A visit to the USS North Carolina 4/30/18

Living in the South kind of feels like a vacation all the time because of the warm weather.

But even though its warm, I am afraid Paul and I haven't done as much exploring as we could and should.  So we are trying to take more field trips to check out all the Wilmington area has to offer. 

Last Monday, we went to visit the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial!

 

 

 

                                    A crystal clear, blue skied 70 degree day!

Most of these pictures speak for themselves.

I was awed by the enormity of the ship.

 

I think my favorite part of seeing all these historical things was

reading the real live words of the men who served on the ship.

It brought me back to another place and time.

 

Truly Magnificent.

You are too Paul!

The training and skill and bravery of these men!

All I can say is Wow!"

 

 

This roll of Honor

perpetuates the memory of the ten thousand North Carolinians

 of all the

United States Military Services

who died

in

World War 11

 

 

Not for fame or reward

Not for place or for rank

Not lured by ambition

Or goaded by necessity

But in simple obedience to duty

As they understood it

These men suffered all

Sacrificed all

Dared all

And died

 

 

 

Top bunk anyone?

I can't imagine sleeping on such tiny beds.

Once again. "Wow!"

Imagine, 50 bucks a month!

 

Hi handsome Hunny!

So many connections!



 

 

The chapel.

I love the retro blue organ!

Ice cream sandwiches.

I literally remember my sister Mary making

 an ice cream sandwich one day after school

using white bread and ice cream!

The drinking fountain was called a "scuttlebutt."

 

 



 

I believe this is an original newspaper.

:(

The commissary.

  Hot fudge sauce!  Yum.

  I can imagine that ice cream

sundaes helped with moral.

 

 

 

 

 

Even a dentist office on the ship!

Ammunition

 

We spent close to four hours exploring the USS North Carolinian and

didn't even see everything.  Hope you enjoyed the pictures of our

"field trip."

The intricacies and engineering of the ship was unbelievable.

I can only imagine what the modern ships look like now!

HE is Enough

     Many people do not realize that I struggle with depression.  That there are areas of my life that come back to haunt me and that I worry about what the future holds..  I read and study my Bible and journal about what I go through during many periods in my life.  Today, I saw a post by my Pastor who posted a song on Facebook.  It was a song that he wrote.  Not to encourage someone else but a song he wrote for himself to remind himself that God is in control and No weapon formed against him would prosper.
     It made me stop and reflect on all the things that I have written about.  Poems and words that the Lord has given me over the years to encourage me.  I went through this blog and read a few excerpts.  I found myself encouraged.  Sometimes, I just have to stop and recall that if He brought me through tough times in the past, He will most certainly bring me through this time.
     Two years ago in my journal I wrote this:

Lord, you are there!

You are here!

I feel You

I feel your presence

I feel your peace

I am not falling apart

I am strong in Your mighty power

Not me

But YOU!

Before I wept as though my heart would break

Before I hung on to myself, my way of fixing things, my way of loving people

Thinking I could fix the troubles around me

Thinking I could heal those hurting around me

But I couldn't

But I cannot

I stepped away

I came back to it and tried again

I cannot mend

Only YOU can!

I cannot heal

Only YOU can!

I am yours LORD

I am part of the vine- the branch - attached to YOU!

I continually go back to giving YOU

care of this precious family YOU have given me

They are in YOUR HANDS!

     Have I grown since I wrote these words or am I still trying to pick up the broken pieces and fix them myself?  I really must take the wisdom and words You have so faithfully given me and apply them continuously to now!

Today, out come these words:

I am fickle

unsteady

unsure

unable

unbelieving at times

unwilling

unfaithful

under pressure

LORD

YOU ARE THERE

YOU ARE HERE

YOU WERE THEN

YOU ARE NOW

YOU ARE BEFORE

YOU ARE AFTER

YOU ARE STEADY

YOU ARE CONSTANT

YOU ARE!

and now my prayer is

But you God!

Come in

Fill me

Heal me

Hold me

Contain me

Comfort me

Draw me in

Hold me close

FOR YOU ARE

ENOUGH

Fisher Price Collection

 

 

I have a confession to make!

I have been holding out on everyone!

 I figured it was time to get it out in the open and

 share something......

 

 

Don't get mad!

 

 

I have a collection!

An extensive collection!

I might even have most of

everyone's fondest memories

stored away here at my house.

 

 

 

See!

I have three toy chatter phones!

Aren't they sweet?!

 

 

 

 

oops

 

 

 I mean 4!

 

 

And this little merry go round!

I don'tremember this one as a

 child but I found it at an auction!

I couldn't resist!

 

 

 

 

 

And then there is this one!  A combo!

Merry-go-round/record player

The cutest!

I believe Paul found this one for me at Abbots auction

in Enosburg, Vermont

 

 

It all started back when I was a little girl.  I remember

 playing with the

circus, on the living

room floor of my childhood home on 638 Montello Street,

which ironically, I do not have in my collection,

I believe that Mama did not like that set because

the trapeze part of it was a stick

and she did not like us kids playing with sticks!

 

 

 

The other really sweet part of my memories of

Fisher Price were when my Mom would  visit her

friend, Ray Crowley.  While they hung out in the kitchen,

talking over coffee,

I spent many a happy hour playing in the playroom with a huge

assortment of Fisher Price toys.  I would line up the cars and

people and play all morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 I found this mini Snow mobile at a yard sale in Vermont. 

