From that little one to an adult and a junior in college. Maddy was the first and now there are six.
TAYLOR and Papa.
Cassidy – TAYLOR – Bode
TAYLOR – today – who is going to be taller than all the rest – no longer my LITTLE ONE!
ELLA ( tiny) and Maddy
ELLA ( tiny) now a Freshman at Randolph College
We called her the nickname from her father – she always had a soccer ball or basketball in her hands.
Today – she is the starting midfielder for the college – playing almost every minute of the games.
Tiny now is taller than Sherry who is 5′ 9″.
CASSIDY and Taylor
CASSIDY – the caring little mother to Bode.
Today she is the smaller of the twins – with the biggest heart – always protecting Bode when not arguing with him! LOL, They should have been the twins they are so much alike!
She is the one who counts the days down to when she can see us – who zoom calls every week.
A little fireball with the biggest heart of them all.
SARAH and Ella
SARAH – Bode – Cassidy – Taylor and Ella.
Today – Sarah is almost as tall as Ella who is 5’10” – the fashion girl who wants to go to NYC!
The twins adore her and whenever we get together – they are three peas in a pod.
She is only a Freshman in H.S. – already was a contender for prom queen.
She is her own self – funny – outgoing – and just might have been a very good soccer player like her sisters.
Cassidy BODE Taylor
Taylor BODE Cassidy
So much like Cassidy that they should have been the twins – yet – he is growing –
and someday I think will be taller than Taylor who he is built just like at seven years old.
Full of energy – always on the go – wear no socks or shoes most of the time.
Or a jacket or gloves!
Out of the six grandchildren – the only boy.
Bode Ella Cassidy Taylor Maddy and Sarah
Here today at Christmas day for presents – memories from the past to the present.
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All the grand kids and their parents with Sherry and myself.
When this picture was taken – the only thing we had planned
was for her 16th. birthday – we would take Ella to Florida with us for a week.
She would go to Hollywood studios to see Star Wars!
When each grand child turns 16 – we do something special with them.
Maddy wanted to swim with the Manatee’s and we did that!
Growing up in the ’60’s – we never imagined taking trips with grandparents – mine were all gone by the time I was 16!
As the year progressed – plans were made and soon – we would leave for one month in Florida.
But first – quality time with the young ones.
I will for the rest of life see this as MORMOR and Taylor – walking hand in hand to church!
Although now she is only ten years old – she comes up to just under Sherry’s chin.
She is going to be very tall and loves horse back riding!
2019 was also the year we had friends from AZ. come to visit – and accomplished crossing off everything on their bucket list to see in DC. This is a reflection of Sherry among the ghosts of the Korean War.
Many friends visited over the 21 years we lived outside D.C.
We acted as tour guides – and in the year past – we toured almost every facility
there was to visit including the Capital Building which was a first for us!
The year in review – blessings will continue in the next blog!
We also venture to outside Raleigh – N.C. to visit her sister.
Here – we went to a farm that had what are called BELTED COWS – GOATS & CHICKENS!
They are white with a black belt around the middle!
Never heard of this and never saw this before!
Standing outside the pen with the goats – chickens and cows at the BELTED FARM!
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FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!
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A YEAR IN REVIEW WITH BLESSINGS WILL CONTINUE IN THE NEXT BLOG!
The night before we came back home to N.VA. – we drove 45 minutes South
Near Pawley’s Island S.C
to “BROOK GREEN”!
( and we will go back in warmer weather – to see it again in daylight!)
Huge Oak trees – with hanging lights – almost from the top!Reflections in the water of lights!
The whole place – hundreds of acres – is dressed up in colored themes –
and over 1000 candles lit by hand!
Bronze statues are everywhere!
Some of the 1000 candles lit by hand!Candles and lights – everywhere we went – a different theme – and colorful lights!
There were food trucks and a tent set up with drinks – hot chocolate – coffee and tea as well as water – soft drinks and beer!
So many different areas lit up – hard to capture them all!You had to stay on the paths – and after dark – you could easily get lost in the maze of light!Hanging moss lit up!Paper lanterns lit in red and white colors!Like fire flies in the sunset!Sculptures with light reflecting on the water!
There must be a lot of volunteers to do all of this!
And – we only saw part of the park –
there also is a zoo here but was closed!
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WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY
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WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Today I post a story – a story written not by me – but by a friend.
A special friend and a special story for all.
Wishing you a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year
The story takes place years ago –
in the memory of a little girl
Her mother – and siblings
” A CHRISTMAS STORY”
Tiffany Ford
One of my favorite Childhood Memories of Christmas was the year we couldn’t afford a tree. I don’t recall who had the idea, but it was decided that we would put nails in the wall in the shape of a tree & string lights on them and that would be our tree that year.
We lived in an apartment at the time, and our neighbors were very confused about all the banging! To my childhood self, that tree was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I grew up very poor. After my dad moved to another state with his new family, it was just me, Mom & my brothers.
Mom worked hard, often at multiple jobs, and we cleaned offices as a family in the evenings to make ends meet. In spite of this we still sometimes needed housing assistance & church pantry meals to get through.
We lived on generic everything, Dry Milk, Ramen & loads of pasta & potatoes. I am honestly so grateful for all of it. I never look back on my childhood Christmases & think “I wish we had more”.
Because even in the years when there was enough money for gifts, I couldn’t tell you what I received. What I do remember is the look on my mom & my brother’s faces putting up nails for the tree on the wall and the faith that our family would have Christmas no matter what.
We were the freakin’ Who’s down in Whoville. If all we did was play board-games & color & eat spaghetti it would still be Christmas, and it would probably be more memorable.
Maybe that’s why I’m not super traditional about Christmas, making do with what you can find forces a person to be flexible.
🎄I remember the blue stuffed dog I got from Toys 4 Tots he was my favorite for a really long time 🎄I remember the 4 of us lying on our bellies coloring in the living room waiting up to see if Santa would come. 🎄I remember the years we were each allowed to pick out our favorite cereal, even if it had Sugar in the first 5 ingredients 🎄I remember the mornings that we found a box on the porch with a turkey breast & a bag of potatoes so we could have a real dinner. 🎄I remember my brother and I removing the labels from the tuna cans & rolling them across the floor to each other 🎄I remember Mom was not amused the year the “Santa box” had both tuna & cat food cans 🤣
The year we had the wall tree, some friends from our church showed up a few days before Christmas with a real tree & a stand for us. They helped us set it up & decorate & we cried happy grateful tears.
If you ask me though, the real tree was never as beautiful as the lights on our “tree” on that wall.
I guess what I’m trying to say is if you’re struggling financially this year, know that your kids will be ok. Real magic never comes from things. The real magic in life comes from the unlikeliest of places.
The places where we struggle, stumble, fall on our faces, learn which friends will help us to rise, and discover the person we have become as we climb back to our feet.Â
Happy Holidays my friends, whatever holidays you choose to celebrate may this season fill your heart with real magic
I 