Click below....God Bless Our Military

http://www.flashdemo.net/gallery/wake/index.htm

Our Family Marine, Chuckie/aka: Pipo, sent me the poem below...from experience!

FOR ALL THE FREE PEOPLE THAT STILL PROTEST, "YOU'RE WELCOME!"
WE PROTECT YOU AND YOU ARE PROTECTED BY THE BEST.
YOUR VOICE IS STRONG AND LOUD, BUT WHO WILL FIGHT FOR YOU?
NO ONE IS STANDING IN THE CROWD.

WE ARE YOUR FATHERS, BROTHERS AND SONS,
WEARING THE BOOTS AND CARRYING THE GUNS.
WE ARE THE ONES THAT LEAVE ALL WE OWN
TO MAKE SURE YOUR FUTURE IS CARVED IN STONE.

WE ARE THE ONES WHO FIGHT AND DIE
WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO SAVE THE WORLD, WELL AT LEAST WE TRY.
WE WALKED THE PATHS TO WHERE WE ARE AT
AND WE WANT NO CHOICE OTHER THAN THAT

SO WHEN YOU RALLY YOUR GROUP TO COMPLAIN,
TAKE A LOOK IN THE BACK OF YOUR BRAIN
IN ORDER FOR THAT FLAG YOU LOVE TO FLY,
WARS MUST BE FOUGHT AND YOUNG MEN MUST DIE,

WE CAME HERE TO FIGHT FOR THE ONES WE HOLD DEAR
IF THAT'S NOT RESPECTED WE WOULD RATHER STAY HERE
SO PLEASE STOP YELLING AND PUT DOWN YOUR SIGNS,
AND PRAY FOR THOSE BEHIND ENEMY LINES

WHEN THE CONFLICT IS OVER AND ALL IS WELL
BE THANKFUL THAT WE CHOOSE TO GO THROUGH HELL......

Mattie C. we wish you a special

and blessed....26th Birthday!

Looking forward to the Family Celebration

this week-end....

R E M E M B E R

I have to quote a devotion that I read last week because it applies to all the pictures below so well:
......"When I reminisce with others, I may find that our recollections differ; however sharing memories with loved ones brings us closer.
Through both tears and laughter, we bond as family and friends.
I thank God for events that bring me closer to friends and family and for the new memories we are creating.
I am also grateful for the people who were once present in my life, for each one touched my heart in a special way and have left an indelible memory.
I appreciate all who are or have been a part of my life.
Being in their presence, I have learned to LIVE, LAUGH, AND LOVE....
I thank God for the experience of knowing each and every one and for this opportunity to reflect upon them with gratitude and honor....."

...Romans1:9...."God's Son is my witness, that without ceasing I remember you always in my prayers."

Celebrating Nancy's Birthday....

Yesterday we 'belatedly' celebrated Nancy's Birthday at the Bistro at International Mall...
Nancy's husband, Stan, is in Kuwait and it seems that everyone wanted to 'cheer her up' this birthday, her sisters pampering, her church friends, her family and then later, her prayer sisters. Food always cheers all three of us up!
Nancy, Abby and I have been 'Prayer Girls' for about 15 years now.
We have seen miracles galore!
We have prayed through every facet of life you can imagine for our families and friends.
Yes, indeed, we did celebrate another year of enjoying life and family with our faith as the foundation for every breath we breathe.....

Bill's Annual Seafood Fest...held at Dockie & Ann's this year...

Bill Otis provides yearly New Orleans style seafood to his nautical friends and we have a 2 or 3 day party.
This year we had it at Dockie & Ann's instead of Okeechobee where the boats are....
but boating and nature was in Kissimmee as well....
Needless to say, it was a wonderful, fun time with good memories flowing galore...
Thanks, Bill & Susan and to Dockie & Ann for hosting the 'good time'...
Below is Big Bill, our Seafood provider, and wife Susan and Cindy in a serious discussion...
unusual for sure, 'serious' that is.

This is just the 10:00 a.m. snackie time with steamed oysters and finger food....
Now we are getting a little more serious..
.
Our little 'Chuckie/ aka:Turkey, arrives and Pops is...H A P P Y!
Uncle Dockie teasing as usual and Kurt looks on...

