Memorial Day 2011

I'll admit it. Like so many other Americans, I used to think of Memorial Day as the beginning of summer, a day off of school/work, a day to go to the lake, have a cookout etc. Well...I guess I still think along those lines, to be honest. But now, as the mother of a soldier in training, this day means so much more to me. It's a day of reflection, a somewhat somber day of sadness, yet immense gratitude, for those men and women who have sacrificed their very lives for the freedoms we enjoy, the liberty we often take for granted. So many thousands of young lives abruptly cut short.... I wish to extend my heartfelt thanks to the families of these fallen heroes.

This is my daughter's attempt at a Memorial Day cake. The cake is blue. She put red dye in the frosting, but it looks a little pink. :) It says "honor" in red, white and blue marshmallow stars.

Today, I visited Monument Terrace in Lynchburg, VA. This memorial is dedicated to the many fallen soldiers from this area who have given their lives in the service of their country.

Here is the statue at the bottom.

The monument has several (I believe I counted 7) sets of steps.

This is self-explanatory. "You are not forgotten" is inscribed at the bottom. But is this true? Sadly, it seems to today's younger generation (even mine, nearing my 40s), that we do not truly understand the sacrifices.

Here is a portion of the Korean War memorial.

World War II - a long list of fallen soldiers for this conflict...

I visited my granddaughter and my daughter-in-law's side of the family today. Here she is sleeping in her toddler bed.

She finally awoke. :) Chips and french onion dip was her post-nap snack. She is so precious.

Blessings on this Memorial Day 2011,

Lorrie

I love books and I love photo albums. Here is a picture of one of the many book cases I have scattered throughout my house. I can sit for hours looking through my photo albums reminiscing. How fortunate are we to be able to do that? Not too long ago, pictures of a lifetime of memories had to be stored solely in the photo albums of the mind. Now, memory lane can be revisited in an instant by glancing at a photograph taken many years ago.

Books are special to me as well. Who doesn't love a good story? How tragic that children today spend so little time reading. Admittedly, I don't read as much as I'd like to. Work, family commitments and household chores keep me from enjoying this activity. But when I do find a little spare time, I happily have a plethora of books to choose from.

A photograph is a memory in the raw. - Carrie Latet

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. -Eudora Welty

The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who cannot read them. - Mark Twain

If kids are entertained by two letters (TV), imagine the fun they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child's imagination. Open a book. -Unknown

Jesus Is Coming Back

May 21, 2011 - Judgment Day has come and gone.... Unfortunately, a false prophet by the name of Harold Camping, has, once again, made a mockery of the born-again believers' Blessed Hope. For the 2nd time, he "prophecied" a date for the rapture of the bride of Christ. His followers, duped by him - one I've read to the tune of $140,000 - are, no doubt, feeling very sad today. It is my prayer, however, that all hope is not lost. As a student of Bible prophecy, it is my firm belief that the return of Jesus is very near. Scripture tells us NO man knows the day or the hour. The Father Himself will tell His Son when it's time to come and get His bride. Since we do not know when He will return, it is incumbent on all believers to be ready at all times. Are you ready?

I am still missing my son. He is in boot camp and will be graduating this summer. I cannot wait. I ordered this tote online. It says "Army Mom". I'm so proud of my son and of all of our troops. It is because of their selflessness, bravery, courage and strength that we enjoy the many freedoms that come with our U.S. citizenship. May God bless our soldiers.

The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten. - Calvin Coolidge

Old City Cemetery

This weekend, I visited an old cemetery in a nearby city. In fact, the name of this cemetery is "Old City Cemetery". It's located in Lynchburg, VA. In this cemetery are buried 2200 confederate soldiers from 14 different states, which makes it an American historical gem, in my humble opinion. Their website states that 3/4 of the burials there are of African descent. The cemetery was established in 1806. On it's grounds are also a little museum with examples of mourning attire, caskets etc. There is also a Carriage House, which contains an actual hearse used by a local funeral home at the turn of the century; this funeral home is still in operation today. It also contains a much less fancy wooden wagon, made in Lynchburg, that was used for those who could not afford the funeral home hearse. I wish I could've taken pictures of these, but they're in an enclosed area. You can see them through the glass, but I would've loved to have seen them up close. There's also a Station House Museum because of the city's railroad history, as well as a chapel.

Pictured above is an example of a casket that would have been used in the 1800s. The oval opening was for viewing. The other end of the coffin was very narrow. I wish I would have thought to get a picture of that.

Most burials at the cemetery ceased in 1965. The "Scatter Garden" was created in 1996.

Pictured below is where the ashes are scattered.

