FAMILY
While on vacation this summer I bought a little plaque that says "Families are the Love, Memories and Laughter they share." It sits on our entertainment center as a reminder of the fun vacation we spent at the beach, marred only by the absence of two of our grandchildren, who weren't allowed to go with us, as planned.
This is the entire Robertson Clan, and today I want to share with you what I think family means. Our son, Matt, is going through a divorce that was not his choice, and has asked for custody of his two daughters, Alyssa and Charlise. He adopted Alyssa when he married her mother, and Charlise was born after they separated. Yesterday was the last of several court hearings and Amy, Pam and Jud were with us to support Matt. Jud's parents graciously accepted responsibility for Julia and Sam so that Pam and Jud would not have the stress of rushing back to pick the children up from school and daycare. The entire FAMILY was there to support the one who needed us! I am thankful that God has provided us the love and closeness to be there for each other when there is a need. He blessed us with three smart and successful children and later added Jud and the grandchildren to our family. I think that yesterday proved what the word family means! We who are Christians are all ADOPTED by God, and those children who have been placed in our family through legal adoption are so very precious to us. They are on equal footing with the two grandchildren who were added by birth. We thank God for each of them, and ask Him to watch over them and allow us to raise them. It truly does take a "village" to raise a child--a village of family, friends and church family, and most importantly God's guidance. If Matt is granted custody of his two daughters, "the village" will be there for him! So--this is the Robertson Clan as it looks today. Hope you enjoy seeing this, and whenever possible, spending time with this CLAN!

MAMA & PAPA DEAN

This picture, made years ago, is the only one I have of Mama and Papa, my maternal grandparents. It brings back a myriad of memories as I look at who they were, and how they affected my life! When we visited in the summer, their house had a special, cared-for smell of country living. The house itself was made completely of wood, inside and out, with wooden walls, wooden floors and wooden ceilings. The house had a wholesome wood smell, and Mama swept the floors daily to make sure it stayed clean. When we visited, mother always made sure we helped out, so we weren't a burden to them. We helped with the sweeping, dish washing and whatever other chores we were assigned, and they had to be finished before we were free to play and roam the woods. If I could only count the times we raced down the hallway, through the house, from the back porch to the front, and bounded off the steps or one end of the porch or the other! This house, with a hall that separated the house into two side, from the back porch, straight through to the front porch, was set on brick pillars, and at some points under the house, one could stand up without bumping into the foundation boards--and other times one COULD NOT!!! OUCH! Mama and Papa had a collie dog, and he would run under the house, barking because we were running. Woe be the kid that dog nabbed-if you stopped, he would too, and we knew to stop immediately to keep from being bitten!!! There was a wooden swing on the front porch, just right for three or four kids to swing for ages! If one sat in the middle, and held the two chains, pulled inward, the swing would tip backward, and sometimes dump the swinger(s) out, only to be repeated until one learned the exact amount of pressure to use to tip backward without falling!! Quite a feat for kids! Other fond memories this picture evokes are of walking down the red dirt road, hot and sweaty, and coming back to the house for our afternoon treat. This treat was called a "spanking" by Papa and he would have us line up for our "spanking". He would swat each of us gently on the backside, and then send us to the dining room where Mama would give each of us a Dr. Pepper or a Coca Cola--not a Coke, or Pepper, but the full name of the cherished soft drinks. These were real treats because our mother did not believe in allowing soft drinks regularly, so to be given one each day was a delight beyond imagination! One day, I'll tell you about Garland, Alabama and how much fun it was to ride in the back of Papa's pick-up on a trip to the store, but for now, I hope this has given you just a taste of a simpler time when children entertained themselves, and were expected to come up with their own ideas for entertainment. TV was only turned on at night to watch the news. Besides, who had time for TV when the outdoors offered Hide N Seek, and Lightening Bugs, galore!