A 'real turkey family' paid us a visit as well, just walking by as if to say hello....

Sam, our 'official' nature photographer now,
captures the beauty of nature....in the midst of 'the wild'...

Another Sam shot....I have to actually 'steal' his digital memory card sometime in order to get some of my best pictures....before Sally deletes them....accidentally!

Nature....speaks....eloquently

Now talking about 'the wild'.....here comes Chris

"duck girls we are doing the airboat limbo"

Everyone crowded into AnnieP's bedroom to view a
Birthday Photo Show
to honor Cindy's life and birthday....

'Hilarious' best describes the scene
***You MUST click on picture below to enlarge this
one in order to get the 'real picture'....

Lots of smiles and laughter between Sally & Cindy

Another entertainment show was put on by a Star Wars couple...
Kurt and friend Tanner...I even saw them giving autographs afterward!

A loving and proud Aunt gets special kiss from one of the 'stars'.....

Proud Mom with some of her family....
sure took a lot of 'doing' to get this photo...

We really did celebrate Charlie, Cindy & Sam's birthday too...
Sam & Charlie received 'camouflage sleep wear' from
Pat & Walker for their condo vacations....
of course, Sam put his on publicly .....yep, more entertainment as well....

We also, want to wish a May month Happy Birthday to....
other family members as well...Blake, Marina and Matthew!
Happy is what we wish for ALL....
Trivia question? Who makes the best blackberry pie....ever....
and who enjoyed a wild airboat ride in the rain....?
Another new 'family member' perhaps?

Just 'doing his job' ...

This photo was taken by a soldier in Afghanistan of a helo rescue mission. The pilot is a PA National Guard guy who flies EMS choppers in civilian life. Now how many people on the planet you reckon could set the back end of a chopper down on the roof top of a shack, on a steep mountain cliff, and hold it there while soldiers load wounded men in the rear. If this does not impress you... nothing ever will. God Bless our military.

A special tribute on Memorial Day...Freedom is NOT Free....God Bless the USA

A special tribute to....Marvin McCall

A family friend who gave his life in the Korean War...

He was one of my brothers, Dockie's, best friend...

See part of this tribute on his profile on our Family Tree page at: click below:

http://www.geni.com/profile/index/6000000000165661732

Wake Up, Girl!

Reading today's devotion kinda gives me a 'wake up call'.....again!
Along and along in life I have to relearn some things. This is one of them....
Exact wording in the devotion for May 22, 2008.
"I am fulfilled not just in doing good deeds;
I am fulfilled by being the good of God expressed every day."
.......Seems it is easier sometime in 'doing rather than being'......
It is in the 'being' that the doing is expressed rightly and with pure motives!
......As it is in training children rightly the saying, "Show me with your life....not just your words"
and it is thus with our relationship with God and how much we love Him.
Our day by day walk with Him will reveal to others more about Him....then we can ever tell them in words!
Scares me to death, doesn't it you?
As I have been reading in the Old Testament, God spoke to His wayward children of Israel time and time again. Warnings and words failed to bring correction and as with any 'child' He had to institute discipline....then when that failed to turn them around.....judgment had to 'bring them to their senses'. Often in the most severe times of bondage, waywardness etc. God would look down on these His children, and declare....."It is 'My Honor' that is at stake here in your lives! The heathen will look and say, 'Oh, how they behave while serving their One true God!'"
Isn't this also, true in so many 'Christians' today....and are we not, too, guilty at times of being a poor example or reflection of the God we serve?
I know I am guilty as I fall in my 'humanness' and walk according to what seems right unto me but may not be 'Biblical' correct or in line for His best will for me...
It is then that I realize....whoa, something is amiss here.
I've lost my peace, my joy is being threatened.....God and I better have a heart to heart talk so that I can 'think straight' again.
Doesn't take long for Him to 'love me back in shape' and I arise with singing in my soul, a smile on my face and feel that 'all is right with life'...
Yes, it is true that....God enjoys His people, His children as I do mine and I am so blessed that He is continuously patient with me.
I know this for a fact ....this fact is called....experience!

