Happy Birthday Cindy

Happy 45th birthday Cindy.  You were the first so you gave us the titles of mommy and daddy.  Even though   those titles have been updated to mom and dad we still carry them proudly.  Life has been rough at times, it even started out that way - in a massive electrical storm.  I can honestly say you were worth days of fever over 105 and being paralyzed from the waist down.  You courageously fought your own serious health battles during your teen years as we watched, prayed, and encouraged from the sides lines.  We truly thank God for you, your life, and your family.  You are a true blessing.  We love you!

And this "firestorm" was quite a few years ago!

King's Island

Took this picture from a friends facebook page.  When I saw it I was reminded of all the vacations we took there in the 1970s and early 1980s.  My girls loved going there when we lived in Indiana.  Memories!

Passing The Time Country Style!

My Grandpa Hawkins in the 1960s sitting on the porch at the old country store my family operated in Guthrie, Indiana.  Such fun to be raised in an era when we had community gathering places and neighbors were friends as well.  Many a day saw the porch overflowing with friends and neighbors enjoying each other's company.  Happy Memories.

My NYC Apartment Building

This is a picture of my apartment building, The Carnegie Mews, when I lived in New York City.  I had an excellent location.  The Hard Rock Cafe was right behind me, Carnegie Hall was at the end of the block to the right, the Carnegie Deli to the left.  I was just a couple blocks from Lincoln Center and also from Central Park.  Our doorman was Guido; now how much more New York could one get!  Only thing in my life today is medical and that is not exciting so I am revisiting memories!

Mom's Salad Recipe In Her Handwriting

My mother was always taking every advantage to collect recipes (maybe that's where I got my love of recipes?) and wrote them down on whatever was handy at the time.  Today I came across this hand-written recipe on the bottom of a sheet of notebook paper.  I remember she was so proud when she made this salad.  Dad took one bite and said, "I really don't like it.  I hope you don't make it often."  She looked so deflated; she loved it.  To solve that problem she often took it to pitch-in meals where she enjoyed it and dad didn't touch it!

Guess Who Misses Dustin!

Tucker is not used to being here without Dustin.  Lauren is visiting UT today so Tucker is with us.  Last night I couldn't find him then located him in Dustin's room.  It is still his favorite spot this morning.  Dustin took his bedspread off the bed for me to wash and I hadn't done it yet.  Now why would Tucker sleep in his bed when he could sleep on Dustin's?

Baby Linda in Jasonville, Indiana

Yes, that's me sitting in the yard at my Uncle Kelsie's place in Jasonville, Indiana.  I loved going to visit Uncle Kelsie, Aunt Mary, and cousins Joey and Judy.  As I got older one of my favorite treats was riding on the church bus with Kelsie as he ran his route.  Sometimes I wonder if that had anything to do with my choosing to be a bus worker as an adult.

It is so hard to believe we have lost Kelsie, Mary, Joey, and Judy.  Thankful to be in contact with some of the family via facebook.

Oh My, Ladies!

God rest her soul, my wonderful mother saved everything.  Nine years after her death I am still going through some of her things.  Look what I found this evening in a page torn from a 1961 issue of a GRIT newspaper.  Ladies, I don't think this ever took off like they expected.  Aren't you glad?  I have enlarged this picture so you can get a good look!!

Where is My Green Thumb?

Why oh why did my mother's green thumb skip a generation?  This is in Cindy's kitchen - makes me so jealous!

TOUCH OF MODERN

http://www.touchofmodern.com/i/JERVEVOC

Check out the above website for some really interesting items such as the tiny cake plates below.

My Grandparents Marriage License

Love seeing my grandparents marriage license!

The American Flag - My Rant!

I just saw a gentleman from a VFW post in Minnesota on the news.  The VFW has hung a flag on a bridge in their town for the last 8 years.  They were recently told they had to take it down.  In his phone call from the city he was told, "If we leave it there, what happens when someone wants to hang the Iraian flag there?"  Now that the city is being questioned they are saying, "Oh no, it is a safety issue."  Now I ask you why wasn't it a safety issue for the past 8 years?  Things like this just make my blood boil! Folks our freedoms and patriotism is being eroded daily!  Thank God for old glory in my hometown!

