Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Birthdays
Yesterday was my brother, George's, birthday. He would have been 55 years old. I have talked about him before on my blog but some of you may not remember. He died when he was only 13. I was only 7 when George died and so I don't remember a lot about him. He was the only one of us 4 children who had blue eyes and red hair like our father.
I love this picture of him and his dog!
This was the last school picture taken of him before he died. My parents did not get the pictures back till after George died and his eyes were half closed in them. The pictures were black and white. They took them to this photography studio in town and the man there made this picture from it with George's eyes open. His hair was more auburn then it looks in this picture.
My cousin tells me that George was a cut up. That he liked to make jokes and act silly. I do remember that he was very talented with his hands and one time made me a little wooden table and a chair for my doll and he made her some clothes! Now how many 13 year old brothers would do that? I thought a lot about George yesterday. Wondering what he would be like if he were alive today. Thinking that on that last birthday he had when he turned 13 he must have been so happy to finally be a teenager. For those wondering George was accidentally shot by our cousin in a hunting accident. George wasn't going hunting but our cousin and oldest brother were. It was a very sad tragedy.
Today is my Aunt Rachel's birthday. Below is a picture of her and my Mama. Weren't they both beautiful? Aunt Rachel was always like a second mama to us. We stayed at her house a lot. When my bother George died we stayed there for a week. She is one special lady! I don't get to see her very often now. She and my uncle divorced when I was young and she moved back to her hometown where her family were. But I think about her a lot and miss her. Her health is not good at all now. I hope to go see her again soon. When my Mama died Aunt Rachel came and made her famous Banana Pudding. I thought my male cousins were gonna get in a fight over it! It was all so funny. My Uncle Goat (real name Jerry) who is my Aunt Rachel's ex-husband and my dad's younger brother got him a bowl of banana pudding before he even got his lunch! He and my aunt are still very close even though he is remarried. This has made it good for their kids and grand kids and great grand kids! I just love Aunt Rachel so much and wish her a great Birthday!!!
I told you about the trouble I was having getting my great uncle's military records in my last post. Well, I have since talked to a lady with the National Archives in Maryland. In Maryland they have the deck logs and muster rolls of the naval ships. She could not believe that the Archives in St. Louis wanted so much for a copy of his military records. In fact she thought I must have gotten ahold of an independent company who charges to get the records for you. But I gave her the web address and she agreed that it was the right address. So she told me to fill out a new request form and just request his DD214 which is his discharge paper and that it should list the ship he was on that sunk. She said it should not cost anything for just this one piece of paper. So I filled it out and faxed it in. I am now waiting to hear back from them. You just really have to keep on pushing to find out information you want!
I love this picture of him and his dog!
This was the last school picture taken of him before he died. My parents did not get the pictures back till after George died and his eyes were half closed in them. The pictures were black and white. They took them to this photography studio in town and the man there made this picture from it with George's eyes open. His hair was more auburn then it looks in this picture.
My cousin tells me that George was a cut up. That he liked to make jokes and act silly. I do remember that he was very talented with his hands and one time made me a little wooden table and a chair for my doll and he made her some clothes! Now how many 13 year old brothers would do that? I thought a lot about George yesterday. Wondering what he would be like if he were alive today. Thinking that on that last birthday he had when he turned 13 he must have been so happy to finally be a teenager. For those wondering George was accidentally shot by our cousin in a hunting accident. George wasn't going hunting but our cousin and oldest brother were. It was a very sad tragedy. Today is my Aunt Rachel's birthday. Below is a picture of her and my Mama. Weren't they both beautiful? Aunt Rachel was always like a second mama to us. We stayed at her house a lot. When my bother George died we stayed there for a week. She is one special lady! I don't get to see her very often now. She and my uncle divorced when I was young and she moved back to her hometown where her family were. But I think about her a lot and miss her. Her health is not good at all now. I hope to go see her again soon. When my Mama died Aunt Rachel came and made her famous Banana Pudding. I thought my male cousins were gonna get in a fight over it! It was all so funny. My Uncle Goat (real name Jerry) who is my Aunt Rachel's ex-husband and my dad's younger brother got him a bowl of banana pudding before he even got his lunch! He and my aunt are still very close even though he is remarried. This has made it good for their kids and grand kids and great grand kids! I just love Aunt Rachel so much and wish her a great Birthday!!!