Fall is COMING!!!!
I want to share with you my "haven" from work! Six years ago, David and I decided to put in a swimming pool for our relaxation in the summer! Our kids, now adults, were delighted, but did ask why we waited until they were grown to do this???? We assured them that their home, food, clothing, education and activities and such prevented us from the luxury of this delightful item, until now! Once the decision was made, we made the best choice we felt we could make--and this is how it turned out! We feel truly blessed to have this pool and we try to share it with friends and neighbors, as well as enjoying wonderful family gatherings each summer! This year, we had the opportunity to open it to the youth fellowship at our church and had a couple of parties for them, along with a cookout once, and a pizza supper another time! Why am I showing everyone our pool now--empty! Well, that's because summer is coming to an end, and with great sadness, I realize that once again the swimming season is almost over! David threatens, almost daily, that "today is the day we need to close the pool". Yesterday, with the outside temperature at a cool 81 degrees, and the pool temperature at 83, I braved the chilly water to swim, again! It is, possibly, the last time for this summer, so I took the cleaning supplies and scrubbed the sides and steps, thinking that just maybe, I can squeeze in one or two more swim days! I hope so--Anyway, if you're ever here in the summer, drop by! Bring your suit and jump right in! As a social worker, whose job is child abuse investigations, this summer respite is just perfect when I come in from a busy day of work. I change into my swimsuit, close the house up, and venture out the back door to the deck where a large umbrella shades my lounge chair, and I can stretch out for a moment, then swim, uninterrupted until David and I decide to go in for supper! Afterward, we return to the pool for another swim, often joined by family and friends, and sometimes relax there until 9 or 10 p.m. We thank God for providing this haven for us, and for allowing us to share it with others!

SCRAPBOOKING--THE NEXT GENERATION
Amy, Pam and I have enjoyed scrapbooking for a few years now and Julia has been with us to group events where we gathered to scrapbook our "memories". Julia asked me a few weeks ago if she could scrapbook too, so I promised that we would start her a book when she visited me this summer! Well--today was the day! As you can see, she took it very seriously! She cropped her own pictures (with a little help from MeMe), put the adhesive on the back and pasted them into her very own book! We had to buy stickers, later, so she's still got work to do, but she is started and she LOVED IT!!!!!
We had a wonderful weekend, as she and her family spent Sunday with us, then Julia stayed to spend the night with MeMe & G-Daddy! We had a very busy Labor Day, playing, shopping, eating and swimming. When it was time to take Julia home, she wanted to stay and play with a friend, Maudie Grace, who had come over to swim with her. Although it was unplanned, the two cuties had on swim suits just alike and they thought that was SUPER! They had great fun splashing in the pool, and we had to promise that they could do this again soon. Grandchildren are the greatest thing going !!!! I adore them!!!!

A SUNDAY VISIT
Last week, my granddaughter, Julia, told her mommy she wanted to visit Aunt Thelma, so on Sunday, we went down for an afternoon visit. My sister, Brenda and her husband Mike, were there when we arrived, as were my brother, Greg, his wife, Debra and two of their beautiful grandchildren, Ellie and Emma, Carlock (April's daughters). That's Ellie in the red checked dress, and dark hair. Next is Emma, Ellie's baby sister, then Julia and her baby brother, Sam who is in Aunt Thelma's lap. It was Aunt Thelma's first time to meet Sam, and I think, Emma, too! Aunt Thelma is 97 and is amazing!!!! We had a wonderful visit, and then Julia came home with us to spend the night! Because she lives in Georgia, her time reference is an hour ahead of ours--before daylight, she came to our bed, ready to get up and start her day!

