MONDAY MEMORY!

Unable to find one thing can lead to another----a sweet memory!

It might be seen as just a bookmark! For me, it's so much more.

Wildflowers on a Georgia O'Keefe bookmark with a "kind" quote! 

Marie Jordan!

So her! A giver of gifts!

The visits I had at her home on Murfreesboro Rd. in Franklin, TN once included a "sit-down" in her garden. Of course, she was a wildflower expert!

Avid reader would be the term that described her best to me. When I would leave her home I would leave with a book as well as a list of book recs.

She introduced me to The Mitford series and we shared a love of the importance of a public library. She even received a proclamation for her years of service to the Williamson County Public library. (2009) 

 

Marie, a spry widow, (think biking to the public square not far from her home) who blessed my heart immensely!

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of a friend springs from their heartfelt advice. (Proverbs 27:9)

FOREVER FRIENDS!

There are no words yet……only tears!

Rest in peace, sweet Ellen, my dear, long-time friend❣️ l love you and so cherish all our memories & times together! You will always be a part of who I am—the kind, gentle parts. 

Ellen Thomas Cockrell

 12/12/1947-10/16/2024

May You O Lord, quiet/calm alll her family and friends with your love. (Zephaniah 3:17) 

FRIENDSHIP FRIDAY!

My friends are little lamps to me; their radiance warms and cheers my ways.(Rainbows The Book of Hope, 1946 p.47)

Page edges may be a bit yellowed (paper oxidation) as friendships have multiplied & some have died but the sentiments have been there since the 4th grade at Morningside Elementary's Book Fair when I chose this book of poetry with spiritual leanings. (Thank you, Alice Munday)

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.”  Proverbs 27:9

CELEBRATION!

Celebrating Ann Martin's 1st birthday in heaven! 

A time to remember our true friend who would have been 94 today!

She loved breakfast at Perkins so we met there to pray and remember.

Trips together. Meals together. Swimming together. Singing old hymns together. Laughs together. 

• Awakening to Shirley's buttery biscuits at Blackberry, riding in the golf cart w/ her doggie Abbey, treated to Judy's crepes w/ fresh fruit & real whipped cream, rocking in the chairs with Farmer John at the Barn, campfire s'mores, 4th of July lunching on the grounds & listening to Luke Bryan's Spring Break live concert from our lawn chairs. 
• Her top level cooking from Etheline's coconut cake, her Brad's, birthday pumpkin roll and her roasted red pepper soup. Who takes time to roast peppers anymore? Lunching with her sweet Marika when she was in town.....from Napa Cafe to good ole Elmo's.
• Swimming together at the Q for years, sometimes at the office and once even breaking in to Rawl and Julie's for a dip.....by scaling the gate!
• When she had trouble speaking we could hum a familiar old hymn and she would start singing.. In the Garden, Old Rugged Cross, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus and Jesus Love Me.
• Many laughs included Mike & Larry being her boyfriends. Others are censored (per request by friends) but often dealt with food and weight and back to food....while interspersed with bodily function jokes.

Ann was a friend who gave wise counsel; Her life as a friend is clearly reflected in these verses.

A true friend sticks by you like family. (Proverbs 18:24)

Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy! (Proverbs 27:9)

Thanks for the memories, sweet, Ann; You certainly refreshed my heart with joy even during my darkest of days!

FOREVER..... FRIENDS!

Yesterday's post said "nothing is forever"........ but, there is eternity for sisters in the faith!

Sometimes God in His love and mercy allows them to see each other this side of eternity. 

When we couldn't get to Ukraine in 2022, God brought Ukraine to us! 

a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Proverbs 27:9) *

Hallelujah! God be praised!!

*Sweet Friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy, for good friends are like the anointing oil that yields the fragrant incense of God's presence. (Proverbs 27:9, TPT) 

TPT is, the new to me, The Passion Translation. I have included it in the Dancing Script font, a choice which my Ukrainian friends will understand.

OUR HAPPY PLACE.....EARTHSIDE!

Where is it? Don't know yet! It's always a secret and it's always "the best yet!"

Today will be #21! It will be a happy place because all 6 of the "sistas" will be there with COVID vaccination card in hand, masks available as needed and enough snacks to take us "to the moon and back" because that's the way we love each other. (and food) Both bring refreshment to our souls at our Happy Place. (Proverbs 27:9)

GAL PAL GETAWAYS!

What does a "Gal Pal Getaway" look like......

I already know that a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. (Proverbs 27:9)
For T-cups--it's a mystery trip known only to one who plans the trip. Destination usually revealed at start of trip but not this time. New jaunts were explained upon arrival. Those in back seat felt as if we were somewhere beyond our state---California, maybe.

A Full Circle of "Tennessee Treks, Trail and Back Roads"included.............Walking Tall Trail, Civil War Trail, w/ catfish at Hagy's, Amish wagon rides,

RR crossings,

Hoopee Rides....

and lots of cuisine from old timey boardinghouse to mealhouse....

.....dips from Capt'n Rodneys (REAL Capt'n Rodney joined our Pic.)

not to mention fried pie sundies at Soda Pop Junction

and hominy casserole & collards-- plus baked apples with a little of the Lynchburg"product" stirred in and a touch of the "product was tasted in the REAL whipped cream on the buttermilk pie at Miss Mary BoBo's......

to RH Cafe with lobster  rolls. Champagne was also available.

.....Even met Bubba at 9 Back St. (backroad address) Mulberry, TN lavender farm.

Banana pudding for the Banana Pudding festival.

BREAKFAST! BREAKFAST! BREAKFAST!

1 Banana w/ 1 Egg--Delish! we had to try it to believe it.

Feasting and feeding on God's Word after breakfast!

"New" Long Island friends at Marcy Jo's Mealhouse community table

So grateful we ended each day for Triple R---Rest & Relaxation at the Ranch--filled with cows, horses, chickens + 1 rooster, a baby doll sheep, a mini horse, a mule named Duke, bee hives,

an amazing "she shed" 

& LOTS OF PORCHES.

"Full Circle" Ranch, no less.......

...a place to refresh one's soul! **

**Trip Addendum---A few hours after we returned Saturday one of the gals had a stroke. Tuesday another gal had gallbladder surgery. Life Lesson learned----enjoy  the  moments God gives---because our days are gifts from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 3:12-13)
We could be of good cheer knowing that God was in the plan (Mattie Dear) Even in those scares & struggles, there was fullness of joy in His presence as we prayed together for each other! (Psalm 16:11)

AND SO IT BEGINS..............

AND SO IT BEGINS...............Christmas Season 2018.

Lunch with friends. Christmas music and message....

,,,,my favorite Christmas carol, "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" 

sung by choir carolers at "Miss Ann's" table.

"Glory to the New Born King!"

Here's a Great Christmas..

From Beginning to end,

I got a terrific "beginning" present--

----lunch with Ann, my sweet friend!* (Proverbs 27:9)

What a great jumpstart for this special season. 

*Thanks to Judy B. for making it possible.