Friday, May 26, 2017

Five Minute Friday ~ Visit


Ready. Set. GO!

If you've been visiting Our Journey Through LIFE for a while, or if you are new to my off the beaten path world, sharing God's message through our journey of messes, or travels, and even our joy's has been a big part of it. After some very devastating battles and losses, some of which caught us off guard, it effected so many areas of my life. This time around it has taken a bit more energy for me to regain the desire to write from my heart and soul. 

Slowly I have been removing the blanket that has been covering me. I can only give God the glory for the courage to pull those covers off. It wasn't His first time. And this time didn't take as long as the last. The solutions might have been different but the results were just what He knew they would be. Praise God!

Visiting new blogs to read continue to inspire me in a big way. A visit to one blog, led to another, then another. Worlds were opened up. What I have, or am going through, so has others. I am surely not going through this any better or even worst then anyone else. I am right where I am suppose to be, doing exactly what I am doing and how. One thing I have never stopped doing is listening to what God's direction was. Something I have done my entire life. When I hide under those blankets, or I lock my gates to keep others out, He is right there with me. He knows when I am ready and He waits.

Finding FMF has been one of those Godsends for me. Just after what, 3-4 weeks, I am finding I am looking forward to visiting her blog to see what the prompt will be. They seem to fall right into a place that I can be comfortable with. She encourages me to write about something when I can't seem to get words typed out. I love visiting all the...

The timer says STOP, my thoughts want to argue with it. Rules are rules.

Thanks for visiting and if you leave a comment I will visit you as well.

Have a wonderful Memorial Weekend. How will you be celebrating? We're staying home. I will be joining the Girls Scouts tomorrow capturing them place crosses and flags on the graves of those fallen for our freedom. 

Friday, May 19, 2017

Five Minute Friday ~ Truth

It's Five Minute Friday.


And GO!

"The truth is always the truth!"

I have always said and will always believe, the truth never changes. 

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment."   Proverbs 12:19

It doesn't matter how much time will pass, the truth will always come out.
Have you ever had to cover up the truth with a lie?

I thought I was protecting the family because the truth would destroy it. Boy, was I wrong!

To find out years later that so many already knew the truth and had been covering it up themselves hurt beyond words. I was the child watching those older do exactly what I was being taught not to do.

Had I followed in those footsteps, the journey might have been different, but I can't imagine it would have been better.

"The truth hurts".

I would say covering it up hurts so much more. I learned who I could trust and who I could believe in. Yes the truth hurt, but the lie hurt more!

"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free!" John 8:32

"Hurt me with the truth, but don't comfort me with a lie!" anonymous

"When in doubt, tell the truth!"  Mark Twain

"Ain't that the truth!"

Every week Friday arrives at the same time, and ends at the same exact time every week. They might not always be the same, but it will forever be the day of the week known as Friday. The first day before the weekend and the last day of a work week. Well, unless of course you work weekends and then Monday or Tuesday or Wednesday is your Friday. But the truth is, Tuesday is always Tuesday and Friday is always Friday.

Ain't that the Truth.

The end!


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Five Minute Friday ~ Mom

I had a feeling the prompt this week would revolve around...
http://katemotaung.com/
I've started this FMF a number of times since Friday.

I soon realized it was going to be hard, and I mean REALLY hard to write for only 5 minutes!

But here I go...
It's just not on Mother's Day.
I MISS them EVERY day!
I was fortunate to have two wonderful women mother me.
It doesn't matter that it was 15 years ago.
It still feels like yesterday.
To lose them as my daughter gave birth to my first grandson 
was not the way I thought this was going to turn out.
That moment became my lifeline.
God took them from their pain and He gave me the JOY of my life!
To become a grandmother without my mothers to talk to, in person, was, has, is and will continue to be some very emotional moments.
Those emotional moments last longer then five minutes.
When my mom knew her time was near, her memories became mine.
She shared so much with me.
She created a memory book I will always cherish.
My Mother-in-Law shared that I was her daughter!
Words that will never be forgotten.
They were both so LOVED!
They both LOVED me so much!
Tears still fall, but the JOY drys them up.
Now it's been my turn.
To be a mom, a grandma, without them.
My mom knew how much it was going hurt.
She grew up without a mom from the age of 7.
She knew!
A mother's comfort.
A mother's touch.
A mother's heart.
Leave many memories.
Loving a mother, being a mother,
ENDLESS.

Stop!

Phew!

Like I said, I had started this a few times, but couldn't get past the tears and the timer buzzing before I could even type a few sentences. I would then go off on other routes to shake the feelings and try again.

During my research on what I could write about, I learned that Mother's Day began way before President Woodrow Wilson signed the proclamation in 1914. It began when Ana Jarvis mother, Ana Marie Reeves Jarvis, began the Mothers' Day Work Club back in 1858. I found it to be some very interesting reading but not for a five minute write.

