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Monday, November 24, 2014

Cousin Love & Loss


Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

We have lost 3 family members in the last 3 months. It's been tough. Hard to wrap my mind around. Not sure what to do or what to say.

We lost Josh in September. He is my cousin on my dad's side. Josh is the youngest son of my dad's sister Jeanie. I remember him as a very ornery kid. The only time I really ever saw him was at family reunions but he sure loved them and loved family. He had just started college at NWACC and had decided to study journalism. He was loving it and doing great.

(*I did snatch a couple of these pictures off of family facebook pages.)
Josh



Family Reunion - This is not all the cousins. I'm not sure we have ever all been together at one time, but that year there were several of us that made it. Josh is on the far left and Tonja is kind of in the middle.


Rodney in October. This was really odd for me. Somehow everyone in our family knew all about him but me. I do not remember him or being around him. He belonged to my uncle Willis (Dad's brother). You can tell it too. He looks exactly like him. He was also taken way to young. I pray that he was a Christian and that we will meet someday. I'm saddened by the loss and wish I had gotten the chance to meet him and get to know him.

Rodney

Tonja we lost last week. She is the oldest daughter of my dad's brother, Donnie. I have MANY good memories of her. There are 2 I think about the most. 1. She Loved singing the Devil went Down to Georgia when we were kids. She knew it by heart and would sing the entire song w/out music. :) 2. Playing incredible Hulk w/Uncle Donnie. He was the Hulk and we would all run and squeal and he would throw us around and scare us into fits of giggles. Tonja got hurt one night while we were playing and Aunt Teresa put a stop to anymore Hulk. :( I will forever cherish those times.

Tonja



Please keep our family in your prayers. Especially Donnie and Teresa, Aunt Jeanie, and Rodney's mother. I could not nor do I want to ever imagine the pain of losing a child.

I pray they rest in peace and I look forward to rejoicing w/them in heaven.

Sing the wondrous love of Jesus,
Sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed
He’ll prepare for us a place.

When we all get to heaven,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!

While we walk the pilgrim pathway,
Clouds will overspread the sky;
But when trav’ling days are over,
Not a shadow, not a sigh.
Let us then be true and faithful,
Trusting, serving every day;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory
Will the toils of life repay.
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.






Thursday, November 20, 2014

Grandpa

Grandpa has been on my heart and mind a lot the past few days. Oh, how I miss him.

Some of my most remembered times w/him...

He was w/me when I went to take the driving part of my driver's test. He teased me the whole way so I wouldn't be nervous.
He was also the one who loaned me the money to buy my first car. (I paid him back my all of my paycheck except for $30/wk until I paid him back.)
I used to walk to his house from our house to meet my friend Belinda. :)
He would tell me I was going to get fat anytime I ate anything unhealthy except when I was pregnant and then he said I wasn't eating enough.
We had an ongoing argument over biscuits and gravy. He thought Braums had the best and we all know Hardees has the BEST! ;0)
He was in court w/me when I went through my divorce. It was a rough time for me. I had been w/Dan all through HS and getting divorced at 20 years old was not a part of my plan. Grandpa was there and once again teasing me to keep my mood light.
Days sitting in the nursing home w/him while we visited grandma.
He drove like a crazy person!
Our trip to take his sister home. I drove. We talked, laughed, and stopped for ice cream. I will never forget sitting on the porch of that old county store. Precious memory.

Someday we will be together again.

I love you grandpa!


We stopped by the nursing home to see grandma before prom. We got a picture in the hall w/grandpa.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Hawks Bill Crag & Lost Valley Hiking Trails

Kevin, Madi and I left early Saturday morning for a little hiking fun. We went to Hawks Bill Crag first. On the way up that terrible mountain road we came across 3 young hikers that had flipped their car and was waiting on a tow truck. Scary that they flipped like that but wow, there were way worse places on that road for them to of flipped and thankfully they were not hurt. Their car was a different story. The road was narrow, steep, and creepy. I did not enjoy that at all. Once we made it to the top and started the hike it was fun and a few cool places along the way to look. The hike back to the car was the pits. I am way to out of shape for it. Overall it was fun, I'm glad I went but I do not think I will ever go back to hike there again. Just wasn't all I thought it would be w/all the hype around the place.

Madi and I. This is where we stopped and had a little snack and hung out for a bit. :)



Madi, Kevin and I on the famous point of Hawks Bill Crag

Madi & I - Selfie w/the beautiful fall trees!!


We were hoping for bright colors but it was still very beautiful and peaceful. A little to high for my comfort but I really enjoyed it!

My dear friend, my brother - Oh how I love him.

A different angle but still on the cliff at Hawks Bill Crag

My friend, Bonnie, told us while we were out that way we should check out Lost Valley. So, this was Lost Valley which is also in Ponca, Ar. I LOVED it. It was absolutely beautiful there. We didn't have enough time to get to the caves but we will be going back. Much more left to explore!

It looks huge when you are there but when you see how small the people look in the picture it makes it seem even more HUGE.

I love that this is something Kevin and I both enjoy doing. It's nice when you have common interest w/those you love. Cherished memories!!

If you know of any wonderful places to hike w/in a reasonable driving distance from NWA please let me know!

Much Love,
Danielle