#forrealfriday

[elfpuddle]

I have nothing more to add.

[cheldowell]

👄💭 #ForRealFriday 💭👄 Saw this ladies and I had to post It! A man of God will make his intentions known to God and to you. Dating with a purpose means intentionally courting for marriage. You will never have to force a Godly Man to be intentional about your relationship. Because he honors the Lord, he will honor you. 😉 ~M😘👸 #KnowYourValue . . . . . #MarriageMinded #ManOfGod #DaughterOfTheKing #Truth #GodlyRelationships #Dating #DatingWithAPurpose #Amen #Courtship #CourtshipGodsWay #Courting #KnowYourWorth #BlessedIsShe #ChristianDating #Relationships #WomenOfFaith #WomanOfGod #GodlyWomen #GodlyMen #relationshipquotes #intentional 👌💖🙏🙌 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bok8DJZlpu3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mcknwxdr0je6

[elfpuddle]

Just a note to say I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. My job is a bit overwhelming at the moment, my best friends are getting divorced, and my mom had surgery this week to remove a growth that is indeed cancerous.

Thank you in advance for your prayers

[elfpuddle]

Happy Veterans' Day

I don't know if I've shared this story here, but it's my favorite story about the sacrifice of veterans around the world, and an explanation of why I'm such a strict observer of Veterans' Day (Remembrance Day) and Memorial Day. My FB page today is covered in poppies, and I'm wearing a set of poppy jewelry I bought at the WWII museum to support their work in memorializing not only the war(s), but also working for peace and discussion. My paternal Grandpa was in the U.S. Navy in World War II. In the Pacific. And I never heard a single war story from him. I remember him as an old curmudgeon, short legged, long armed, and strong. He had an odd sense of humor, and my mom had no patience or respect for him, but I loved him so much. He died a few years ago, and may his soul rest in peace. After the war, he married his first wife, my Grandma L. She was a vicious alcoholic. Grandpa was a sharecropper, and had to drive truck to make ends meet, and wasn't home much. That left Grandma L. in charge of both the house and the kids: my dad, his two younger brothers, and, eventually, their much younger sister, who was born when the boys were teens. Grandma L. used to beat the kids. Sometimes when she was drunk, sometimes as punishment, sometimes just because. And my dad, as eldest, would not only step in to take beatings for his siblings, but would try, in as many ways as he could, to protect them from their mother and everything else.

Years go by. Things don't get better, even after Grandpa and Grandma get divorced. Trauma doesn't always, you know. Into this mess, add the Vietnam War. My dad's college grades aren't great, and the draft has begun. Knowing his grades weren't good enough to keep him from being drafted, and not being necessary to the farm, since there were two other brothers, he volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army. He became a Green Beret Medic. (For those of you who don't know, the Green Berets are the Special Forces, the Elite, the Navy Seals, of the Army.) He married my mom in 1970, they immediately got pregnant, and miscarried their baby.

While still grieving the baby, they got pregnant again, with me, and it becomes more and more clear that Dad's going to be sent over, because the war is just not going "well".

Dad's middle brother, F, joins the Marine Corps, and volunteers to be sent over. You all know the story of Private Ryan. Since then, the U.S. Military has made it a policy to not send multiple brothers into war zones unless they volunteer, to avoid the same story from happening. Uncle F volunteered to be sent over so that my Dad would be state-side when I was born, and I wouldn't have to grow up without a father. Their baby brother, my uncle N, stayed on the farm, and promised Uncle F that if he should be killed in action, he'd take his place and keep Daddy safe. The brother who had spent his whole childhood protecting them was being saved from even worse horror by them. Uncle F completed multiple tours in Vietnam. I'n fact, he stayed until all troops were brought home (minus the dead, the POWs, and the MIAs, of course). He came home traumatized, so broken, so very damaged, but physically unharmed. He risked everything, absolutely everything, for me, before I was born. The three of them truly are their brothers' keepers. And they are not alone. Sure, some people join the military because they like giving out pain, or have some vision of being a war hero. Some do it for the G.I. Bill and the college tuition. Some don't know why. But so many veterans served to protect what they left behind. Not because they loved the sword, so to speak, but because they loved the people behind them more than they feared death. And that is why we celebrate Veterans Day. That is why we remember with pride those who served. That is why we honor them. Their sacrifice kept us safe. Because of my uncles, I've never been without my daddy. And that's only the smallest of the blessings I've received from the military. And I am not alone in being blessed. Happy Veterans' Day. Thank you for your service.

