Father’s Day Sunday with family

Don and I took Mama Trudy to church with us this morning at Rising Fawn Baptist Church. We were surprised at the size of this ‘country’ church. The music was through-the-rafters gloriously amazing.  And the sermon was challenging.  We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.  As Don said, we went to worship Jesus Christ with others and that is exactly what we did.  Wow!

After church, Don treated us to lunch at Brock’s in Trenton and then we took Mama Trudy home so she could rest up for our evening at Jon and Carolyn’s for dinner and visiting.

There were eleven of us together for a great meal and a good time, but we wish the rest of our families could have been with us.

Jon’s granddaughter, Sophie, gave her Papa a flower for Father’s Day.  He’s a wonderful grandpa.

Jon printed The Duel from the internet and Mama Trudy read it to Sophie.  Mama Trudy memorized this poem and recited it when she was in the fourth grade.  Sophie, and the rest of us, thoroughly enjoyed the reading today.

The Duel
by Eugene Field (1850-1895)

The gingham dog and the calico cat
Side by side on the table sat;
'Twas half-past twelve, and (what do you think!)
Nor one nor t'other had slept a wink!
      The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate
      Appeared to know as sure as fate
There was going to be a terrible spat.
            (I wasn't there; I simply state
            What was told to me by the Chinese plate!)

The gingham dog went "Bow-wow-wow!"
And the calico cat replied "Mee-ow!"
The air was littered, an hour or so,
With bits of gingham and calico,
      While the old Dutch clock in the chimney-place
      Up with its hands before its face,
For it always dreaded a family row!
            (Now mind: I 'm only telling you
            What the old Dutch clock declares is true!)

The Chinese plate looked very blue,
And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
But the gingham dog and the calico cat
Wallowed this way and tumbled that,
      Employing every tooth and claw
      In the awfullest way you ever saw---
And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew!
            (Don't fancy I exaggerate---
            I got my news from the Chinese plate!)

Next morning, where the two had sat
They found no trace of dog or cat;
And some folks think unto this day
That burglars stole that pair away!
      But the truth about the cat and pup
      Is this: they ate each other up!
Now what do you really think of that!
            (The old Dutch clock it told me so,
            And that is how I came to know.)

That’s a long poem for a fourth grader to memorize, but Mama explained that this was just one of the things she was required to memorize and recite.

Jon shows Don a Mama Trudy creation.

Brother Jon’s youngest son, Jamey.

Jamey gets a good squeeze from Mama Trudy.

Jon’s oldest son, Sammy, and his family: Blake, Sophia, Caleb and wife, Kimberly. It was wonderful spending a little time with family I haven’t seen for years. Blake, the oldest, was actually less than two years old the last time I saw them.  That means, today was the first time to meet Caleb; I met Sophie for the first time yesterday.

Jon and Carolyn have some beautiful flowers in their yard. 

Just have to show one of the gladiolas enlarged.