 I believe it was even before I met Paul. 

A foreshadowing of all the many hours we would

spend snowmobiling on the trails of Vermont!

 

 

The best memories I have of Fisher Price is of my

children spending just as many hours playing with them as I did!

I know they love them too so I will never part with them!

 

 I hung this in my sun-porch cause

 it always brings a smile to my face.

I love their happy little faces.

Actually, in our travels, I do believe

I am missing two specific people.

You wonder how I can remember?

One is a little lady who goes with the western town. 

She has  a hat on.  And the other one is an Indian.

I just can't find them anywhere and that makes me

 

 

 !!

 

 

 

 

 

This is not Fisher Price but it is a

sweet puzzle that I found at

a yard sale for a dollar!

 

At one time in my life I was suffering from a lot of anxiety 

 It was hard to find joy in things.  Paul

came home one day and told me

he had a surprise for me.  He brought me out

to his car and opened the trunk.

He had a big box in there.

 When I opened it, I found it full of

Fisher Price stuff.  I can't even remember all the stuff

that was in that set.  It was a busy time in my life, raising

all the kids.  But I just remember how thoughtful

and sweet he was to bring me that gift.

He had talked to an old friend who was cleaning out his attic.

He ended up selling Paul all the toys.

This Sesame Street Play set was in there.

I love how Oscar is peeking out at us!

And I love that sweet memory!

 

 

 

 

 Well, this is just a small portion of all the FP toys I have.

Now that my secret is out I will share more later!

Magnificent Magnolia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took Grover on a walk/me on my bike the other day.

  We took a different route and what a surprise

to find this enormous tree!! 

 I could not resist going back the next day

with my camera and get some shots of it! 

 It is a magnolia tree I believe.

 

 

 

 

Grover makes a great model! 

 Plus, when I tell him to stay, he does just that!

I just thought it was completely magnificent!

He's getting a little impatient! 
 Don't jump G!

 

 

 A good place for a nap!

He does look pretty comfy
and he's ever so tolerant when I tell him to wait!

To think that a tree can grow from such a small seed.

 

 

I am reminded of this Bible verse.
" Blessed is Janet  who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down where the scornful gather.  But her delight and desire are in the law of the Lord and on His law she habitually meditates by day and by night.
  And she shall be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything  she does shall prosper
(and come to maturity) -Amplified)Psalm 1:3
How am I to do this?
  To meditate and ponder His word.  When I put my name in Bible verses and personalize the promises of God, they become more real to me. 
Yes, I want to be fruitful for God. I want to be strong and beautiful like this tree!  I want to be a light, a source of truth and love because that pleases Him.  Also, I need Him!!!  Oh how I need Him!   I need His reassurance of love and the meeting of  my every day needs.  I have come to a point in my life where financially things have been quite difficult.  It would be easy to throw my hands up and be discouraged and angry and disgusted.  But I have to seek Him in His word even more at this time.  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." Matthew 6:33  
By this, I am not just hoping He will supply my physical needs but that by seeking Him first, He will meet my spiritual and emotional needs. 
 Only in reading and trusting in His promises will I be like this tree!  Hopefully, bearing good fruit for HIM!

Snow in NC January 3, 2018

 

  Last week we had a snow storm here in NC!  I believe we got about 5 inches here in Castle Hayne.  Not much by Vermont standards but here, school was cancelled even before the first flake flew by!  Anticipation of the icy roads and dangerous driving conditions actually caused more than schools to shut down.  Even the mail wasn't delivered for two days.  Coming from the state of Vermont, I was quite surprised at how different people responded here.  There just is not equipment  to clean and sand the roads.  Nobody has snow tires  to drive in these conditions!  So Faith got to enjoy an extended Christmas break from school and even Paul and I had the option of staying home from work if we so chose.  Paul chose to drive on the slippery roads and entertain me with blowing donuts in the parking lots!

     The morning after the storm, the sun shone brightly and the sky was as blue as can be.  I walked Grover down the dirt road by our house and he just leaped through the snow!  He has the best heavy fur coat and is quite used to cold weather.  Actually, I felt a bit as if I were back in Vermont.  The air was crisp and cold and the familiar crunch of the snow beneath my feet made me feel quite nostalgic and homesick. I soaked it in and enjoyed it!

    

 The snow reminds me of this promise.

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,

And do not return without  watering the earth

And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater,

So will My word be which goes forth from my mouth;

It will not return to me empty,

without accomplishing what I desire,

and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10-11

So yes, Lord, my provider!  Let your rain and snow shower

your provision upon us!

 

 

 By the end of the week the temps were up in the 50's

so we went out to build a snowman!

 

                         Grover was happy to have us outside with him! 

 He gets extra frisky in the snow!

He tends to grab our gloves right off of our hands!

                         

 Happy pair!

Snowman face kit is helpful!

 

 Little Hat?

 

  Or lamp shade hat?

 

By the time we were done rolling out these huge snowballs,

 Frosty was about 7 feet tall!

Very ambitious height I must say.

Paul was down to his t-shirt!

 

Faith made a mini snowman and puppy!