Dijea's Photo Challenge: Feb 12 - Feb 18 - Romance

TRIBUTE to Lovely Lady on Valentines Day

How this happened I don't know, but I love it.

Favorite New Zealand Photo

The highlight of our trip has to be all the family time we enjoyed. We are front row and included in my sister's family portrait. The only one missing is husband Tony who had to be in Christchurch on business. Not only did he miss being in the picture, he didn't get an ice cream cone. Took a long time to cone-up this group, and many gobbled theirs down before others were served.

Sister Sue Is Sixty

Far North on the North Island

The lovely lady eating fish and chips with Walt is Helen, my sister's sister-in-law who lives in Whangarei. She graciously invited us up for a tour of the far north of NZ. The highlight has to be the viewing of the great kauri trees in New Zealand's rain forests. Many thanks, Helen, for a wonderful outing and all your hospitality.

My NZ Nephews

 

What Luck!

Remember the All Black Plane in the photograph a couple of posts back? We got to ride it Monday from Wellington to Auchland! All black leather seats, more room and more luxury. We were thrilled. Then we boarded a 20 passenger prop from the tarmac to Whangarei. How "Casa Blanca" is that!

View from the Wharf

Really Fresh

Our nephew Brandon gave us the grand tour and got us high on caffeine.

All Black Surprise

While in the Auckland airport, this beauty popped in. What a treat to get to see up close and personal, especially after these guys just won the world cup. Just part of the adventure of getting here. Delays and layovers and an unexpected day in Fiji.

Merry Christmas from the River Walk in San Antonio

What's on the Fridge

Pick today or Freeze tonight

On the Porch This Morning

Here's proof that it does rain in Texas. Best morning coffee on the deck in ages.

TRIBUTE

The Arkansas State Veteran's Cemetery was composed of rolling hills, Fall painted trees and a small lake with a fountain bordered by a memorial to our war heroes replete with flags waving over the edge of the lake. The ceremony took place in a pavilion bordering the same lake. There were two marines at attention, holding the American Flag which was neatly folded. The minister was from Janelle's and Travis church and he was a tall elegant man with snow white hair who had the most wonderful kind expression on his face.

Brother Grey gave a wonderful sermon about the nature of death. He gave the analogy that death was like birth. The baby is content in its mother's womb with all that it needs to survive, but in order to pass into Life it must leave that safe haven. It does so and enters a totally new and better life. So the person dying must leave the safety of this life for a new one that is even better. We are afraid of this passage but it is just as natural as birth and just a normal passage into a new phase of "living".
After his sermon, the taps were played and the two marines unfolded the flag and refolded it into a perfect triangle. Then each Marine saluted it in turn and one of the young men went to the family and knelt on one knee. He presented the flag to Travis with the words "On behalf of the President of the United States,the Commandant of the Marine Corps, and a grateful nation please accept this flag as a symbol of our appreciation for your loved one's service to Country and Corps."

I have been to several military funerals, army, air force, navy and now marine. The ceremony never fails to touch my heart and make me so very proud of our country and the men who defend it. Rocky served in Viet Nam during the Tet Offensive when some of the most brutal fighting took place. He had a wonderful kind heart and loved and admired Herb. Herb had served in the Army ahead of Rock in Laos, Cambodia and Viet Nam. They had much in common in their shared feelings about the war and their love of family and country.

We will miss him very much.

His son Travis did a wonderful job of honoring him with such a beautiful service. Present for the service was his son Travis Crofford, ex-wife Janelle Crofford, his sister Judy Hennig, four cousins including us, and a sister in law. Melissa and Mike Catlett.

Sunday Dinner with Big Grandma

Movie Lust

I wish I could create this quality.
West Texas

Father Finds a New Chair

I wouldn't let him bring it home!

Advice

When was the last time you tried to organize you photos? Don't wait for 50 years. By that time you will have forgotten who's who and the date. I'm finally getting to my in-laws packed boxes of old photos. I'm finding so many classic and wonderful pictures that have no names or dates on the back. I can't believe my mother-in-law left this world without doing this. What a scramble it is to get them identified. Most of the ones who knew them died a while back. So, I'm depending on relatives who might recognize someone or the picture of someone. Sometimes, just getting one person named allows the picture person to identify the same person in other photos. Still, too many remain unknown and lost to future generations..

Gotta Love the Hair

Granted, he just got out of bed, but this boy has a record number of cowlicks. My favorite it his Alfalfa look. Aside from the hair, it's also great that he is reading. I know, you see him reading the funny papers here, but you're just as likely to see him with a thick book. A grandmother could go broke buying this boy books. I keep promoting the library and borrowing. When was the last time you visited your local library... well, that's too long.