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Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Emma May Francis Henderson 

February 22, 1896



Marilyn, I am copying your tribute. It says everything and more that I could possibly say, write, or remember! Great job, sis!


Emma Mae Francis was born on February 22, 1896, in Weatherford, Texas; her father, Calvin Burgess (Byrd), was 20, and her mother, Cora Lee, was 18. She married Henry Eaf Henderson on September 28, 1913. They had three children during their marriage. She died on May 11, 1984, in Gunter, Texas, at the age of 88.

Byrd and Cora met and married in Wynnewood, Oklahoma. From there at a very young age they came to Texas and had several children, went back to to Oklahoma had several more children, then came back to Texas. Around 1910 they were in the Howe area, then they moved to Gunter. Henry's family was in the Collinsville area. Henry and Emma married September 1913 when she was 17. Oct 1914 - Blanch was born. Oct 1921 - Bonnie was born. June 1923 - Bennie was born. At first Henry and Emma moved back and forth between Gunter and Collinsville with each of their parents. They then settled in Gunter. Henry was a carpenter and farmer. Mother tells that they lived over by the Savage place while she was growing up. Byrd and Francis lived on what was called "Nigger Hill" or Strawn road today. 

At some point Henry (Pa) and Emma (Ma) bought the home place of 100 acres where I grew up. The story is told after Daddy and Mother came home from the war, Ma and Pa moved to 402 West Middleton in Sherman and let my parents have the farm to live on and farm. 

So this is where my memories start of Ma Henderson. These are just some random memories I have:

Every Saturday morning, Mother, Diana, and I would go to Sherman to visit Ma and Pa.
He would be sitting in a rocking chair beside a little chest. He would whittle off a bit of black brick chewing tobacco. She had a toothpick sticking out of her mouth that had been dipped in snuff.  No way was tobacco thought of as a sin or evil. 



Pa, Ma, Marilyn, and Me

She was hardworking. I remember that she made her own Lye soap. We would go to the dry cleaners to get distilled water for some reason. She made her own clothes. She let us have coffee and milk with vanilla cream cookies. She had latte's before latte's were invented.

She loved her flower beds. I remember lots of irises and chicken-and-hen plants. She had a big back yard with a little shed. There were pecan trees in the back yard. She had a rotary  lawn mower that she pushed around the yard.





Emma May Henderson

Diana and I made a many of mud pies at her house in tin plates and decorated them with little sticks. She had an old treadle sewing machine that we played at. (Diana has this sewing machine.) She taught us to make doll clothes. If we were at her house in the afternoon, our treat was the ice cream truck. We would go to the end of the block after we finally heard the music from the truck and get ice cream.

She kept peppermint stick candy for us. She had a clock that chimed that I inherited. She had another coo coo clock and a weather vane that told whether it was going to rain or not.

As children we went to her house on Christmas eve with all of Mother's family. At some point, the ugliest Santa Claus in the world would make an appearance. This is where our tradition of Santa coming on Christmas Eve was started.

Mother and her sisters were very neat and well-groomed, so I am assuming that this was also taught by Ma. I do remember that she kept a blue "rinse" on her hair to keep it from being so white.

She always told us that she was proud of us, Jesus loved us, and to be good to our parents who also loved us.  She was very encouraging.

Later in life, she had to leave her house in Sherman and come to Hilltop Haven, the nursing home here in Gunter.  i believe she was here about five years. It was arranged that Diana would pick her up on Sunday mornings and bring her to church. She was at First Baptist Church Gunter at a young age, moved her membership to Sherman, and then when she came back to Gunter she moved it back to FBC. Ma was one of the most Godly women ever. I believe it was 7 times a day, the perfect number, that she prayed. She was a dedicated Baptist to the very end with her spiritual and physical roots in Gunter.

On May 11, 1984, I witnessed for the first time someone to pass from this place to a better place. We all knew that Ma was going to Heaven and that she was ready to see Jesus. I know the angels were singing as they welcomed her in. She was a Proverbs 31 wife with nobel character. This was read at her funeral, and the first time that I realized that these verses were in the Bible. I remember thinking, "Wow!  What a great description of her!"

Emma May Henderson, Ma, thanks for the legacy and the role model that you left for our family. You were a great lady. My regret is that I did not ask more questions.

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Contentment and Financial Fences

In my bible study (James McDonald's "Lord, Change My Attitude) we just finished a week's worth of homework on "Contentment." We were previously addressing a COVETOUS attitude; we are to replace it with - CONTENTMENT!

During the video session, McDonald presented his "financial fences." They include:

*Limit spending
*Limit lifestyle
*Limit income
*Give more every year
*Give in ways that no one will know anything about

As a child of God, we are called to be content with the gifts he chooses to give us. Of course, McDonald also goes on to address that contentment is more than satisfaction with the material things that He has provided.