It is time for Americans to stand up for their rights and to defend and stand along side those whose rights are trampled!  A town in MN today; yours or mine tomorrow?  Please back your local officials and citizens when they stand up for freedom and patriotism!

That is my rant for today!!

Samantha the Chef

I just came across this old picture of Samantha with her other grandmother (Susanne Cole) and the apron and hat she made for Samantha.  She gave them to her with a magazine from her favorite cook!  If Samantha has an idol, it is Paula Deen.

Lauren's Birth Announcement

Found this momento of our first granddaughter's birth.  We were so excited the day this picture was taken as she was going home from the hospital.  She was born a month early and had a very rough start in the NICU!  So proud of her and her accomplishments today. 

"Thank you Lord for our little girl.  Thank you Lord for brightening our world..........." (This is a private joke for Lauren!!) 

Love you, girl!

Stone Moss Ln

You might think our neighborhood was near water since we live on Stone Moss Ln a block off Stone Creek Ln!  Nope, dry ground around here.

Old Church Bell

I love the old churches and missions in the west.  This bell tower is on an old church in the Laredo, TX area.

Dustin and Tucker

Dustin dogsitting Lauren's and Lindsay's dog Tucker.

I'm sure he misses you girls but he is pretty contented.  Dustin is even carrying him around the way you do!

Being Silly at TCC

More fun for Steffinee on our tour of Dustin's college campus last week.

Steffinee thinks she probably isn't ready for this testing quite yet!

Steffinee likes this saying.  She says her future is in Texas.

Goofing off.





Samantha, Steffinee, and Dustin at TCC

More pictures from last week when Dustin was showing his cousins around the college.

Carlos On Bus To Church

Carlos in the bus to church camp.  Praying he will have some great experiences this week.

Carlos is in the white tee third row back.

Pray For Our Niece

Please remember our great-niece Abby in your prayers.  Her boyfriend was killed in this crash last week and his funeral is today.  She is a high school senior and is taking this very hard.

More of Steffinee's Texas Visit

Steffinee enjoyed her time in Texas.  Got a few pictures of her, Samantha, and Dustin in Cindy's yard.

Three of our monkeys!

Steffinee and Samantha Loving Tucker

Since Cindy and family are in Florida, we have had Tucker here with Dustin this week.  He has not been lacking for attention and affection (Lauren & Lindsay, you can relax!) with Dustin and Chad's girls here.  Posting these pics for you, L & L.

Steffinee's Tour of TCC

Steffinee wanted to see where Dustin goes to college so today he gave her a tour of the campus.

Relaxing in one of Dustin's favorite spots.

Posing as pawns on the large chess board.  Dustin as a king, Steffinee as a queen, and Samantha as a pawn.

Temperature was 102 so you will notice they have the water bottle in each picture.

Old Glory

This is a picture of Old Glory through the trees in our front yard.

In Loving Memory of My Mom

In loving memory of my mother, Helen Hawkins Sowders, who found her freedom from this life 9 years ago today.  She loved Grapevine and especially the gazebo on Main St.  Today I went there and took some pictures; posting this one in her honor.  We love and miss you, Mam-Mam!

Bruce's Birthday

Bruce's birthday is actually July 2 but I always seem to be a day behind.  We celebrated last night with a rib dinner and chocolate cake - his favorite.  Of course we had to have a picture of Samantha with Uncle Bruce.

Also, Bruce is a veteran of 20 years in the United States Army.  So on this July 4th we want to say, "Thank you for your service."

Crazy Cousins

Steffinee and Dustin acting goofy.  They hadn't seen each other for 13 months and were so glad to be together again.

She was eating chocolate and grandma forgot to tell her to wipe her mouth!

Tucker and Samantha

No wonder Tucker likes to stay at Grandma's house when Samantha is here!  Crazy girl!  She is gone today and he misses her.  Chad, Mary, Carlos, Isabell, and Samantha have gone to Shawnee, OK to get Steffinee.  Samantha is so excited she woke up at 4:00 this morning ready to go get her sister!