Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a

time of reflection on our Fallen Heroes.

There are no words for what they have done

for us other than what the Holy Word of God

says in John 15:13, "Greater love has no man

than this, that he lay down his life for his

friends." Even more so those he does not know!

My dad came back alive. I thank God every

day as do those in the wars of today have the joy

in the return of their loved ones. I pray the strength

of Almighty God in those who have lost loved

ones in the wars of yesteryear as well as today. We

can not truly know their hurt and loss. LORD, let them

know in Christ they will see their loved ones again.

Dad was a gunner in World War II. He was stationed

on the two following aircraft carriers; first, the USS

Intrepid and then the USS Yorktown.

I want to thank those who have fought and
protected our country with their service in our
military; our fallen, our Veterans, and
especially our active duty personnel.
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Thanks to:
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Walter Fred Todd - Navy
Arnold James Galloway - Navy
James Walter Todd - Air Force
Delton Granger - Navy
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Thank you for your service, duty, and love
for our country.
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Praise to our God that His Word tells us in
Isaiah 2:2,4
"In the last days...He will judge the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation
will not take up sword against nation, nor
will they train for war anymore."
*
Two major events happen before this comes
to pass; the Rapture of Jesus' Church, and
the Tribulation of Revelation. Please be
in the first event. Salvation in Christ is so
simple a child can understand it. What makes
it difficult for adults, is pride. All have sinned
and fallen short of God's Perfection. Christ can
make you Perfect again in the Eyes of our Holy God
that can not look upon sin without His Holy
Judgment condemning the lost to Eternal
separation in an everlasting state of
punishment. Let not the War of sin keep
you from the Glory of Eternity.
*
All Hail the Power of Jesus Name,
Let Angels prostrate fall.
To Him that saves us by His Grace,
And crown Him LORD of All!

Hodge-Podge Saturday

It's amazing how you go through

different modes with collections.

In the '70's I collected unicorns.

In the '80's it was Collector Plates.

This wall has ocean wildlife.

Again the walls were white in our

house. With mom's passing I painted

the hallway blue to match the ocean

theme. The walls on the side were

of a salmon color. Again the color

changes with how much light is

projected upon the wall.

This is a closer picture of half of

the collection. The poster was

purchased at one of our books

fairs at school back in the '80's.

It matched the plate's theme

perfectly!

My refrigerator collection of magnets.

My neighbor friend is always so kind

to bring me a magnet back from her

travels each year! Some I have made

on my computer that have my pets

on them.

This is my neighbor friend, Alice. On

her 48th birthday, I took her to have

her picture taken. It was a professional

picture studio where they did our

make-up. I always call it our,

"Ebony and Ivory" picture, ha! We have

been good friends for 25 years (since

she and her husband first moved into

their newly built home on the culdesac.

The day they moved in, they had gotten

stuck in the sand in the middle of the

culdesac and I used my dad's 4X4

to pull them out!)

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God is so good to have His Holy Spirit's

fellowship among His Children!

Field Day Friday!

What a great day we had! The kids

really enjoyed themselves. The day was

beautiful. It didn't get cloudy and

sprinkle rain until after the kids

had already gone home!

*

Now come the goody bags we need to

fill with play dough, bubbles, chalk,

candy, small notebooks for writing,

fancy pencils and erasers!

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The last day of school (June 8th for

the kids) they will get their fancy

silk screened t-shirts and goody

bags.

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Look for you tomorrow!

Still Around!

I'm still here!!

I've been busy getting 130

refrigerator magnets done

for Friday's Kindergarten

Field Day!

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My station has this activity

plus two others. Each of the

7 kindergarten classes will rotate

every 30 minutes to the different

teacher stations throughout

the day. So, by the end of the day

I will have seen 130 children!

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Some of the stations include a

"bouncy house," bubbles, sidewalk

chalk, water tables, reading "bubble,"

making silly goo, decorating cookies,

shaving cream on the tables, hand print

posters with class' teacher name,

computer game station, and more!

*

With the busy preparation, as well

as getting end of the year things done,

I'll see you on Hodge-Podge Saturday!

Hodge-Podge Saturday

Flowers that last! These I have had for about

six years. The house had white walls for 19

years. When mom passed away, I put myself

into painting the inside of my house. This

color on the walls is so unusual. The color

gets darker, the less light you have. So,

during the day the walls look light in color.

At twilight or after dark and you have the

lights on, the walls are a deeper salmon

color! My neighbor friend, Alice and I

found these beautiful flowers that went

with the decor.

YES, those two are still the mums I have left

over from my bouquet of flowers. They are now

FOUR WEEKS OLD! The flowers I bought and

placed in the back have a wonderful bright

color. It amazes me how bright they are in

the low light!

This grandfather clock is a family loom.

My Uncle Ernest, mom's brother, put it

together from a kit back in the 1960's.

As you can see, I have two of the weights

put aside (on the right.) I could not take

the EVERY 15 MINUTES CHIMING

throughout the night!!!

*

Well, I'll let you go. I have to get started

finding pictures for next week's

Hodge-Podge Saturday!

Get Organized!

As you can see, I have been going through my

photo books to get pictures for my blog. I didn't

realize how unorganized these pictures were!

Many won't even stay in the books anymore.

(I wonder why? They are in albums that are

30 years old or more, ha!)

I have even moved them to my dining room

table! I have got to get busy reorganizing

the paper memories!

Hodge Podge Saturday

Three Weeks! Wow! I didn't know

cut flowers lasted so long.