I told you about the trouble I was having getting my great uncle's military records in my last post. Well, I have since talked to a lady with the National Archives in Maryland. In Maryland they have the deck logs and muster rolls of the naval ships. She could not believe that the Archives in St. Louis wanted so much for a copy of his military records. In fact she thought I must have gotten ahold of an independent company who charges to get the records for you. But I gave her the web address and she agreed that it was the right address. So she told me to fill out a new request form and just request his DD214 which is his discharge paper and that it should list the ship he was on that sunk. She said it should not cost anything for just this one piece of paper. So I filled it out and faxed it in. I am now waiting to hear back from them. You just really have to keep on pushing to find out information you want!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Great Uncle's Military Records
This is my great uncle, James Frank Dumas. Wasn't he a handsome man. Unfortunately he died very young at the age of 23 in 1946. He was on a ship that was sunk during WWII and he developed some kind of infection in his lungs from being in the water for so long. He died not too long after he came home from the war.
Several of my family members and me have been trying to find out what the name of the ship was that he was on. The people who are still alive when Frank came home from the service were so young that they don't remember much about his service in the Navy and they definitely don't know what the name of the ship was.
Through a researcher I found out about a website where they will look up peoples military records for you. I sent them all Frank's information and have waited for a couple months for the information. I received a phone call from the National Personnel Records Center, which is the website I mentioned earlier. The man on the phone told me that since my great uncle had been discharged from the Navy over 60 years ago his records are in the archives and it will cost me $65.00 for a copy of them! I was blown away! I told him I could not afford that and that really all I wanted to know was the name of the ship he was on that sunk during WWII. He couldn't tell me that information. I feel like I have hit a brick wall!
Does anyone out there know where I can find a list of ships and their crews that were sunk during WWII free of charge? Please let me know if you do! I would so greatly appreciate it!
Several of my family members and me have been trying to find out what the name of the ship was that he was on. The people who are still alive when Frank came home from the service were so young that they don't remember much about his service in the Navy and they definitely don't know what the name of the ship was.Through a researcher I found out about a website where they will look up peoples military records for you. I sent them all Frank's information and have waited for a couple months for the information. I received a phone call from the National Personnel Records Center, which is the website I mentioned earlier. The man on the phone told me that since my great uncle had been discharged from the Navy over 60 years ago his records are in the archives and it will cost me $65.00 for a copy of them! I was blown away! I told him I could not afford that and that really all I wanted to know was the name of the ship he was on that sunk during WWII. He couldn't tell me that information. I feel like I have hit a brick wall!
Does anyone out there know where I can find a list of ships and their crews that were sunk during WWII free of charge? Please let me know if you do! I would so greatly appreciate it!
Giveaway!
Amanda over at Amanda's Musings is celebrating her 200th post and her 1 year blogaversary with a giveaway! Hop on over and check out her blog!
Friday, April 17, 2009
My Mama's Birthday
Today is my beautiful Mama's birthday. She would have been 76 years old today. God took her home to be with him and my two brothers three and a half years ago and I still miss her so very much.
This is a picture of her when she was young holding a young cousin of hers.
This is my Mama and me in about 1967 with a new puppy I had gotten.
Here is my beautiful Mama in 1983. I just love this picture.
This is my children's favorite picture. My mama with a BB gun and her hair in rollers! She had came over to my house for me to roll her hair for her. I always rolled her hair for her. Once she actually let me cut her hair! Boy was she brave! When I got through her hair was only about 2 inches long all over her head! I laugh every time I think about it! I was probably 23 or so at the time. There is no way I would let one of my kids cut my hair. My Mama was something else!
