In Remembrance

Memorial Day 2010

A day for giving thanks for those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to those who fought for our country, past and present.

Today, I remember my father for his service to our great country, I remember him with great pride.

9-23-22~4-30-10 

 My father fought in WWII and was blessed to come home. He never lost sight of all those that fought along side him and did not come home. When he spoke of the war, it was always with deep emotion and pride.

 He volunteered for the service in U.S. Army December 8, 1941. He  was sent to Camp Roberts in the Salinas Valley in San Bernardino, California for infantry training and transferred to U.S. Army Signal Corps., in Sacramento, California. He attended Signal Corps Officer Candidate School in Monmouth, New Jersey and graduated top his class. He was then sent to Camp Crowder, WWII Signal Corps Training Camp in Missouri. He  was assigned to Unit 3101 Signal Service Battalion, Message Center Officer and was sent to China Burma and India Theater, by way of Australia on Troop Ship U.S. S. General McRae. The General J. H. McRae departed Long Beach 11 January 1945 for India via Melbourne, Australia, and reached Calcutta 20 February, 1945. As Communications Officer, he served as Ship Officer and Top Secret Officer. He arrived in Calcutta with his Unit and then he was sent to Burma Road, and served in Yunnanyi, China as Message Center Officer. He was in charge of top secret codes for all of China Theater. He Decoded  the FOR YOUR EYES ONLY, “Top Secret Message”, "To all Theater Chaplains, Prepare for Prayers of Thanksgiving for Immediate End of War due to use of Cataclysmic Weapon.”  By Order of President Harry S. Truman, George C. Marshall, War Chief of Staff, Washington, DC, decoded by LT. Frank R. Nye, Jr. 3101 Sig. Bn. The "Atomic Bomb" dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki three days later. 

 My father was in command of the last convoy out of Burma Road . His orders, when he reached China Burma border, were  cut 3 spans of wire on north side and 3 lines of wire on South side . His orders when he got to the other border were to cut all spans of wire, cut out all communication to the Burma India Border. He was then sent back from China to New Delhi, India, Theater headquarters. Stayed there until he was transferred to China Theater Headquarters in Shanghai,China. He left Shanghai when his time was up and landed in Fairfield-Sorinson Airbase in California. Shortly after, he headed back home to Texas. He was a Fighten'Texas Aggie, Class of 44'graduate and received his law degree from the University of Texas Law School. He practiced law until a few years before he passed away, he was quite a man, loved his country with a passion.

 

 

GoGod bless all who are still fighting to keep us free. 

God bless all of the families that have lost loved ones, I thank you for the service your loved one gave to our wonderful country, I thank you for your sacrifice. 

God Bless the USA!

A Special Day!

Happy Birthday Cari!!   Oh my, what an incredible day it was the day you were born! That day God gave me the most precious gift, a baby we named Cari Jean~   You are such a wonderful person, so giving, so loving, someone who cares, who encourages and one who on a daily basis lifts people up!  As your Mom,  I think your birthday should be a holiday!! You are a special treasure for all that you have done, you are an amazing woman and I am so proud of you! I wish you the happiest of birthdays,
and many, many more,

Happy Birthday sweet and precious daughter of mine!

I love you!

Mom 

xoxoxox

jessica@its-a-piece-of-cake.com.

How Can It Be?

Last night we attended our oldest granddaughter's Middle School Graduation Ceremony, it was so special. Oh my, listening to Pomp and Circumstance, to say it was stirring, an understatement. I was sitting there and not believing that our granddaughter was graduating from middle school, the biggest jolt,  oh my, that means she is going to high school this fall! (I can't believe it, where has the time gone?) (Goodness, then college, oh, oh, no, not going there!)

How can it be? 

How can it be that this sweet little baby, the one that I would rock to sleep, is a teenager now and is going into high school. Seems like our own kids were just there! (Ahem, the mind can sure play tricks on us!) 

