Showing posts with label Family History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family History. Show all posts

Thursday, April 9, 2009

A Life Well Lived: Uncle Paul Duke

My paternal Uncle Paul, my father's idol, tickle monster, the ultimate tease, hard as nails, full of life, hero among men, loved by his angelic wife, admired by the rest of us...

Posted by Picasa




Paul Duke:
born: 12/23/1937
12/2007 celebrated 50 years of marriage with his sweet bride
04/05/09 passed through the veil
04/08/09 body laid to rest and life rejoiced among family



This lovely little bell was made by my aunt, Unc Paul's wife, upon the 50 year celebration of their life together. It will always remind me of their life well lived.

Monday, April 6, 2009

A Life Well Lived: Taylor Brothers



Oh that I was a poet...


And had the words to describe a life lived their own way...
To speak of the brothers...


Herman...


And Aubrey...


Living in the ways of their forefathers...


In modern days...


Always seen together,
in overalls,
driving 20 miles a hour in their new pickup truck...


Or sitting on the porch of the home place...


A life lived their own way,
at their own pace,
leaving behind a silent legacy...

Of a life well lived...
The Taylor Brothers.
Aubrey 1910-2000
Herman 1907-1986


At the suggestion of my brother, we prowled through this family place, mostly trash is left, with peeling wallpaper, broken windows, and exposed wood, and in each room, the personal clothing hanging on the walls. One room with the name tag of Herman, one room with the many name tags of Aubrey, one room with overalls.
So many questions these men could have answered, so much wisdom they could have shared...Had I asked...

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Girls gone wild....

Well, as wild as we get!
Girl trip!
Consisting of Aunt JJ, Mom, Daughter Misty, Granddaughter LauraJune, myself-and grandson David (he is the exception to the rule:)
We used to go every Labor Day-as many girls as possible-but have missed this trip in the past few years. It was a blast!
We loaded up in Aunt JJ's suburban, and headed to the panhandle of TX. Eight short hours later we arrived at Uncle P & Aunt JL's house. She is such a hostess! What a lovely! Her daughters were there-C who lives with them, and K from Arkansas. C's daughter R and grandson A stopped by too. Oh the talking, and laughing and eating. We made the usual round to Hobby Lobby-where I picked this for my treasure (they had a ton to choose from-so when in doubt-go with the biggest!)

(its lovelier in person)

Mom and Aunt JJ stopped in at a quilt store, then off to a few little shops, and Walmart (our girl trips ALWAYS include Walmart)-where I bought my 'over the sink' self-watering rectangle pot.

Then we left out for Groom, TX. Groom is the site of this huge cross, and surrounded by statues depicting Jesus' journey to the tomb. The work is beautiful-and horrible. The website has wonderful photos of the building of the cross and statues, as well as outbuildings. http://www.crossministries.net/
"On the west end of Groom at I-40 and F.M. 295 is the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ Ministries. Built by a man in Pampa who was disgusted with the huge billboards advertising pornography along I-40 to Amarillo, the cross is the largest in the Western Hemisphere at 190 feet and can be seen from a distance of twenty miles on a clear day."

(in the flower looking part under the cross are the stations of Christ, the V shaped part to the left is the crucifix, and tomb)











LauraJune LOVED getting out and running around-she did NOT like the angel in the empty tomb. Actually she didn't like the empty tomb. I did get her to pat the angel's head.

We go every time we are out there.







Aunt JJ suggested we go to the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. I didn't go inside (too much for me), the garden was lovely and very well kept. A lovely tribute. You can go here for a 360 Virtual tour-very cool
http://www.oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org/secondary.php?section=2&catid=29
"We come here to remember...
Photobucket
Those who were killed...

Those who survived and changed forever...

May all who leave here know the impact of violence.

May this memorial offer comfort,

Strength,

Peace,

Hope and

Serenity."

Makes you hug your babies a little tighter.

