Finally! Some Clothes!

Back when I used to play...prior to John's passing. This was first scheduled for May 23, 2016. 
***

~new "spring" outfits~
Tammy's skirt is similar to mine, though her top is made from an old handkerchief. We especially love the little embroidered flowers and the trim on the bottom of her skirt.

Vee found this broken baby ring in an old jewelry box. It  makes a pretty bracelet for Tammy.

I'm wearing a bracelet, too. Around my neck. Vee thinks it is the bracelet that her mama bought while on her senior class trip to the White Mountains way back in 1952. 
Guess that's all you'll see from Tammy and me until we get more outfits. My guess is that Vee is not in the mood for playing just now and we'd better resign ourselves to these dresses for some time.
Have a great day!

A Dollar Short and a Week Late

You know that I always go to the Hodge Podge if I need a jumpstart, kickstart, something. And the thing is, Joyce isn't even having a Hodge Podge this week so I am off the hook for linking and participating. I'm just using last week's for blog fodder. 

1. If you could sit beside and/or jump in any lake in the whole wide world today, which lake would you choose and why?

I would swim in a lake I love in New Brunswick, Canada. I enjoy swimming in lakes over swimming in pools or the ocean. I have even swum in a Great Lake (Erie), which was as close to swimming in the ocean as I like to be...very brrrisk! 

2. What's your favorite 'fruity' drink? 

Lemonade

3. I read a list here of thirteen things to do right now to simplify your life. They were-

clean as you go, re-evaluate your relationships (cut toxic ties), unsubscribe (too many blogs and websites), de-clutter, write down your daily goals, reply to emails right away, forget multitasking, create a morning routine, re-evaluate your commitments (which hobbies and responsibilities are most important to you), say no, clean up your computer, and plan your day ahead

Which of the tasks listed do you currently find most helpful in keeping life simple? Which item on the list should you adopt in order to simplify your life this month?

I like all of those ideas and follow many of them most of the time. There's going to be an entire summer of cleaning up and sorting ahead from barns to basements. I'd like to give up multi-tasking, but it just seems to be something I must do and probably because I have the attention span of a gnat.

4. What did you do the summer after you graduated from high school? 

Since I would be off to college in the fall, I worked that summer cashiering at a grocery store. I also dated a lot that summer as I'd be saying goodbye to my boyfriend at the end of summer. He remained behind for a year and then joined the Army so there were many goodbyes through our dating years. Yes, I eventually married him and, though the marriage failed, I have two wonderful children and two wonderful grands so I'd not change my circumstances.

5. Are you a fan of podcasts? If so what's a favorite? 

Have listened to some I have liked, but can't remember them and don't listen regularly.

6. Do you think today's fathers have it harder, easier, or just different than fathers in the past?

Different and harder. Nothing is getting easier in this crazy society of ours.

7. Tell us one way you're like your father? Or not at all like your father if that's easier?

I have often been told that I am quite like my father in temperament. We seem to share a little issue called "directness." This is also known as not having a filter. Oh dear. My pastor once told me that I was very like my father in the nicest possible way. Ahem. =/

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

So many random thoughts swirling the brain. Let me keep it to one! 

I have been working on memory boards for John's service and so have been wading through this remarkable life of his with all the family, friends,  and experiences of a lifetime. Would you like to see some photos?

John on the cliffs of Grand Manan

John and sisters at their grandparents' 51st wedding anniversary party back in the day

Do all 12 year old boys look alike?

 One of 8 memory boards... This is looking a bit sparse to me so must add a few more photos, if I can find some.

my cluttered work corner

Thank you for the ongoing prayers. I truly need them and feel  sustained by them. Now I have a question for you: is it going to make you feel uncomfortable if I continue to chat about John? Needless to say, he is very much on my mind, but I don't want to cause you to worry about my mental health or when I'll get on with this life that is, after all, for the living.

Missing John

How blessed I was! 

John 1944–2016

The good thing was that I knew that every. single. day. I loved him; he loved me; 'twas all that mattered. I know that I will miss him until the day I join him.

~love light in his eyes~or maybe a leave me alone~trying to get ready for church~

So we, my family and I, are finding our way through the grief of losing John. I have sometimes heard Christians huff that their loved ones are not "lost." While we know that John is safely home with The Lord, he is definitely lost to us here on earth. 
Sam and Jakob, my grandsons, have struggled a fair bit. John is their first loss; they have not even suffered the loss of a pet to prepare them for this thing — death. We met with John's pastor and the pastor's wife on the Sunday afternoon just after John passed and talked things through. When the pastor was readying to leave, he said that he would pray when Jakob interrupted asking if he could himself pray. The pastor said, "Sure, Jakob, would you like to pray first?"
Jakob's prayer:

Thank you, God,  for John in our lives. We know that he is still with us in our hearts and that one day soon we will see him again. Well, in that day. 

Not a dry eye in the room...
Dear Ones, I want to thank you for the love and support, prayers, cards, calls, and emails, and for reading here at A Haven for Vee. A special thank you to Abby at Little Birdie Blessings for holding down the fort when I had to remind myself to even breathe. I do not know what the future holds for blogging because, as Sam says, "Everything was better with John." I do have some stories to tell, though, so perhaps I will find my way back one day.

This was John on a hot day in May holding a bookmark the Texas Quads made. He was so pleased to have it and called it a real "day brightener." He sure loved my little corner of Blogdom and all the dear folks in it. This was the last photo I took of him. 
Closing with a reminder from Lorrie who had been doing some reading in my archives. Precious reminder!

As we strode along the path through the cemetery just enjoying the close of day and being together, John leaned down a bit and whispered, "Every grave will open one day." That's a thought worth getting excited about! Then we passed a grave well over a hundred years old where the inscription read Meet Me There. I can't think of a much better message to those of us following after.

August 3, 2008