How can it be that this cute little one, the one that sat on the front steps one evening and while we were gazing up at the stars, " Nana, look up, that's a crescent moon!" Oh, so smart for her age, she could not have been two! (Grandchildren are brilliant!)

How can it be that this little one, the one that would run up, jump in my arms, hug my neck so tight, giggle and tell me a knock knock joke, oh, she was barely four, what sense of humor, and now she is going into high school!


How can it be that this little one, the one that would just in my lap, quickly mention, oh Nana, what a pretty purse!",  just so sweet, and now she is going into high school!!

How can it be that this little girl that loved to play restaurant, truly loved pretending, loved playing dress up, great little actress, is going into high school?
  
How can it be that this little one, the one I bounced on my knew, pushed on a swing, strolled around for hours on end, how can it be that she is going into high school?? (I have 14 years of  this...won't go on, but could!)  


How can it be?

Nana will get over it.. 

The Senior Pastor had a great message last night that he took from the words of this song, one we all remember!

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There's a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little mouth what you say...
Be careful little hands, what you touch...
Be careful little feet, where you go...

Oh be careful...

His message was profound, you could hear a pin drop. 

Great message Rev. Ferguson, Nana approved.

 Taylor is second from the right.

 Me, Taylor and her Mom, our daughter.
 
Congratulations Taylor!
I love you,

Nana
xoxoxo

Cutest Little Sisters....My Granddaughters

Just wanted to share this with you today.
My daughter has a blog about her sweet little family, and she posted this about her daughters yesterday. I asked if I could share it on my blog. No problem! 
 ( I did add a few more pictures!)

 

Sisters

They love to play with their baby dolls.

The other day the dolls were taken on a pretend trip, a picnic, and then put down for a nap.

All while Garrett and I were in the other room.

I loved eaves dropping on their pretend world.

I loved hearing this after a bang...

Reagan:  Sissy, help me!

Ellie:  Reagan, are you okay?

I hope the summer brings lots more of this.

(not the bang part, but I know that's inevitable)

Today we went to a park with an amazing playground.

It was hard to push a stroller on wood chips and keep up with the girls.

Next time Garrett's going in the Baby Bjorn carrier.

Ellie was an amazing big sister and helped Reagan through all the tunnels and pathways.

They had a blast.

I hope the summer brings lots more of this as well.

Precious little sisters!

Oh my, just way too cute!

Did I mention that they are all about pink? 

 

 

 Big sisters all are about blue too and have been for about four months!

They are crazy about their baby brother!

He's a cutie pie! 

Smiling, laughing, cooing and babbling!

What's not to love! 

(If you scroll on down to some older posts, you'll see our other three grandchildren! Six in all now, what a blessing!

Nancy  

Of course, I like to look at pictures really big, so click on them to get a better view~

Southern Hospitality

Hospitality comes from the heart! It's giving of oneself. I love to open my home and create a warm and welcoming spot for my family and friends to completely feel at ease. My party today is for three, a birthday lunch.  

 Menu 

Crab Cakes

Roasted Asparagus

Fresh Fruit Compote

Chocolate Delights

Special Fruit Tea

Coffee

Mikasa Fine China
Flatware from Pottery Barn
Glassware from Crate and Barrel
 Placemats from William Sonoma
Napkins from Bed Bath and Beyond
Silk Flowers from Michaels 
Fresh Flowers, of course for lunch!

Today I am joining Marty for Tuesday Tablescapes. 

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Join in on the fun!

Nancy

Faithful Flowers!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Fertilizer Friday/ Flaunt Your Flowers May 21/10

I am so thrilled this morning! As I was taking a walk around my yard, there are little blooming plants that I truly thought were not going to make it! They showed me!! Aww...the faithful little beauties! My little beauties have to thrive since I give them minimal care, oh I do fertilize them, but they are truly the kind of plants that  don't require me talking to them much!