It is contentment in your life in general:

where I am
what I do
what I have
whom I'm with

Philippians 4:11
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

We were challenged to choose a strategy and put it into action this week. Here were a few to choose from and practice:

*Reject anything that is producing an addiction in you. Refuse to be a slave to it.
*Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
*Develop a habit of giving things away. Declutter. Simplify your life.
*Learn to enjoy things without owning them.
*Refuse the craving for the newest, latest, greatest thing.
*Keep the main thing the main thing. Don't let "good" things distract you from God as priority.

I'm practicing!









Quick Trip to Tennessee

Marilyn took me with her to Franklin to babysit Anja (2 1/2) and Isabel (7 months) while Greg and Lisa took a trip to Canada. We flew up Tuesday; Greg and Lisa left on Wednesday morning.

Both the girls are easy. Anja loves to play, eat, and do anything two year olds like to do. She is easily entertained. The only thing she doesn't really care for is bedtime. Isabel doesn't seem to meet a stranger. She is such a happy baby with a sweet smile. 



On another note, Marilyn had done some additional research on our "Taylor" family before we left. She had a map and some information for us. 

I'll let Marilyn recount our fun day of exploring...

"Thursday while Anja was at daycare, Diana, Isabel, and I went about an hour northeast of Franklin to an area that was once a thriving community - Taylorsville. This community was named after our GGGGF. We found the original home that was built in the early 1800's. (I will do another post about the house and family - I promise.) We went to about five old family cemeteries. We never confirmed that the Taylors were buried in any of them. I think one was a great possibility. We talked to three interesting people while there - a neighbor lady with strange dogs, a farmer with a rifle in his hand as we talked, and an extremely nice lady mail carrier. We will come back to this area on another trip to Tennessee."


We had a couple of great meals out during the trip - one at the historical Loveless Cafe and the other at the Sunset Diner in Lebanon (found that one off Trip Advisor).

Marilyn and I had a great time. The laughs, tears, hot flashes, meals, and time with her grandbabies made it all a very special trip.

I am so thankful she took me with her! 


Saturday, February 11, 2017

Our Daddy/Daughter Duo

Tonight, Justin had the privilege to once again escort Glory to the Valentine Daddy/Daughter Dance. Keelie and Kristi had spent the day making it very special for her including getting her a new haircut and also her nails done. Justin brought her flowers. She was so pretty and absolutely glowing!!

It blesses my heart to see that once "little boy" of mine grow up to be such a special dad! He's one of my heroes!




Molly Sage

It's so hard to realize our Molly Sage is now 6 months old! She is so cute. She's getting that little personality going, too. We love you, Molly!


RV Time Again

Rick and I escaped on Thursday in the RV. We went to Ray Roberts. Justin, Keelie and the kiddos drove over. It was such a beautiful day with temps in the 80s (unbelievable February weather)! After a relaxing afternoon, we went to Sharkarosa Wildlife Ranch for pizza. That was pretty cool to enjoy our meal beside the bears. Throw in a little live music, and I would say it was about perfect!

Yesterday, we went shopping for Jerry a travel trailer. BINGO! We found one and have sent pics to him in Bangkok.

Today we went to Jonah's basketball game which just happened to be very close to our campsite in a nearby town. Afterwards, we went back to the RV place and bought the travel trailer for Jerry. We came home this afternoon. 

A blessed camping trip!





Selfie Overload!




Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Lord, Change My Attitude

My bible study group started this several weeks ago. It is soooo good!

Based on the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the promised land, James McDonald shows how attitudes can affect whether we stay in the wilderness with negative attitudes or whether we are delivered to enjoy the many blessings of the promised land with attitudes that honor God. 

Here is a look at our first few weeks:

Week 1 - we looked at replacing a complaining attitude...

Week 2 - with Thankfulness

Week 3 - we looked at replacing a covetous attitude...

Week 4 - with Contentment


The videos are great that we watch together, and then the weekly homework is SO worth diving into! Thank you, Lord, for what you are teaching us through this study!

Monday, February 6, 2017

Weekend "Thankfuls"

Jonah and Glory stayed with me Friday evening while Justin, Keelie, and Molly went out to dinner. I surprised them with a chocolate pie. After Jonah got through with his basketball practice, we went to watch the high school basketball games.


Saturday evening we all had a family meal to celebrate birthdays (Keelie, Justin & John).


Yesterday Jared, Jenna, and Marlow went with us to church and out to eat. Later in the afternoon Rickie brought his tractor and plowed the garden.


And to top off the weekend, we had beautiful weather.

Friday, February 3, 2017

Happy Birthday, Justin!

Today is Justin's 36th birthday. What a blessing he is to our family! I hope he has the best day ever.


This gap of years went so quickly!


Love him!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

New Bull's First Calves

Two weeks ago we got our first calf out of the new bull. 


Yesterday we got the second little cutie.
Just love their ears!


(Proud daddy and his horse friend)