Memorial Day - A day of Remembrance

Saturday - May 30, 2009

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

by : Moina Michael

The poppy's significance to Memorial Day is the result of the John McCrae poem "In Flanders Fields."

The first Memorial Day was May 30, 1868. It was a way on which the living could commerorate those soldiers who had lost their lives during the war - the Civil War. Traditionally, Memorial Day was celebrated on May 30, but back in1968 the date was changed to the last Monday in the month of May! This allowed the Government employees to have a three day weekend! There is a move out there that the traditional day of observance be reinstated! Personally, I'm for that! Why you might ask? This year Memorial day was here and gone before I realized! This was mainly due to a very busy month of May!

Today, Mom and I are going to the cemetery - the traditional Memorial Day. I'm sure the cemetery has already been decorated! Dad knows where we've been and how busy life has been for us the last couple of weeks. He knows we haven't forgotten him! Bill and I will be going to Inez this week to decorate as well where his grandparents are buried, and then on to Elmwood where my grandparents are buried.

Many people - especially the younger generations, have not grasped why we decorate. It is simply a day out of the year to remember those who have gone on before us - not just those who died during battle fighting for our freedom, but everyone. Memorial Day has become a day for families to gather together for picnics - which is great! In the beginning it was a day for the families to gather together at the cemeteries, decorate the graves, listen to some preaching, and then dinner on the ground. I can invision the day when the real purpose for Memorial Day is lost. As a child I remember helping make the flowers for the graves - we used tissue paper! We don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for decorations, but my prayer is that we remember those who have gone before us!

Take a moment today to just remember those who have gone home as well as those brave men and woman who sacrificed much so that we are free to have a day to be able to have a gathering with family and friends! Today, I want to remember my Dad and my brother John! They both loved life and family, but in the end they loved God more because they knew He wanted them to come home. I love you both and miss you very much!

Dad

John


To all who have lost loved ones - remember the happy times and know they are always with us!

Whirlwind

Wednesday - May 27, 2009

According to the dictionary the definition for whirlwind is : a small rotating windstorm of limited extent; a confused rush a violent or destructive force or agency! Why would I choose "Whirlwind" as a topic? The last two - three weeks has been like a whirlwind! Most of it was great, but there were a few moments that was destructive and upsetting.

Let me start off first with the first stage of this "whirlwind!" May 16 was a special day for two people I love very much - Todd and Cassie. It was to be the day they were to become husband and wife! During the weeks leading up to the wedding, I was trying to help Mom find an outfit that fit and that she liked! She has lost weight and we needed to find something smaller. It is very hard to find an outfit for an 89 year old lady that she really likes!!! I ordered her a suit from Penny's, then she found one on the rack that she liked - sooooo she had two outfits to choose from!

Then we had to find the right pair of shoes! She has a very narrow foot - again do you have any idea how hard it is to find shoes to fit her. After looking in eight different stores for shoes, we hit pay day! She found not one pair, but two! I encouraged her to buy both, which she did! I felt like I was in the middle of the whirlwind going round and round trying to find the right outfit and pair of shoes. It was worth it because Mom looked wonderful and had a great time looking for the right dress and shoes! Doesn't she look great!

The wedding was absolutely beautiful! Cassie and Todd are a gorgeous couple - I may be just a bit biased! :) The happy couple at the reception.

It was also we were able to visit with my late brother's widow, Laurie, and my nephew and his wife - JD and Darcie. John was at the wedding in spirit, and it was so good to be able to see them.

Another great moment at the wedding was the fact that my oldest brother felt like attending. He had suffered a severe stroke and heart-attack back in February! He is still recovering, and has made big strides in his progress. I'm sure he gets frustrated at how slow the progress seems to be going, but he is hanging in there! We love you Dink! Dink is posing with the beautiful bride! We love you too Cassie!