Prayer W O R K S

All you need to have a successful

prayer meeting is for two people

to agree that....God IS able...

Matthew 18:19...Jesus speaks,

"Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask,

it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven."

Celebrating "?Man's" Birthday

Is Pops aka: Gator Man 'Happy' on this day?

They say a picture tells 'a thousand words'....

Celebrating with two wonderful grandson's would make

any man happy wouldn't it?

How about a table full of children and grands and in addition,

wonderful friends like Pat & Walker who just happened to

be visiting at this time....celebrated with Sam & Sally

last week...will do the same next week with Cindy and

gang for Bill's annual Cajun sea food fest...Yum, Yum!

Pops teaching a new generation of 'Go Gators' cheer...

the children love to party with their Popie...

Lil Turkey has a sign for Pops Tiki Hut that says,

"Gator Country"

I scream, you scream, we all scream....for ice cream!

We took him to the Snack Bar in Cuban town for home made

coconut ice cream....kids come in all ages...

Pops is still eating....ice cream!

He is always 'happy' with his daughter at his side?

Pops is always happy with his 'Mattie C & Tia Ash' as the boys say...

Finally, we ALL scream for .....ice cream!

Gator gifts galore...a wonderful first-class

Gator watch from Matt, Ash and Pipo....

Lil Turkey delivered the bag....when I asked him what

was in it he replied, 'Go Gators'....

Wise Women and....Mothers

Proverbs 14:1..

Every wise women buildeth her house:

but the foolish pluketh it down with her hands."

Look who is regarded as a great 'home builder'.

The good atmosphere that a wife and mother creates

around the home is priceless and everlasting.

"Mother's prayers have followed you!"

this is absolutely true....

'Happy Mother's Day to all' says Dylan..

Mothers and Sons....Lynn & Matt...Faith and Chad...

Britt, Mother of Dylan and Joshua, and Ashley our 'new bride'...

Part of our family celebrate at Charley's Steak House...
had a wonderful steak, cards, gifts and blessings of love...

Beautiful roses from Terry, Chuck & Family...

I am blessed!

Week in Palm Beach with Sally & Sam...

Whitehall...Flagler's home he built for his bride, Mary Lily in 1900...
it is a beautiful museum of his life and times in early Florida...

Mar-a-Lago owned by Donald Trump since 1985....110,000 sq ft.
on 20 acres...

Sally & Faith at Ocean Street entrance to Mar-a-Lago

On October 3, 2006, Trump raised a 15' × 25' flag on an 80' flagpole at Mar-a-Lago.

Town zoning officials asked Trump to adhere to town zoning codes that limit flagpoles to a height of 42'. Trump had contemporaneously installed oversize flags at all his resorts and golf club around the country . This dispute led the town council of Palm Beach to charge Trump $1,250 for every day the flag at Mar-A-Lago remains. Trump has filed a lawsuit stating that the flag is protected by his constitutional rights.
The flag pole incident has since then been quietly resolved. The six-month stand-off ended as town officials agreed to a settlement that will lower the banner 10 feet and move it away from the ocean. All fines will be dropped and Trump will contribute $100,000 to various charities for Iraq War veterans, the American flag or veterans' hospitals. Trump will also drop a $25 million lawsuit against the town.

Sassy girls on Worth Avenue...

Our condo was on a private peninsula with a Million/Billion Dollar view...

I was astonished at nature's beauty of Worth Avenue and Palm Beach
Ocean Drive...it was truly breathtaking.....

This was a dear lady named 'Mama'....what a delight !

Her daughter owns a Worth Avenue 'designers' Consignment Shop

called Avenue Revue which Sally and I visited...

"Mama had the most wonderful sense of humor, was quick witted and

folksy while doing her crossword puzzles...she did say that she 'sometimes cheats'

as she does her 'brain exercise' on crosswords...

How appropriate to end with a family meal with Sally's
granddaughter Michelle and 'pretty baby' Kinsley....
at Ft. Pierce Marina...Poppa Sam has Kinsley....
Happy Mother's Day, Sally and Michelle...