GRANDMA'S PEARLS... TRUE STORY OF MY HOPE CHEST, AND SOME REALLY OLD PICTURES...

TO MY GRANDDAUGHTERS..  

  Grandma's Pearls of Wisdom

I've traveled paths you've yet to walk

Learned lessons old and new

And now this wisdom of my life

I'm blessed to share with you.

Let kindness spread like sunshine

Embrace those who are sad

Respect their dignity, give them joy

And leave them feeling glad.

Forgive those who might hurt you

And though you have your pride

Listen closely to their viewpoint

Try to see the other side.

Walk softly when you're angry

Try not to take offense

Invoke your sense of humor

Laughter's power is immense!

Express what you are feeling

Your beliefs you should uphold

Don't shy away from what is right

Be courageous and be bold.

Keep hope right in your pocket

It will guide you day by day

Take it out when it is needed

When it's near, you'll find a way.

Remember friends and family

Of which you are a precious part

Love deeply and love truly

Give freely from your heart.

The world is far from perfect

There's conflict and there's strife

But you still can make a difference

By how you live your life.

And so I'm very blessed to know

The wonders you will do

Because you are my granddaughters

And I believe in you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

by Becky Netherland

(but it could have been written by my heart)

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True story of MY HOPE CHEST

   Back when I was young, a hope chest was a special thing to do. you would gather things from special people, favorite people, grandmothers, aunts, older cousins, or relatives, and keep them safely in your HOPE CHEST, to have when you begin your married life. 

         It didn't have to be anything expensive, or new, in other words, there was no rules, that I knew of. It could be a special dish, or some silverware, some mix matched dishes or pots and pans that someone else no longer used, but still good enough to be helpful. Sometimes, it was a favorite set up or a table scarf made by a favorite aunt, grandmother, friend, or your mother. Anything you thought would be helpful or special to start your life as man and wife when your marriage first begins.

           Well, I came from a large, family and we didn't even have extras or the space to put or keep them. So I only had a cookie jar and a small set of flying ducks that hang on the wall , given to me from a sweet little tiny lady that went to our church. Mrs Myrtle Wallace. She from time to time ask me to ride home with them on a Sunday after church and then return home Sunday night after church. I went because she was so nice and didn't have any children, and, I didn't want to hurt her feelings.

          They were never put in a hope chest, or any where else extra special. But thankfully Mom did keep them on top of her pie safe until she passed, which was thankfully many, many years later. And she left a note telling me to get them, the cookie jar was an old pig.. Old even way back then.. the ducks were plaster of pares made at Home League by Myrtle.. So now they are at home with me. 

          But, back to the HOPE CHEST.. Once Norman and I were seriously talking about a real short engagement and a quick marriage (he said he had already waited 8 years).. My heart sank, I told him I have nothing! Nothing at all to help us with the beginning of our married life. I am not sure why it bothered me as much as it did.. other than maybe because I had always known how important and helpful it was, especially back then.

           Then in February of 1970 toward the end of the month.. when I came home from school one day Norman Jrs car was sitting in front of my Mom and Dad's house.. My heart fluttered.. Then when I got inside, I quickly found out why he was there.. As they used to say... "it looked like Christmas" He had got a green vinyl covered wooden chest from his Mom.. Went to Leggetts and bought us dishes, pots and pans, a sheet set, silverware, knives, bath towels and wash cloths, dish towels and cloths, glasses, cups, a small coffee pots, even salt and pepper shakers and a photo album.. There was much more.. and the chest was filled to the brim.. 

          Wow, it was super sweet and caring, not to mention so thoughtful of him. He smiled and said... "now you have your hope chest, and we should have enough to get started pretty good" And, with the things we got from the Bridal Shower that the ladies of the church gave us, we had more than enough. We seriously had all we needed, and we were both on cloud nine. 

          Waiting to begin our lives together!  
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It "sort of looked like this, even though, not quite as dark of green and without the extra padding on the top.. also it didn't have the tacks on the front like this, but you "sort of get the picture".. I really am not sure what happened to the chest.. with all the many moves we've had.. Hopewell, Covington, Florida, back to Covington.. and then all around Covington.. lol.. I "think" we returned it to his Mom, but I wouldn't swear to it.. I'm ashamed that I can no longer remember.. since it was such a blessing back then... I really wish I knew.. but for the life of me, I just can not remember.. He said he couldn't either, but also thought we gave it back to her when we moved to Florida. But then that was in January of 1973, geez, I wish I knew...

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HERE WE ARE BACK IN THE OLD DAYS.. INNOCENTLY RIDING BIKES TOGETHER, THIS WAS TAKEN WHEN HE WAS HELPING MY BROTHERS PUT AN ADDITION ON OUR HOUSE.. (THAT LATER BECAME HIS MOM AND DAD'S HOUSE, AND MUCH LATER BECAME OUR HOUSE)

HERE WE ARE ON OUR WEDDING DAY.. APRIL 17, 1970















HERE WE ARE NEAR OUR 30TH ANNIVERSARY..











HERE WE ARE MORE PRESENTLY.. TAKEN ACTUALLY AFTER 44 & 1/2 YEARS...

GOES TO SHOW THAT TIME DOES TAKE A TOLL.. LOL



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
and as a refrigerator magnet he gave me once said..
iris's are our favorites
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I loved you then, I love you still...
Always have, Always will! 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
vvv ----this open book says...

 FRIENDS
are the 
FLOWERS
in the garden of
LIFE
No matter
WHAT
No matter
WHERE
Its always 
HOME 
If  LOVE
is there!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Praying for you and yours, that God will wrap His ever loving arms around each of you and bless you spiritually, physically, emotionally, mentally, financially, and with His unchanging love, forgiveness, mercies, guidance and answer a "special, unspoken prayer" for each of you.. so you will know it's a special blessing from Him and give Him the praise, honor, and thanks, that He deserves and desires. You can talk to Him like a best friend, He is that, Our Father and just sooo much more! He has special plans for each of us and I pray that you'll fulfill His plan for your lives, just as I pray the same about each of my family members. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" ... ‎N I V - ‎Jer 29:12 
I don't know about you, but I love that verse, and so many others. I pray for all that are sick, hurting, being operated on, lonely, or grieving.. That He will show you His love, mercies, and blessings in a super way, and draw each closer to Him. Praying for the jobless, that they will find decent, suitable work, and quickly. Praying for our soldiers and service people (officers, and such) that they will be safe, respectable, and respected and all that are overseas will soon come safely home to loving families and an abundance of available jobs. Praying for our country, and for it's leaders, for Him to guide and help them in a mighty way, and help our country to become closer to Him once again. And above all.. Giving Him the love, praise, honor and glory for all He does in Jesus Holy name, amen.