Once the wedding was over, we had another special occasion to prepare for - our grand-daughter Cora Ann was coming to Huntington for her "baby dedication." Following the dedication services at church, we were going to have a picnic with family and friends. Food preparation was in the works - what we would have and how many to prepare for!

While trying to plan for for the picnic, I still needed to go to Mom's and do things with and for her! She had doctors appointments, medication changes, an ear ache that needed to be attended to, grocery shopping (daily if she can), and being taken to church each time the doors are opened. We are all so thankful she feels like going and enjoys worshipping with her church family!!! The entire family helps Mom in many ways - keeping her company, driving her to where ever she wants to go, taking her out to eat, helping her cook, and taking her to church! We love her very much!

On one of my stays with Mom, we had to go to the Post Office to get her some stamps! She had just opened the car door when I felt the whole car shake! A truck had hit the opened passenger door. Scared us both to death! We were all so thankful that Mom did not have a hold of the door or had a foot on the ground. I shudder at what could have happened! Insurance companies are battling it out as to who will pay for the damages!

Not only was I thinking about what I would be taking to the picnic, but we had to decide when and where we would be taking the car in order for the adjuster to give us an estimate of the damages! Bill and I took the car to the garage and was there for well over an hour. Once we left the garage, we stopped at the store so I could get the ingredients and start working on food for Sunday!

Friday evening David wanted to know if we wanted to go out and eat at Chili Willi's! Of course Bill said yes because we would get to see Cora Ann; eat at Chili Willi's, which is Bill's favorite place to eat; oh, and we would get to spend time with David and Jeni before Sunday! We had a great time!

Mike and Debbie stayed with Mom this past weekend so I could do a lot of the food preparation at home. I did go down on Saturday so Mom could "help" make the potato salad and deviled eggs. She absolutely loves it when we cook together - just like the days when I was still home! After returning home, I needed to make sure Bill and I had our clothes ready for church and then a change for the picnic. I tried to pack the food in a way that would be easy for us to carry, and in a way the hot food would stay hot; and the cold food would stay cold!

The big day was here - Cora's Dedication. This special day was witnessed by not only her parents, four great-grandparents, five grand-parents, one great-aunt, but the congregation at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington. Cora was beautiful in the dress her Great-grandma Johnson had made for David's dedication. Cora was wearing her dad's gown - it was absolutely beautiful!

The picnic was enjoyed by all in attendance. There was a total of 27 there to help celebrate Cora's special day!

Monday was a gathering at Mom's. Dink and Mike and their families were there, and we were so thankful for another day we could spend together as a family. We had so much good food the past two days. We did not let the rain curtail the ability to cook out on the grill!! Mike grilled corn on the cob with a little extra head cover!!! Tuesday and Wednesday were days Bill and I had doctor appointments. We both had great blood-pressure readings, but alas, Bill was placed on medication for diabetes. Today we went to the store and bought healthy food! The plans are for eating healthier and using the Wii exercise program to help lose weight which hopefully will help not only the sugar level but the blood-pressure as well. We know this is going to be hard to break the old habits of eating, but we know we can do it!!!

We will try and keep all posted on Bill's progress (and mine too)! Prayers would be appreciated as we do what we must to get healthier! We have a little more incentive to make our attempts at becoming healthier a success!

Cora's Dedication Picnic!

Tuesday - May 26, 2009

Following Cora Ann's Baby Dedication, there was a picnic for family and friends at The Barboursville Park. It was a beautiful place, a beautiful day, and wonderful fellowship! The following pictures will tell how the day went better than I!

The reserved shelter #2

The restrooms were close - yeah!!!!!

The shelter was really nice!

A playground was really close also. Poor Cora was too young to have this kind of fun!!!

The guest of honor has arrived. Looks like she might have been hungry! :):)

Grandma Hardin starting to get things organized so all could eat!

Grandma talking with friends from church.

Jeni and Grammy talking. Ohhhh, Jeni looks like your arms are red!

