cruising #2

The Bahamas.

The color of that water.

Dress up night.

After dinner.

Steak and lobster.

Of all the grandchildren, 

Jake and Eli were the only ones who brought dress-up clothes.

Lucy cross-stitched a picture of our cruise.

I love the interlocking hearts with me in the middle.

She is such a dear, sweet granddaughter.

She really looks out for me.

I had it on display in my cabin all week.

💗

Our cabanna on Loft 19.

#8

Amanda reading and sunbathing.

The views from the loft were amazing.

We spent so much time up there.

She was recuperating from a medical event that almost kept us all home.

I was more than happy to stay with her.

Getting off at the ports is not the main reason I love cruising.

Being on the boat and looking at the ocean as we sail is.

What a delightful place to rest and relax.

Breakfast with the family.

Jake, Eli, Gus, and Walter chose the buffet.

These times around the big round table, looking out at the ocean, were some of the best.

Conversation flowed!

Laughter abounded.

Being with all my family was such a blessing from God.

💗

I left this cruise with a full heart of love and thanksgiving!

 

cruising #1

Love this welcome aboard greeting.

First thing I saw when I walked into my cabin.

First sunrise.

The faithful witness in the sky that God never changes.

It's one of my most favorite sights on a cruise.

Early morning coffee delivery to my room.

To sit on the balcony, sipping coffee and watching the day arrive, is a dream.

We ordered coffee for one, but they always brought two cups.

A little sad touch.

Loft 19 at the very top of the ship.

A private hideaway...far from the maddening crowd.

This was the lap of luxury that Mark, our fabulous travel agent, gifted to us.

There was a steward always walking around asking us if we needed anything.

Fruit and water were available to us at no cost all day.

Everyone should read this book.

It is brilliant and lovely, heart-wrenching and uplifting.

It was a gift for my birthday from David and Erika, and I highly recommend it.

It was my book for relaxing in my lounge chair every day.

I 💗cruising!

 

family cruise ~ 2026

Just got home from paradise.

More pictures to come.

💗

 

bubba, dad, granddaddy ~ he left us way too soon

Bubba has been gone from us for six years this week.

He passed from this earth on February 29, 2020 ~ Leap Year.

Here are some special memories I found to keep him fresh in my mind.

We were a happy family blessed by God.

Our first backyard pool. 

He finally got me a cement one, but that took a while.

Bubba and I, before we got married.

I had been in my friend's wedding.

We were looking forward to ours.

Bubba and I, two weeks before he left us to go to heaven.

Little did we know what was coming.

I still haven't recovered completely from the shock.

Probably never will.

😢

Our whole family together,

 two weeks before he went to be with Jesus.

He loved to run in the Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, Georgia.

We traveled all the time.

When David and Amanda were children, they went with us.

Sometimes we went just the two of us.

This was a Pink Jeep Tour out in Arizona.

Our Wedding Day,

April 11, 1970.

Those smiles.

His hand, holding back my veil.

Bubba with tiny baby David.

Saturday morning, sleeping in.

Bubba's hair is a hoot.

That hint of a mustache.

Bubba on our honeymoon.

The Hawaiian Inn,

Daytona Beach, Florida.

We had gotten all dressed up for the luau.

Amanda came along.

Bubba is getting promoted to Colonel in the Georgia Air National Guard.

He was the Property and Fiscal Officer for the state of Georgia.

He loved his job.

He never wanted to retire.

After the wedding. "Going Away" outfits.

This was just before he took off with me halfway out of the car.

My right knee scraped across the asphalt.

We spent a lot of our honeymoon night in the emergency room.

Tent camping before the babies came.

The night Bubba graduated from college.

I was just pregnant with David.

We loved to go to Disney.

We took David and Amanda when they were growing up.

We took our grandkids a lot, too.

He loved airplanes.

He never flew one, but he was all about the Air Force.

I always loved his "apple cheeks."

🍎

And lastly,

Because this project has taken me a long time, and I need to eat soon,

some kind of birthday antics at my Mom and Dad's house.

That cake looks delicious.

Moma made the best sour cream pound cakes.

Our life together was the best.

He loved us all so well, and he was totally selfless.

I can't wait to see you again!

I'm doing well.

I think you would be proud of me.

💗

 

birthday party extrodinare

I thought just now, "I really need to post my birthday party pictures."

These lovely gifts greeted me as I walked in the door, along with Daisy the dog.

She gets so excited when I arrive at the David Cleland home.

I don't know why.

She probably thinks a new human will be just as happy to see her.

I like her a lot, but not her slobbering kisses so much.

David ordered heart-shaped pizzas from Lou Malnati's in Chicago.

It comes the next day on dry ice.

I honestly think it is the best pizza I've ever tasted.

Better yet, I'm sure it is.

Dodger Smalls loves birthday parties and sitting in front of the fire on someone's lap.

That happens to be Archie's lap he is relaxing in.

David and Gus are on the sofa, smiling widely.

I spy my birthday cake there in the kitchen.

Amanda had come from South Florida to be with me for my birthday,

but I didn't get a single picture of her.

78 birthdays down.

Looking forward to this next year, our cruise, and what lies ahead.

God has blessed me so much.

I just can't thank Him enough.

My fondest birthday wish is that all of the people I love will be in heaven.

💗

 

old age Bible verse and English tea roses

"O God, You have taught me from my youth;

And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,

Until I declare Your strength to this generation."

Psalm 71:17

For my 78th birthday, I was given these beautiful English Tea Roses

by David, Erika, and their children.

Pictures do not do them justice.

They are mine to enjoy until they fade away.

Nothing says I Love You like Flowers.

💗

More birthday pictures soon.

 

it's my birthday!!

What a glorious day this has been

Donuts and coffee at my Thursday morning Bible Study.

It was a happy celebration with my sisters in Christ.

Amanda is almost here from South Florida.

The family will be together tonight at David's house.

Lots of texts going off all day.

I couldn't feel more honored or loved.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for the gift of a long life here on this earth,

and the hope of a future life that never ends with You and all the other believers.

You are always good.

Your ways are perfect.

Your word is truth.

Thank You!

💗