My Mother, My Cousin, Our Home

A few weeks ago, my favorite cousin sent this picture to me, and although it may be worn, and tattered, it brought back memories that made me smile as I saw my mother as she looked when I first remember her, the house we lived in, and the fun I had playing with my cousin, Patricia, in that time. The old cars in the background attest to the time period, probably around 1953, guessing from memory, because my brother Greg, born in September 54, is obviously not on the way when this was taken! If you look closely, in the background, you'll see mother's old wringer washing machine, which was electric, but had to have the water loaded into it by a hose, because we didn't have indoor plumbing. Mother would wash outside, and she would let us push the clothes through the top wringer to squeeze the water out--that is, until one day when Brenda's hand got caught in the wringer and mother had to stop the machine and get Brenda free, fearing that her arm might be permanently damaged. It wasn't, but that was the end of our wringing the clothes. I can remember the feel of feeding the clothes through it, but I wasn't allowed to very often. We would beg for the chance because it was facinating to watch. The tiny back porch had a porch rail with a wide board and the water bucket sat on that, with a dipper, for us to drink from. There was a water faucet there, and the well pump was beside the porch, in the small enclosure just behind the car that shows only the headlight. I think that was Uncle Jessie's car, Patricia's dad. I just thought it might be interesting for you to see where I lived when I was small. I've recently visited Clanton, and I went to two other places I lived and took pictures of those homes, so I'll share more, later. I'm including a picture of me, at the age I was around the time this photo was taken. That's my sister, Brenda, sitting in the chair! It was a gentler time when it was OK for little girls to leave off their shirts! I was such a tomboy its no wonder!

Charli Robertson
I figured out what was wrong with the system (McAfee) and got it working again! YEA!!!! We had little Charli this weekend, and she is such a good baby! She seldom cries, and she grins when you talk to her. I didn't know where her red bow was, so I had to use a white one! My "grands" are so wonderful! Last weekend we went to see Julia and Sam, and then had this precious one this weekend. Her daddy had sprained his foot, and is on crutches right now, so MeMe did most of the "baby chores". How pitiful for me!!! I could just "eat her up" she's so sweet! I read on Amy's blog that we are nearing the final divorce hearing for Matt. I think all of the Robertson family (Rutland's included) are ready for a more "normal" life to return. As Matt told someone the other day, Charli is the bright spot in a relationship that never should have been! God works miracles out of chaos. We look forward to God's plan for this little one! Alyssa hasn't visited since the weekend of July 1st & 2nd. She had been promised a trip to the beach with our family, and her mom changed her mind at the last minute and refused to allow the vacation visit that she had agreed to in court. Since that time, it has broken Matt's heart that Alyssa doesn't visit, but she cries when he leaves with Charli. Keep all of us in your prayers as the divorce hearing is Sept. 7th and it is our prayer that God will lead the judge in making the best decision for the children. Matt and Jessie are adults and can take what comes, but there are two little girls who never asked to be in the middle of this and who deserve to be cherished and brought up to know the Lord, and to know that they matter!!!!

Well, its been a while since I've posted, and part of the reason is I haven't been able to get the blog to allow me to post a picture and that frustrated me! Oh well! Work continues, and I have little time for anything else! I hope to figure out the photo issues soon and be back in the spotlite with my little ones!