Friends from church

Jeni, Grammy, Great-Grandma Reynolds, Great-Grandpa Russell, and Great-aunt Jonnie.

Great-grandpa Johnson and Great-Grandma Johnson talking with a friend from church.

Grandma Charlotte talking with Great-Grandpa Russell. Friends from the church are in the background.

Great-Grandpa Johnson and Great-Grandma Johnson with a friend from church.

David and Jeni introducing Cora to some of the Laynes - Aunt Debbie, cousins - Cassie, Todd, Meghan, and Grant

Great - uncles Mike and Dink

A candid shot - hmmm, looks like everyone is eating.

David and Jeni talking to Uncle Dink - they we so glad he felt like coming!

Another candid shot with all enjoying the food!
Great-Uncle Dink enjoyed himself! Great-Grandma Layne was thrilled to see her oldest there to share the day with Cora Ann! Dink said very adamantly that Cora looked like JENI! :):)

Granddad and Cora

Grampy and Cora

Grammy and Cora

Mammaw and Cora

The "boys" decided to lay bocce! Looks like they lost something! They did - the little white ball they need to see in order to throw their balls towards! One who gets the closest gets the points!

The "boys" include Bill, Rick, Mike, and David!

Cora's Dedication Pictures

Monday - May 25, 2009

Yesterday, Cora Ann Hardin had her baby dedication at Fifth Avenue Baptist Church in Huntington, WV. This was the church David attended and was a member of before getting married and moving to MI. He and Jeni decided to have Cora's dedication here among family and friends. Sittting proudly up front were four great-grandparents, five grandparents, and one great-aunt. Dr. Allen Reasons introduced Cora to the congregation and offered up a prayer for Cora, her parents, and the rest of the family.

I believe from the pictures you will see how much Cora Ann is loved!

Dr. Allen Reasons introducing Jeni, David, and Cora Ann!

David, Jeni, and Cora Ann - notice the gown Cora is wearing. It is the same gown David wore 29 years ago. It was made by his Grandma Johnson!

Sue, David, Cora, Jeni, and Bill


David, Jeni, Cora, and Charlotte Hardin - David's mother.

Marie Reynolds, Jeni, Cora, and Riley Russell - these lovely people are Jeni's grandparents and Cora's great-grandparents who traveled to WV for this special day!

David, Jeni, Cora, with Rick and Carol Reynolds - Jeni's parents!

Three generations of Hardin's - David, Bill, and Cora Ann!

This was a wonderful and beautiful day! God has been so good to us all!

Cora's First Visit to Chili Willi's

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Chili Willi's has been and will always be a favorite place for Bill to eat! He has always said when seeing small children enter the eating establishment that those parents are bringing their children up the right way! A new generation is coming in and loving Chili Willi's. Cora came to town this past weekend and we took her and her parents to Chili Willi's. We have documentation that we have introduced a third generation to a great place to eat!!!

I've included pictures that will tell about Cora's adventure to Chili Willi's!

David, Jeni, Cora Ann, and Bill standing out side Chili Willi's!

Ahhhh, the angel is fast asleep in Granddad's arms!

Look at that angelic face!!!!!

Hey Mammaw, I bet you thought I was a sleep!!!!

Mammaw got to hold her for a little while, and then she went right off to sleep!

Okay Jeni, you have to share:):):):)

Hi Granddad

Hey Mammaw, do you always have to take my picture? Sure do Cora Ann - you're just soooo cute! :):):)

She's settling down for another nap - looks like she's trying to suck her thumb! :):)

Sooooo cute - good job Granddad!

Hey, what's going on? Are we leaving??????

Looks like we might be heading home!! I feel another nap coming on!!!!!!

Even though Cora wasn't able to eat, she has been to Chili Willi's on her 8 week old birthday!!!!!!!! One day, we will take you there and let you choose what you want to eat. Mmmmmmm goooooooooood. We love you baby girl!!!!!