They are simply beautiful! Let me share a few photographs with you. Oh, before I forget, I did plant some basil seeds and one has come up! I neglected then while I was away and one little faithful leaf showed up this morning, it's just awesome!

My first basil plant!

A few petunia blooms! 

Faithful Lantana...takes the Texas heat so well.

Poor plant, can't remember it's name!

Want to take a guess?
My dear son just emailed to let me know that it is a pinta!
Thank you sweetie!

 Society Garlic

 

Crape Myrtle Tree, can't wait for it to bloom!

 Purple Lantana

Love this and it is a grass of some sort, I'll be looking it up to find it's name.

This little jewel just came up, I did not plant it, isn't it pretty?

Join in on the fun!

http://www.tootsietime.com/


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Back Home From Atlanta Road Trip!

We are back from an eventful jaunt to Atlanta!!

Day One.
Enjoying our first day's drive...still in Texas.

Shots taken with Iphone camera while flying down the road.

Ahem...let's see, should I start with "day two" of our trip and our stopping to fill up, getting a full tank of water instead of gasoline? How about the more than an one hour wait in the heat on I-10? Dear husband was not happy. Understatement. We had a long wait for the tow truck, don't ask about our thrilling ride back into Lake Charles in the lovely tow truck. Oh and should I mention we had to leave our vehicle there? Dear husband was not happy. Oh and yes, it's true, there are not very many vehicles to rent in the big city of Lake Charles, La.  Well, after hitting the rental places, we finally found what we ended up calling our  "little cranberry chariot" to get us to Atlanta and back!  Dear husband was not happy.

Oh, and get this? Oh, never mind, I just don't think I want to go there.

I'll switch gears and I think I'll focus on the delightful parts of our trip!

Delightful Part One

Attending our granddaughter Ellie's ballet recital was just pure joy, I could not stop smiling, I was so proud of her! She danced and had the grace of a prima ballerina! The Joffrey Ballet may have a premier student one of these days! Now, am I gushing or what???

Isn't she precious??

Delightful Part Two

Mother's Day in Atlanta was great, it would have been perfect had my mom and our older kids, Randy and Cari and their families been there, but they were back in Houston, they were in all of our hearts! I had not been with our youngest daughter Jennifer in years on Mother's Day and so it wonderful to be with her and her sweet family. John's parents were in from Texas too. Our day started out in a truly blessed way. We attended a wonderful service at Jen and John's church and it was just a perfect way to start Mother's Day. Okay, picture a two and four year old all dressed up in their Sunday finest and just looking like little angels. Watching Ellie and Reagan going up to communion, and Ellie crossing her little arms over her chest to let the priest know that she does not take communion, children receive a blessing, it was just too precious. Oh and little Reagan walked up with me and without hesitation knelt down and put her little hands together as if to pray, my heart melted.  Baby Garrett was an angel and good as gold in church.  After church we had such a scrumptious Mother's Day Brunch at Jen and John's home. 

Oh and I have to tell you want warmed my heart the most, the little ones gave me a handmade little book containing photos of them! Ellie made a handprint on the page with her photos. Reagan made a handprint on the page with hers, and Garrett made a footprint on his page. What a perfect Mother's Day keepsake!

After nap time, our daughter Jen let us know that her wish was to continue her Mother's day tradition of planting flowers with her girls. She wanted to plant flowers around Ellie and Reagan's playhouse. While Nana and Grandma kept Garrett, they headed out to get flowers and back they came with some really beautiful pink petunias, of course pink! Is there another color? Mommy and her little gardeners had a great time and the girls were covered in mud when all was done! It was pure and complete entertainment watching the planting process! What is the fun if you can't play in dirt with a water hose? Baby Garrett just watched and did what he does best, smile and look cute! I know he'll be holding a shovel next year!

That's all for now!

Oh wait, here are just a few more photographs!!

Have a wonderful day!

Nancy