[elfpuddle]

My apologies. If we’ve gotten to here, then my queue has run out of Robin River for the moment. (Though there’s enough food posts for a long time!) I spent a lot of time recently shopping, cooking, and delivering groceries for members of my family, specificallly two of my godchildren, their parents, and their siblings. The parents of the family, my compadres (not friends...my co-parents, the parents of my godchildren...there is no English word for how close we are), and their four youngest children have Covid. Compadre also has pneumonia and Comadre is also pregnant with their sixth child, BabyBoy. Their oldest son spent the summer living at his grandma’s, and though school has started, he’s still at her house because he can’t come home yet. In your kindness, please pray for Compadre, Comadre, SonAge14, DaughterAge12, DaughterAge10, SonAge9, DaughterAge1.5, and SonToBeBornThisFall, as well as all who love them and are trying to care for them.

I’ll be back as soon as I can with pictures and updates from Robin River. Until then, take care of each other, take care of yourselves, and check in on your friends. Please wear your masks and keep socially distant in real life. Please get vaccinated. Love,

Elfie

[cheldowell]

#ForRealFriday & #FaithFriday ♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇♡◇ This day had been tough and I've done my share of crying, but now I can truly say: "I'm good" I'm not all cried out, but I'M GOOD. ▪ My fiance called me and spoke positively over me. The diagnosis I received this morning (from the two ultrasounds I had yesterday) will be another part of my testimony when I overcome it. His voice automatically calms me, so I felt better. I can't wait to hug him. Scot's hugs are like coming home... 😍 ▪ Even Arden's dad reminded me that the lump the ultrasound revealed on my thyroid appears benign and that's a good thing. No cancer, just a re-check in a year. ▪ The other negative diagnosis I received from the second ultrasound has left me so upset, but also pushed me into health mode overdrive. I have so much more life to live, so I'm going to do what can be done on my part and trust God to heal the rest. ▪ I already prayed and I've been fasting, so now I'm reading to get my mind off things. I love the Frisco library. 💕 Reading all sorts of perfection today! ▪ I want to encourage you that if you have received a negative diagnosis from your doctor recently, to stay #encouraged. God is in control, not man and not even your body. And if you believe and have faith, the Lord can heal you. That is what I am trusting God for: complete healing in my body. ▪ If you have any needs that you need prayed over, let me know or message me. I would love to pray for you. It's a #newyear and God is doing a new thing in our lives. Trust that. Believe that and wait patiently. Change is coming! 🙌🙏💛 XO ~M😘 . . . . . #faithwalk #relaxing #bookworm #Faith #bookish #reading #RealLife #Truth #changeiscoming #believeinmiracles #sickness #GodIsFaithful #GodIsGood #Codisincontrol #healthylifestyle #healthylivingjumpstart #gettinghealthy #ChronicIllness #lifeisshort #livelifetothefullest #livelifefully #happiness #living https://www.instagram.com/p/BtEzcXLFMwv/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1i419ohalrizy

[cheldowell]

#ForRealFriday Om gosh! How lovely is this photo!? This is how I am tackling frustrations, with a smile, prayer, and lots of Grace. • Someone made me cry earlier and I have been dealing with the after-effects of that emotional roller coaster today. But the amazing thing about God is that He always sends you Joy in the form of the people who love you through thick and thin. My sister @crysyb30 called me and we laughed so much that I couldn't stop. It was awesome! 😁 Thanks Crys!! ▪ This girl's smile is contagious. Not to mention her lovely outfit is gorgeousness. How can someone not smile seeing this pic? ▪ Here's a cheers to the bloody weekend and to not letting the crazies get us down! 😉 XO ~M 😘 #HappyWeekend . @Regran_ed from @wedzo.in - The excitement is real... That's how we twirl and dance when it's a looooong weekend... Enjoyyyyyy people!!! Picture Courtesy: @aakritiranaofficial . . . . #outfitoftheday #indianwedding #weddingbells #photography #photographer #india #delhi #mumbai #bride #weddingseason #weddingphotography #weddinginspiration #weddingdecor #weddingday #twirl #twirlingbride #weddingdance #weddingtime #weddingfun #dance #dancingbride #dancegoals #inspiration #indianbride #weddingoutfit #indianculture #weddingdress https://www.instagram.com/p/BpscfTqlaZQ/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wygf8kabj3k2

[thepeppysquid]

A good reminder on this #forrealfriday #fridaythoughts #fridaymood (at Barnegat Light, New Jersey) https://www.instagram.com/p/BmTRTp3nIya/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1df97l9bk4cwx