The names and DOB/DOD of the deceased whose remains are scattered here are placed on this "memorial tablet". This would not be something that I would want for a loved one, but to each his own.

Above is an example of boots worn by a lady in the 1800s. I could not fit my feet in these. Haha.

Women, as was explained to me, were in mourning up to two years. They wore black dresses initially, I believe she said for about 6 months, then eventually transitioned into mauve. Above is an example of a man in mourning. Since their normal attire would often be a black suit, they would tie a black band around their arm.

Pictured above are examples of a woman and child's attire when in mourning. A child was not made to wear black, but would tie a black sash around the waist or pin a black ribbon on.

I was also told that the families of the deceased would often make various things from their loved ones hair. The above bracelet is woven from human hair.

This is the tool they used to weave the hair. Neat, huh?

Interesting African burial customs are noted on this plaque...

As is shown above they would break dishes, vases and the like to supposedly release the deceased person's spirit.

This is a "bottle tree", which was place outside of the home to prevent evil spirits from coming in. The idea was to trap them inside of the bottles. Creepy, but it is what they believed...

The above two items were also on display in the museum.

This cemetery also boasts a lovely array of roses. Saturday was another rainy day and it seemed the flowers were drooping from being so drenched. Will have to go back at another time when it's sunny.

This is a weeping willow tree.... an appropriate place to plant a tree with such a name and, frankly, such a look.

Well, this isn't the most pleasant of topics, but I find visiting old graveyards very interesting, especially one with historical significance. As a born-again believer in Jesus, with the promise of the future resurrection of those dead in Christ, graveyards don't bother me. Jesus won victory over death and the grave at Calvary. :)

It's going to be a long week ahead, but am ready to get it started. I so need to cut my grass, but the yard is so wet and it seems we can't get more than a few hours of sunshine at a time these days. Hoping that the Lord will see fit to bless us with a few sunshiney days in this coming week.

Crazy Weather, a Little Fun and Country Roads

The weather the last few weeks has been crazy! My heart breaks for the families of the tornado outbreak last week. So much devastation!! We had 8 deaths here in Virginia. I captured a few storm clouds where I live shown above.

I was in awe of the Tuscaloosa tornado footage that I saw. Unbelievable! That tornado was a monster!! But for the grace of God.....

I will continue to keep the victims' families and those who suffered injury and loss in my prayers.

Well, what I can say? My kids love McDonalds. I think it's a cheap treat on the weekends. They have a strawberry lemonade out now that I figured I'd try. I'm not a huge lemonade fan, but it was pretty good. :)

Out in the country here, we don't have trash pick-up. We have to haul our trash to the local dump. I don't mind. It's one less bill we have to pay. There are some stray cats who live in the vicinity of the dump. Poor guys. Someone has taken pity on the sweet felines and brings them food and water.

We took a little road trip last week to the Chuck E Cheese in a nearby town. Here's my granddaughter going down the slide. She goes down on her stomach. LOL.

My daughter and granddaughter getting ready to have some fun at Chuck E Cheese....

Daughter-in-Law went too. She and my daughter had fun with the tokens and ended up with all of these tickets to "cash-in" for prizes. Cheap stuff, you know....but it's all in good fun.

Here is a pretty pink rose blooming beside my house. We have pink and red roses. I wish I had more of a green thumb. I'd plant a lot of rose bushes. It's such a beautiful flower.

I was off of work on Tuesday and decided I'd go for a ride on the country back roads near where I live. It's a small community with lots of Americana history. Here's a bench someone built on the side of a road. Haha. I'm not sure why exactly. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere.

There are lots of old farms nearby. I just adore living in the country. The city would drive me crazy.

Lots of old, abandoned barns, buildings, etc dot the landscape.

Here's an old closed establishment not too far from us. I didn't even know this was there. I can't make out what was on the sign.

Another old building of some kind...

Here's an old abandoned house. Oh, I can just imagine that this house used to be a lively dwelling.
What's the old saying? If walls could talk....

I have recently subscribed to Country and Country Extra magazines. Oh, how I love the pictures and stories in these magazines.

None can describe the sweets of country life

But those blest men that do enjoy and taste them

Plain husbandman tho' far below our pitch

Of fortune placed, enjoy a wealth above us

To whom the earth with true and bounteous justice

Free from war's cares, returns an easy food

They breathe the fresh and uncorrupted air

And by clear brooks enjoy untroubled sleeps

Their state is fearless and secure, enrich'd

With several blessings, such as greatest kings

Might in true justice envy, and themselves

Would count too happy if they truly knew them

-Thomas May

Looking forward to the weekend....