We took Aunt JJ to the site of an OK State Hospital where my paternal great-grandmother lived the last years of her life. Aunt JJ had never been, Great-Grandma Lillian Grace died the spring before Aunt JJ was born-she has Lillian for her middle name.

Then home we came, across OK to TX. Texas my Texas.







The babies weren't TOO fussy,




Aunt JJ drove the whole way.

Daughter Misty worked on a blanket for her hubby.

Mom came home with a treasure from a dear friend's yard (turk's cap). She only rode with it between her legs one hour:).



We were home by bedtime Friday. I sure was happy to be home. I was tired from all the fun.
Thank you to Aunt JL and family for having us-You really make us feel at home;
I forgot to take pictures of your family with my camera :(
Thank you Misty for going and being my girl-AND being a good mommy to my grandbabies;
Thank you Aunt JJ for everything, from driving, to laughing, to making me go to the Oklahoma Memorial;
Thank you mom for being my mommy!
My cup over-flow-eth!
{God bless all who have come and gone before us, and paved the way for us...}

Friday, July 25, 2008

A Few of My Favorite Things...generations of women...


{Misty holding LauraJune, me, mom, Tiffany holding Audrey 2007}
The famous generational shot! Today the women in my life are my favorite thing. The women in my life amaze me. My mom, soft, gentle, kind-my rock, never moving; My daughter & step-daughter so smart & strong; My granddaughters so much life in those little packages. (and me? plugging along and enjoying the ride-or trying too:)

I once read a quote from Gordon B. Hinckley of the importance of women. All generations flow from and through women. It blew me away. I come from strong, wonderful, enduring women. God made woman on purpose. He knew what He was doing and why, I think sometimes we (I) forget that. How cool our VT message is about that very thing this month!

Thank you Heavenly Father for placing these women in my life to inspire me! I am aware of your blessings today!

Carla

Monday, July 21, 2008

Monday Musings...a weekend in review

Saturday was a big Temple day for mom, hubby and I:
first a wedding/sealing, a lovely princess living the fairytale and her prince, surrounded by family (pictures and more info later),
then sealings of our own family (BIG smile here),
youth baptisms including our 17 yo (they did 574!) and some of our family names,
trip to the LDS bookstore (the artwork of Jesus on display alone is worth the trip! We bought a movie, Ensign-our subscription has expired and I just renewed:), tie clip, and workbook),
to the plant nursery to spend my birthday money (thanks mom!) on herbs for my new wheelbarrow-herb bed (more about that later;),
FRYs electronics-hubby needed to have his new laptop fixed (bought a wheat/grain grinder for my kitchen aid mixer (HOWEVER I think for the same price I can get a grinder attachment for wet AND dry stuff, so the plan is to surf the web later today, and return the dry grain grinder to FRYs),
Italian restaurant for supper (cal zone-yumm! And the best bread and salad-mmmmm),
and (of course) Walmart for groceries (just the necessities).
Taylor (17 yo) got home minutes before us (he left the Temple with the youth and they ate out-thanks to those who made that possible), spent a quiet hour together before bedtime. Long beneficial day.

Sunday
Church-wonderful message about being prepared spiritually, physically, materially.
Jr. Primary-slide show of Ammon the missionary (they were spell bound!)/singing time with a magnet fishing pole (visitors won:)
6/7 yo Sunday School-Blessed is the Peacemaker-I can be a peacemaker, Jesus shows me the way, this is a treasure from the teachings of Christ. The kids were so good! And made wonderful cards to send to our missionary friend.
Visit with mom/brother-we walked of the land mom wants to buy next door:), I toured her garden (hot and dry and wilted in the heat of the day), and visited with Brent in his cool air conditioned house-aka 'the cave'.
Home in eve with hubby and Taylor to watch 'Mobsters and Mormons' (funny-we laughed and laughed)!
Hubby tried to call Tiff (but she must have been out;), Mike called from Austin.
Nice full day!

I feel fully blessed and recharged!