Looking at the family tree with the dates above, my great grandmother's were right there with them beginning their families. My mother's grandmother was born in 1855 and she had her first child, a son, born in 1874

Below is a picture I believe was taken before my grandparents left Nebraska and moved to California. My grandmother, was her last child born in 1898. She had 7 brother's and 2 sisters. She is upfront in white to the left of the gentleman in suspenders. My mother was her only daughter and would be 4 at the time of this picture. She is one of the blonde babies in front of her along with her siblings, My mother had 3 older brothers (1914, 1917, and 1919) and one younger (1923) at the time of this photo. My grandmother had another son (1927) after they moved to California.

These ladies set the example of a Mother for many generations to come.
I vaguely remember my mom's aunts. They visited her often and they were always there for her as she grew up.

Then I explored the path of when my mother became a mother...
My oldest sister has the honor of being her first born, and with her being 14 years old when I was born, she took care of me like a mother. My mom was blessed with 4 daughters and 2 sons. With the birth of each of her children, it must have brought that deep down feeling of missing her mom up. I knew as each of my grandchild came into our lives, I missed mine. How could she not!
I loved it beyond words when it was my turn to be a mother.
To have a daughter changed my world! I had BIG plans for the type of mother I wanted be. For the most part I believe I achieved that goal. Even when two and half years later when I was surprised during an ultrasound that I was having twin, just 2 days before they arrived, didn't leave much time to plan anything, but we survived.
Twenty plus years later, another new mom was entering the club. 
My mom's last time being the example for a new mom. My husbands mom, on the left lost her battle with cancer 45 days later. She never got to see the grandson she dreamed about. My mom, on the right, lost her battle 3 days after her great-grandson was born.
We believe she met him on the way to heaven.

As this journey continues, not a day goes by that they are not a part of it by being in my heart and every thought. After all they showed me and taught me everything I would ever need to know about being a mother or grandmother, even from Heaven.

Happy Mother's Day!






Friday, May 12, 2017

Third Time's The Charm!

So they say, but, who are 'they' anyhow?

Of course I have to search it and find that Elizabeth Barrett Browning did in "Letters addressed to R. H. Horne," back in 1839.

So what "Third time's a charm" am I talking about now?

The water system in Ajo needed attention again. Though each time he has gone before it had been for a different problem to repair. Not uncommon when the system has been functioning great for over 15+ years. Things just wear out!

I must say I was more then willing to tag along as hubby headed there again. There was still stuff I hadn't seen and it's really the only way I am going to get there.

Only this time it was a bit warmer, like 95 degrees warm. I surely wasn't going off on any walking adventures this trip like before. The system is right outside Olsen's Market if I hadn't mentioned that before. Such a friendly store and a great place to sit, read, and watch a variety of people who come and go. Conversations start up with a simple question and history is shared within some of the answers.

Once the new problem was fixed, hubby asked if there was anything I had wanted to do before we headed back. Of course I said there was and pulled out my phone. He giggled as I loaded the map and directions. Told him I had it saved for 'if' ever we got back here, be it to repair something else or actually camp for a weekend or a week. I had "hope" is all.

"Third times the charm!"

 The Ajo Scenic Loop will be our adventure for the afternoon.
The directions said to start at the plaza. We didn't need to go there this time and simply took a right off the highway instead as we headed in that direction.
The first mile takes you past some homes that are so simple and yet very artistic. Like the one above. I loved the post for the porch. Anything resembling a 'Y' tickles my heart. And then the gecko or gila monster was pretty awesome too!

As the brochure said, the pavement soon ends and you continue on a very bumpy dirt road.
At MILE 1.5 you will see a large cross a top the mountain on your left. It was erected by the towns people back in 1926 in honor of John Campbell Greenway. He was the first mine superintendent and founder of Ajo. I 'd missed seeing it the last two times we were here.

"Third times the charm!"
Around MILE 3.0 you will start to see some pretty expansive views and oh so many unusual volcanic rock formations. I'm in rock heaven! As we approached this formation our first thought was of a cow pie. When we got home and I started writing this post I googled the loop for information so I could attach links to the things. Again we laughed when at MaxxTrails we learned the real name for this formation was Wind Swept Rock and it had also been given the alternative name, Cow Pie.
When you approach MILE 4.6 the back side of the old mine (New Cornelia Mine) will be on your left. It gleamed in the afternoon sun showing off the many colors amidst tailing's, creating an awesome background to the lavishly green desert floor.
At MILE 6.1 is the intersection of Darby Well Road that goes off to the right. The brochure states that 100 years ago this road was part of an extensive transportation network that ended at the international border. Today there is a sign warning you of what could be ahead.  
When we reach MILE 7.9 at the AZ State Hwy 85 we turned left to return toward town. We wanted to check out the Pit Lookout so we turned left on Estrella Dr and followed the GPS toward the Ajo Historical Society Museum on Indian Village Rd. Before you arrive at the museum, on the left will be the lookout. There is a fenced area where there was an visitor center but it was closed.
Across the street is the Greenway Mansion.
The museum was very interesting. Lots of history and exhibits of how Ajo grew into what it is today. As we were signing the guest book, my hubby was reading something that got the curator to explain just what it was for. From the glimpse I had of what he was looking at and the curator calling it a chicken ladder, my first thought was the pole was for the chickens to get out of the pit. Hahaha, it was actually used by the miners to climb out of the pit!