MOON FLOWERS

Yes, you're right, it looks as if the sun is shining, and it is! This was made early one morning, last summer! The flowers grow on a vine and blossom at night. They fall off during the day, and new ones bloom the next night. The shoots you see at the top right of the picture are ready to bloom. Moon flowers are very special to me, and I hadn't seen any since my grandfather passed away in 1967--until a co-worker asked if I'd ever heard of them, and she brought me some seeds. She said she'd never gotten them to come up, so she thought I'd like to try! I've had some every summer since then, for about 5 years! Now, let me explain why they're so special!
My mother's dad and stepmom lived in rural Butler County outside a small town named Garland, Alabama. He had retired, and gardened to raise food for canning and freezing and EATING (WOW was it ever good). Our family usually went down for a couple of weeks each summer, and the summer of 1967 was no different. I had graduated from high school and was to begin my college career soon, as it was late August. Early one morning, I awoke before daylight and went to the bathroom, which was located at the rear of the house. I had to walk onto the back porch to reach this "wonderful" addition to the original house, a beautiful addition my grandmother took great pride in. (I can still smell how clean it was when I remember their home.) When I left the bathroom my grandfather "Papa" was sitting by the kitchen door, on this porch, quietly watching the moon. He asked if I was OK, and then told me to come to him so that he could show me something. Papa never talked much, but that night he showed me a beautiful plant in his backyard, a large cluster of vines with huge white blossoms all over it! MOON FLOWERS!!!! He explained how they bloom nightly, only to close and drop off during the day. After a few minutes, I sat in a cane-bottom chair beside him and we talked until after sunrise--about lots of things, school, my friends, my family and about his life and things he'd done. It was the most I ever heard Papa say, and I loved having that special time with him. As one of six children, there was seldom a time for anyone to have alone time with Mama and Papa! I felt really close to him after that night, and really enjoyed having spent that special time with my grandfather. At the end of the vacation, as we said goodbye, plans were made for a Christmas visit, even a suggestion that we might get to come back for Thanksgiving! There was no warning, no way of knowing as we left, that two and one-half weeks later, early in the morning, before sunrise a phone would ring, in the dormitory at my new school, and I would learn that Papa had died suddenly, of a heart attack. I cherish the memory of that night we shared, so happy and so full of caring! As we were leaving, after his funeral, Mama took me aside and told me that she had something for me--Papa had canned some fig preserves, and she wanted me to have them, because he had told her how much he enjoyed talking to me! It thrilled me to get them and to remember him so fondly.

Red Sky in the Morning

I took this picture early one morning about two years ago, and although I've been up this early many times more, I've never seen another one quite like this. Photograpy is one of my hobbies, and I've neglected taking this type pictures for a while! I've been somewhat preoccupied with my wonderful grandchildren! Hope you enjoy this! I'll add this type from time to time, just so you'll see that I really am more balanced, and not just focused on the little ones!

David's Birthday
We celebrated David's 61st birthday last Saturday, at Amy's house and what fun we had! David sat in a lawn chair and "watched" as Matt took the helm as GRILL MASTER! He cooked hotdogs and hamburgers, and boy were they delicious! After eating, the cake Julia helped bake, and then decorated by herself, was served! She and little brother, Sam, helped G-daddy blow out the candles then we devoured this delicious delight! Of course, as you can see, Sam was concentrating on his fingers as he wondered what that "thing" was, and what we would do with it! After eating, we all headed for the Hoover Met where we watched the Birmingham Barrons baseball team defeat the Mobile Bay Bears! We had such fun, and the rain held off until the last minute. We had such fun and we're looking forward to many more fun celebrations as our family gears up for the "birthday season" that includes Amy, Pam, Alyssa and my birthday.

Sam (Rutland) and Charlise (Robertson), two cousins, born just three weeks apart are really keeping us busy! We spent the week with Sam and his parents and sister, Julia, at the beach, then rushed home to spend the rest of the weekend with Charlise (Charlie) and her daddy, at our house! They are both growing so fast! While Sam is 3 weeks younger, he is much longer and weighs about the same as Charlie, who may just end up short like her MeMe! She is so beautiful, with big blue eyes and dark brown hair! Sam has brown eyes and his hair is a little lighter than Charlie's and also more sparse! He just want to be bald like his daddy!!! It is such a joy to have these little ones in our lives. They are "lushious" and grow sugar so fast that MeMe and G-Daddy have a time kissing it all off!!! Precious is such a mild word to describe our joy!