I wish my outside flowers on my

bushes lasted as long!

Guess whose feathers these are?

If you said Max, you're right. It's

going on six years that I have had

him. When he loses his tail feathers

for the new feathers, I collect them

and place them in this cup. The

longest one measures 22".

This is a picture of dad in one of the jobs

he had while in the Navy. I'll never

forget the story of his first time doing

this. They were just going out for a

"ride" and dad was in his gunner's

seat, but not belted in. The pilot

decided to take a dive. Dad said as

the nose of the plane headed straight

down, his knees hit the metal shield

in front of him and he held on for

dear life! If it hadn't been for that

he would have been flying free

with no parachute! They were

over the water, but I don't think

that would have helped from the

height they were in the sky!

When Life Becomes Eternal

I care not for yesterday.
It is gone forever.
The gains are now but loss
And must need starting over.

What of today's survival?
It too shall soon be gone.
And what have I accomplished?
Just another day alone.

I care not for tomorrow
Or what vanity it brings.
"All is vanity!" Solomon proclaims.
"All of these earthly things."

Sometimes of things I think,
The beggar on the street
Has less burdens to carry
Than I and all I reap.

I only long for Thee, oh LORD,
And the Eternal Life you bring.
Away from all this vanity,
The corruption by earthly things.

LORD, begin in me, right now, today;
A well of strength, Your Living Water.
Set my eyes toward that Eternal Goal
And let my heart not waiver.

Then all this loss shall become gain.
For You have said,
"I'll never leave you nor forsake you.
So, why all of this dread?"

"I will lead you, walk in My Ways.
I will strengthen you all of your days.
Keep your eyes upon Me,
And you will I lead.
Then, Eternally the Gates of Heaven
I will open unto thee."

Susan Todd
July 12, 2004


It was about a year after mom had died when I wrote this. I had always been with mom and dad, now I found myself by myself. I think everyone finds it hard when you lose your loved ones whether it's your child or your parents. However, the greatest joy of all is that the LORD has promised us we shall see them again!

Happy Mother's Day!

I dedicate this to you, mom and to

you, Nellie!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom who is now

with the LORD. She would have been 82

years old. Now age is of no worry.

*

She was truly a mom who loved her children

with all of her heart!

*

I now wished I had told her more frequently

how much I loved her.

*

I also want to wish my dear sister-in-law,

Nellie, a most Happy Mother's Day! I have

a handsome and wonderful nephew which

she has been a great mom to in all of his

33 years! I also have a beautiful and loving

niece which Nellie has nurtured into a

wonderful young lady who loves her mom

with all of her heart.

*

Happy Mother's Day also to Janet and Bonnie,

two of my bloggers who love their children

with all of their hearts! Thank you for sharing

the love of your children on your blogs!

Hodge-Podge Saturday

A week and counting! These are two of the

beautiful flowers that have opened all the

way.

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What beauty! These were so pretty when I bought

them! I didn't even realize they had not opened

completely. Sam (my 12 year old lab mix)

couldn't help but be in the picture.

*

Below is one of the animals I had bought to
go in my jungle theme in the bathroom.

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Another picture of Uncle Harry when he and

Dad had come back from a catch!

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Surprise!!! I caught Sarah in her cat tower! The

flash turned one her eyes a different color!

*

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The next two pictures, choose which one is real

and which one isn't!

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This is one of my Beanie Babies (of the larger

collection.)

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I don't think this one is so happy at having

his picture taken!

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My room of comfort! It definitely is a den of

lounging! My favorite spot to be! Behind me

is my computer office. I dare not show all

of the contraptions, wires, paper, and stacks

of my collection of loose leaf books I have

put together. I have promised myself I will

organize it this summer!

*

I'm Still Around

I'm working on something. It will be

posted on Saturday!!

Hodge-Podge Saturday

Nellie,

Your flowers have been so beautiful, I went out

and bought myself some! I can't believe how the

colors have a florescent incandescence! As you

look in the background, you can see my ceramic

Fifi and Beaudeau. The little poodle belonged

to Aunt Tommy and Uncle Leslie (from the 1950's!)

The Portuguese Water Dog was given to me by

Alice. (It was given to her and she said she had

no place for it.) She knows how I like dogs, ha!

I found some pictures of Uncle Harry and Aunt

Mary when they visited us in the Keys back in

1967. We were on the peer in Key West.

Sorry about the wash out. I wasn't suppose to

use the flash. I didn't realize it until I had

uploaded it to the blog! Oh, the life of living in

the Keys back in the '60's!

What a catch of spiny lobster! I was looking

for the picture where our dock on the water

had dad's display of over 300 lobsters! I

couldn't find it right now, so I used these

that dad got when Uncle Leslie had visited.

*

Believe it or not, the tails of these were packed

in water and frozen to eat on for a long time!

In the picture above you can see some

of them trying to walk off. I now feel

sorry for them as they were searching

for the water. I would never stay around

when dad "took care" to prepare them for

the freezer. It's kind of like "wringing

off chickens heads" for those who grew

up on a farm.

*

It makes me want to go into a "mode" of

being sorry we have to eat other animals.

But then, when I'm hungry I don't think

about it, only how hungry my stomach is!

*

If the LORD does bring back all of his animal

life in the here after, I surely hope these

lobsters don't come up to me and say,

"Hey, Susie. You remember me, July 4th, 1967?

*

I thought I'd try to end with a bit of humor

(for what it is, lol!)