nice visit with my mom and hear stories that I had not yet heard. Right now, with my mom... there are good days and bad days. Today, was definitely a GOOD DAY!

Thirty Days of Thankfulness - Day 11

Today, I am thankful for all of the Veteran's that have served (and are serving) to make this wonderful country that I live in, a safe place for my family and I.

When I think of "Veteran", I first think of my Daddy. He served on the aircraft carrier "The Boxer" during the Korean War. He duty was to handle the cables that stopped the planes as they landed on the ship.

I have some photos of my Daddy while he was in the Navy and some of him on the ship, but due to technical difficulties with my "temporary" computer (long story!!), I can not get them scanned into my computer at this time. But..... I did find these photos of his ship at this site -- www.navsource.org/archives

In the photo below, you can see the men that handle the cables, over to the right of the planes.

They were kind of down in a hole. You can also see a cable, stretched across and under this plane.

My Daddy served in the Navy and on this ship during the years of 1948-1949 (or '49-'50). I really wish that I could scan those pictures into my computer, but here is a photo of my Daddy that I DO have scanned into my computer! **Smile**

I love and miss you so very much, Daddy!!!

As we remember the Veteran's that have served our country over the many years, I can't help but think about a close friend of mine who's young son (age 20) is about to leave for Afghanistan in just a few short weeks! (before Christmas). He is a bit afraid and has even been having nightmares for months, just knowing that he is going.

If you don't mind... please say a prayer for my young friend, Chris and his family. I know that he and his family would appreciate that.

May God bless and protect all of our men and women that are serving our country today and in the future.

Happy Birthday Daddy

Today would have been my Daddy's 81st Birthday. I miss him so very much! He died, way to young, at the age of 53 of a heart attack. I was only 18.

I was a Daddy's Girl and not a day went by without him telling me..... "I love you."  They weren't just words with him, either. He meant it. I KNEW that I was loved! He always called me his "Little Sweetheart".

During football season is when I think about him the most. I have many memories of us watching the Atlanta Falcon's play on TV together. I believe this picture was taken as we watched a game together in 1972. I was eight. --

Another memory I have of my Daddy is helping him clean the pool on Saturday mornings. My job was to put the chemicals into the little tubes to test the pool water and then shake them to see what color the water turned. I thought that was so much fun!

My Daddy is the one that taught me how to swim, too. I was always afraid of the drain in the deep end. When I jumped off the diving board, I would always jump to one of the sides and never OVER the drain! It might suck me up!! One time, after I learned how to swim, he took me by the hand and swam with me to the drain and made me touch it to prove that it wouldn't suck me up! This was all it took to get me over my fear.

I used to love to watch him work on our cars. He was a very good mechanic and loved "tinkering" with them. He wasn't a mechanic by trade. He just enjoyed it.

I have many, many other memories of my Daddy. I could go on and on about them.

I can't help but wonder what my life would have been like if he hadn't died so young. The thing I hate the most is that he didn't get to see me grow up, get married and have a family. I hurts that my girls never knew him. They would have LOVED him!! He would have been the BEST Granddaddy EVER!!

It makes me sad that he is no longer here, but I know that he was sick and the only way that God could heal him was to take him home.

My hope is that my Daddy is waiting for me up in Heaven and I can't wait to get there to see him again!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I miss you and I love you!!

I Felt Like My Mom Today

I have been driving since I was 15 years old. That means that I have been driving for about 30 years! YIKES!

I couldn't wait to learn to drive, unlike my mother who didn't learn how until she was 51 years old! The only reason that she learned to drive at that time, was because my dad had passed away and she new that she had to. This was in 1983.

When I was little, anytime my mom wanted to go anywhere, my dad would have to take her. I was an only child, so this meant that I had to go along, too.

I can still remember sitting in the car with my Daddy, listening to the radio, while my mom went grocery shopping at the "Big Star".

If my mom wanted to go to the mall, I would sit with my dad on a bench and wait for her. My daddy liked to "people watch", so I don't think he minded too much.

My mom's "not knowing how to drive" seemed to only be a problem when my dad was at work and wasn't able to drive her somewhere. This was usually during the week, when she would need to take me to the doctor. (Seems like I was always needing to go to the doctor!) She would have to call a neighbor or a friend and ask them if they could take us.

Today, I realized how my mom must have felt having to ask someone to drive her somewhere that she need to go. Because of my recent surgery, I am unable to drive for one week. I had to ask Dtr. #2 to drive me to "Wally World" (Walmart) so that I could get some things that I needed. Luckily, like my very patient dad... she didn't seem to mind.