Vacation is a FAMILY affair!
This year, David and I vacationed in Orange Beach, Alabama, along with our three adult children, Amy, Pam and Matt, our son-in-law, Jud and two of our precious grandchildren! David has never been fond of the beach, sand, sun etc, but this year it was different! We rented a condo on the ground floor, with a patio, so he could sit in the shade and watch the ocean. We also rented two beach chairs with an umbrella, so he could sit there, out of the sand, and enjoy the view! YES! David stayed on the beach more than anyone!! LOL!!! He really had a good time, and said he wants to go back next year. Julia and Sam were lots of fun, and the adult kids were too! For those who don't know, the fella in the orange suit is NOT David, but our new friend, Randall Gilliam, from Tennessee. David met him on the beach, watching their respective grandkids, and they really enjoyed each other's company. We visited with this family on the beach daily, and found that we share a lot in common, most especially being Christians who enjoy fellowship with other believers! The second picture is G-daddy playing in the sand with Julia, and the third is one I snapped of Julia. Matt could only stay for three days, as he had to return to work. He didn't get to bring his girls, as planned, but hopefully that won't happen again! We missed having them with us. Sam was so very good, but he did not like the beach! It was too hot to suit him, but he did get one dip in the pool! We just can't wait for next year, and will be planning all year for our next event! I'll add a picture of Sam in my next note-he is growing like a weed!

Here is a cute shot I made last Saturday! We went to Mark and Mother's house to show off the new "grands" that she hadn't met before, and everyone had lots of fun. Mother was content to rock the two little ones, Charlise in her right arm, and Sam in her left! Of course the two big girls, Alyssa and Julia had fun too, as they showed off their younger siblings! We stayed about three hours and before we left everyone was tired, but happy! We came home and swam a while, then the Rutlands returned to their home in Georgia. Matt, Alyssa and Charlise stayed at MeMe and G-daddy's house overnight, and went to church with us on Sunday. Everyone at church loved seeing our girls, again.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT THELMA!!!!

Today is Aunt Thelma's 97th birthday, and she is still sharp as a tack, and so much fun. David and I went down after lunch today and visited with her for a couple of hours! She is so precious to me, and I just had to see her on her special day. She had several guests drop by, phone calls, and she got lots of cards. Flowers arrived from a nephew in Florida, and there were two cakes! Dad and Ruth came up for the day, and they took her to Jim's Restaurant, in Prattville, for a birthday lunch. As we were leaving, I told her to behave herself, and her reply was if I wanted her to behave, I had better stay and make her, because she wouldn't promise unless I was there!!! I made this picture as we were leaving, because she always has to come outside and wave bye! Hope you enjoyed this! love, Shirley & David

Grandchildren are the best thing since time began! Before becoming a grandparent, I wondered what all the fuss was about--cute kids, but I didn't birth them, nor did these folks who were telling me about the wonders of the little people, so I really didn't "get it". Until May 16, 2002 when our first, Julia arrived! She's four now, and WOW is it wonderful!
Since that time, we've added Alyssa, age 8, who was adopted by our son, Matt a little over a year ago! She's adorable, with big brown eyes, dark brown hair and an impish grin!
In March another precious little one was added! Charlise (Charlie) came on March 15, 06 and is so very beautiful! She has her dad's blue eyes, and looks a lot like him!
On April 7th, 06 even more joy touched our lives as a new son arrived for Pam and Jud. Samuel David was placed with the Rutland family by a young mother who was not ready for the responsiblity of parenthood--and TODAY the adoption took place! We were with Pam, Jud, Julia and Sam as the judge pronounced that he forever belongs to us! God has blessed our family beyond measure and we give praise to Him for four beautiful, healthy and precious grandchildren! See pictures below! Meme and G-Daddy are so proud we could POP!

This picture, taken in February of 2003 is one of my favorites, as David and I went to Gatlinburg, Tn. with our three adult children, Amy, Pam(Rutland) and Matt. Pam's husband, Jud, and our only granddaughter, Julia, were along for the trip and we had a wonderful time! It snowed, in the night, and Julia, only 9 months old at the time, had ear pain from the change in barometric pressure. She woke us with cries, and the entire family gathered in the living room of the chalet to soothe her and enjoy the snow! By afternoon, the temperature in the valley was warm enough for short sleeves, and it was just beautiful!
As I add to the BLOG I hope that you enjoy reading about our growing family, and interests and fun events!