Pages

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Happy Father's Day

In my life, I have been blessed with the presence of several "father" figures - my dad, Carl Rickie, Rick F and Papa Ferguson. Each very special to me in a different way.  I have written numerous posts about my own father, who had a great influence on me growing up. But this Father's Day, I decided to give a special tribute to my Heavenly father, who truly has shown me grace and mercy in every area of my life. I know that I have disappointed Him many times, I have not listened to Him, I have rebelled, and I do not spend as much time with Him as I should. But no matter how much I disappoint Him and do not come close to living up to His standards, He loves me anyway. Thank you, God, for the relationship that we have.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Mississippi - Civil War: the houses and the "Help"

On our ladies's trip last week we visited Vicksburg, where we took a two-hour driving audio tour of the Battle of Vicksburg battleground and cemetery. Then the next day we toured three antebellum homes in Natchez.





On Monday I read the novel, The Help. I highly recommend this book for a easy, quick book to read. I also was told that they have made this book into a movie that will be coming out this summer.  In just these three events, I experienced the Civil War and the South from a totally different perspective.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Memorial Day

My father served in WW II. He was stationed in Germany and France. He did not talk about his war experiences very much. Since his passing away, I have found out that he was part of The Battle of the Bulge and that his fighter group destroyed many enemies planes. At his funeral, a brother-in-law insisted on draping the flag over his coffin. I still get emotional when the Star Spangled Banner is played or a flag is waving in the wind. The vision of following Daddy's flag-draped casket out of the church will be engrained in my mind forever.
I am thankful for the men and women that have served and are still serving for our freedom. May God bless the people richly.

The following was copied from the Sherman Democrat in the 1940's:


A presidential unit citation, "for outstanding performance of duty in action against the enemy" was awarded to the Pioneer P-51 Mustang group of the ninth air forces recently. The presentation was made to the commanding officer by Lt. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton, commanding general. Those from Grayson county entitled to wear the blue ribbon in a gold frame over the right breast are....(4 other men)and Sgt. Kennith M. Scoggins, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Scoggins of Tioga.

The ninth air force Pioneer Mustang group was the first to fly with long range P-51 in combat. They set the distance record for fighters, while escorting bombers on deep penetrations into Germany on missions to Kiel, Berlin and later Gydnia. They destroyed more than 380 enemy aircraft in seven months of operations and were instrumental in the effective development of precision daylight bombing. 


On a lighter note, Memorial Day 2011 was good. I have to say that I started out a little disgusted. Rick had been telling me that we were going to do "something". For someone who likes to go, I was excited. However, we needed a roof, and he decided that we could work during the day and play at night. So for starters, he thought I would help roof. I have always been right beside him doing whatever, and I was willing to try anything; until...he wanted me to stand up and walk on the roof top. I was on the roof setting on my bottom, but that was not good enough. I was a failure. Oh, well. We got over it.

We got lots of work done, and we played hard. We had great food and good family time. (I am on the road writing this from my iPad tethering off a friends iPhone hotspot. You have to love technology. So pictures will come later.)