All gave some...

Some...
Gave all.

Phoenix Veterans Memorial Cemetery
this is a tiny portion of the graves here...
The Elders of WWl and WWll
are vanishing now...
this all that is left of a history all but forgotten.

Just before Clydes' service these metals were found by his Elderly Sister only days ago.
They rest here in his Widows hand.

Gun salute and taps were played

The ceremony holy and the significance beautifully executed.

The flag taken from the Widows hand given to the soldier.
HE unfurled it, opened it...

with great delicacy and detail turned it from life...

In on fell swoop opened it and then turned it to

what was paid
the courage and sacrifice

It was then folded in the opposite than it had began and was given to our dear
Aunt Patti

I thought to try to find my mothers last husbands grave...

We were able to locate it...

I tried to find the grave of my "dad" who divorced my mom in my infancy...
I hardly knew him....We met twice in my childhood and he gave me away at my wedding...that a gift I chose to give him.
He is not there.
I do not know what happened to his remains.

The elders are vanishing

here is all that remains...

Steve had taken today off and we had a nice lunch and a really sweet day together.

Outdoor Wednesday

Great the day
Stretch

Alright breakfast begins...

Dogs get a good romp.

The queen found one of my garden sticks.

Join us over at A Southern Day Dreamer

I found this meme last night.

It was so refreshing to look at all of the beauty so thought I would share it with all of you

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

MeMe To The 5th

Mary at Denise at Samaritan Woman, has tagged me for a meme. Here are the rules:
Open a document or photo folder

Choose the fifth folder and then the fifth photo in that folder.

Do a post describing the photo.

Tag five friends to do the Meme.

This is what turned up.
True to the MEME I did not even know what was being down loaded until I saw it.
This is Dove She is three years old , it is may of 2001.
Dove is slicing a banana for a bowl of cheerios.

A simpler time.
We were awaiting the adoption of Dash.
At this time Dove was our only child.
We had started and stopped Dash's adoption.
It was a time where we were finally settled.
Dove's therapy was easing off.
She had gained her health.
She was only doing therapy one time per week (15 miles one way), as opposed to three times per week all three disciplines.

Inside my heart was another child.
Although I tried to stop the longing and be content with Dove as an only child I could not do it.
We began the adoption of Dash again.
This was a time when all centered around Dove.
I had all my time and attentions devoted to her alone.
There were plenty of patient moments where I could teach and instruct her.
It appears that in the image I was showing her how to cut with her little bear Knife (we had to use special large handled tools for her to be able to grasp).
She had pretty severe fine motor issues and every day we would do things to strengthen her sweet little hands.
She is on a foot stool I no longer have.
These days were much less stressful times.
See the glue and the polish on the counter.
Most likely we were also doing an art project (getting her to squeeze the bottle) and painting nails.
I also see a yellow vial of bubbles, these were part of the home therapy for her speech therapy.
See she had to learn how to suck and to purser her lips to blow.
When she was in orphanage the bottle had a 2" nipple that she would swallow
Her mouth never really had the suckle response that is so important to later speech development.
The toys in the background were when the studio was the teaching room.
It was set up like a nursery school.
My experience at early motherhood was almost more like a career.
I had to take my baby to constant therapy and doctors appointments.
Endless evaluations and instruction.
Becoming an advocate was thrust upon me.
I had to understand clearly her special needs so that I could educated Daddy Man and the others around us.
Often at the ridicule and doubt of those involved around us.
It was the hardest job that I have ever loved!
She had gained so much ground by this image that she was almost congruant, only 6 months behind developmentally.

The Black Pearl
In the life of a child
Daughter of the King
Yesu garden
The open window

Wordless Wendsday ***HELP***

Organic Help!
Please teach me!

first crop of beans!

Wordless Wendsday

Wordless Wendsday

"The Editor is in"

Wordless Wendsday

Photo Hunt...What is that?

Corey got it!

Leave your guess in the comments.

Photo Hunt

"I just want a love"

"Mom said it was alright"...

"Oh mom I love sitting on your lap"
When Willy came home at 8 weeks he fit in my hand and spent many evenings on my lap.
Now at 85 pounds he just wants to be where he thinks he belongs.
He is so loving.

Wordless Wedensday

Wordless Wedensday

Dash with camera
From a child's eye...

Wordless Wedensday

Playing Barbies with my big sister

Wordless Wedensday

Wordless Wedensday

Wordless Wedensday

I know it is a wordless. I just have to say this...Two hours after I shampooed this rug,
our Golden Retriever took it as a "poo" rug! Oh!Yes she did!

Photo Hunt

This weeks theme is party.
It has become my party to dismantle this home. I am so excited at the new awaiting adventure.
Every day I walk into what I see for myself that day. It is all coming together.
I party at the freedom to pack up all my beads and await the next chapter, when I can once again open up the wonder of this skill. I am parting on with the excitement that after i settle into our next home...I will be taking classes in this art form to continue my education!
For now the studio is partied out! It is time for it to be put to (box) bed.

Wordless Wedensday

click on the images to enlarge

Photo Hunt *Heavy*

Well this is a timely topic.