By the way, chickens do use ladders too!
When we left the museum we headed back to hwy 85 and turned laft toward town. As we approached the plaza I asked hubby to turn left onto Lomita Ave so I could see and get a picture of the Curry School.

"Third time's the charm!"

When I did the walking tour I had to pick and choose which path I took to see what I could. This was one of the ways I choose not to go then.
Heading back toward the highway we saw more of those statues. I wonder if I will ever own any. My yard would just love them as would I love to gaze on them in it.
I believe there are still more sites to see and dirt roads to travel. Ajo will remain on our bucket list for things to do. 

Sunday, May 7, 2017

Five Minute Friday: Should


Joining other Five Minute Friday writer's, and you can too right here.

Timer set...

Here I go...

I should have doubled checked I had grabbed everything.

The moment I clicked the button to take a picture of the sunrise, I'm reminded with a warning I had forgotten something!

Yep, NO SD card!

Guess the iPhone camera will have to do for this trip.

Thankful it wasn't going to be a scenic drive, just some business in Phoenix for a couple days. Not to much should be happening.

Did some shopping.
I love strolling through IKEA, so many ideas to build off of. Just follow the arrow's.
Ate at Jimmy John's for the first time.

Yumm!

Even had Culver's for the first time on the way home.
Another yum, yum!

Have you ever ate at either. If not, I recommend you should give it a try.
What about IKEA? Is there one in your area?

However, on the way home, the saguaro's cactus in the Sonoran Desert National Monument were in full bloom, and in groves!

Figures! I tried to take some with the iPhone, but going 55, towing a trailer with equipment, and no where to pull over, all I got were blurs of green stuff.

Then hubby remembered about the old Kodak digital camera in the dash cubby. He uses it for installation purposes so it works for his needs. Mine, not so much.
It really should be in a museum!
On top of it being ancient, it only had a small 64MB card in it.

"Well I won't be getting many with this", I said as I inserted the card into my Canon, "but I should at least get a couple descent ones." So he found a place where he could pull over, which just so happened to be at a grove, so I should be able to snap as many as the card could hold. I guess I could have kept it in the Kodak and gotten more. Maybe I should have? Nay. My Canon has a better zoom!

I'm tickled that of the 18 photos the card could hold, these and a few others turned out rather great.

I should have double checked my camera before we left!

I should have used my iPhone for some too while pulled over!

What ever was I thinking!

Beep, beep. Beep, beep, times up!




Monday, May 1, 2017

The Simple Woman's DayBook

Look what I found!

So I will be linking up with

For Today
.


Looking out my window...every morning, I get to watch these beautiful creatures fly about as our day begins.


I am thinking...about how blessed I am to have such a simple life! Pure joy!

I am thankful...that so many prayers are being heard and answered in the way He does.  

One of my favorite things...right now is to capture this "Grand" playing baseball.




I am creating...memories at the moment. Which means I am editing the many photos that make up our journey.

I am wearing...what I usually wear every morning, my lounge wear. 
It's the most comfortable attire, making it so not to want to leave the house! 
Eventually I will have too! But not today.

I am watching...The Handmaid's Tail. It's a new series on Hulu, created from the book by Margaret Atwood

I am hoping...that the our upcoming adventure is everything the reviews say it will be! 
Trusting reviews these days can be a hit or a miss! I'll let you know.

I am learning...that the world of blogging has changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. So much to relearn! Along with new stuff that is now available. WordPress will be in my future.

In my kitchen...we've been enjoying some great dishes from "Hello Fresh"! 
Have you tried them? 


In my garden...things are growing, slowly!

My flowers on the other hand are blooming along great!


Post Script...I'm going to give a shout out to a site I joined so to share with the young ladies in my life. It's called Ipsy.



Shared Quote..."It is good to have an end to journey toward;
but it is the journey that matters, in the end."
Ernest Hemingway

A moment from my day...researching an adventure!


There it is, my first post with A Simple Women's Daybook in 7 years. 

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