Here she is on her birthday, with my kids, a year before she died. I wanted to post the birthday pictures taken the year she died but they weren't on my computer and I did not have time to find them and scan them in this morning.
My Mama was a wonderful person. She had problems over the years with prescription drug abuse, but then I can understand that in a way. She had lost two sons and that took it's toll on her. But no one ever has or ever will love me the way my Mama loved me. She was a very kind and sweet person and people still tell me this today and how much they miss her. Even though I miss her terribly I am glad she is at home with God and her sons that she grieved for for so many years. I love you Mama!
This is a picture of her when she was young holding a young cousin of hers.
This is my Mama and me in about 1967 with a new puppy I had gotten.
Here is my beautiful Mama in 1983. I just love this picture.
This is my children's favorite picture. My mama with a BB gun and her hair in rollers! She had came over to my house for me to roll her hair for her. I always rolled her hair for her. Once she actually let me cut her hair! Boy was she brave! When I got through her hair was only about 2 inches long all over her head! I laugh every time I think about it! I was probably 23 or so at the time. There is no way I would let one of my kids cut my hair. My Mama was something else!
Here she is on her birthday, with my kids, a year before she died. I wanted to post the birthday pictures taken the year she died but they weren't on my computer and I did not have time to find them and scan them in this morning.
My Mama was a wonderful person. She had problems over the years with prescription drug abuse, but then I can understand that in a way. She had lost two sons and that took it's toll on her. But no one ever has or ever will love me the way my Mama loved me. She was a very kind and sweet person and people still tell me this today and how much they miss her. Even though I miss her terribly I am glad she is at home with God and her sons that she grieved for for so many years. I love you Mama!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
I'm BACK
I'm back! Most of you didn't even know I was gone, did you? The truth is I wasn't gone because I wanted to be. I have been very sick. After everyone in the house went through this flu stuff I had to go and catch it! I was sure hoping it would pass me by. I am not the type to get sick. I might get a head cold or sinus problems now and then, but I always can keep going with those. This time I was flat on my back for 4 days straight! Then I couldn't do much over the weekend as I was still not feeling strong enough. I had to miss 4 days of work. The last time I was that sick was 15 years ago when I had the flu when I was pregnant. I can tell you now, I certainly did not like being sick! The worst part was that last Thursday was Tara's senior prom and I had planned to take off the day and go to the hairdressers with her and help her get ready and all. Well, needless to say I spent the day in the bed and she went by herself to have her hair done. I did go sit on the front porch while they took pictures of her and her date.
Here is a lovely picture of her. We managed to find this dress in Mobile. I had to cut several inches off the bottom and then I had to rework part of the bodice for her. I think it looked lovely on her.
Look at this beautiful face! Notice the earrings she has on. Those are some I have had for almost 30 years that I dug out of my jewelry box for her. I didn't think she would want to wear them as they are so old, but she loved them!
Here she is with her date, Bird. Actually his name is Daniel, but everyone calls him Bird. I think the sun was shining a little too bright on them.
Here is Tara and her two friends, Abby and Tiffanie.
I think Tara had a great time at her prom!
I did manage go sing in our Easter Cantata on Saturday night and Sunday morning. There were a few times when I felt like I might pass out, but I managed to make it through. I had promised God if He would just make me well I would sing. Singing in a Cantata takes a lot out of you. I used to love singing in them and could just whiz through. Now my throat and mouth stay so dry that I feel like I am struggling to sing and my feet go numb from the standing and my legs will start cramping on me. Not to mention that I got so light headed. I just don't know if I can sing in anymore of them. I love to sing. But one or two songs at a time is all I can manage anymore.
I was glad I was able to return to work yesterday. I know the ladies in our home office were glad to. They were having to take turns going to stay in my store and getting behind in their work.
I hope to start work on another Alabama quilt soon. This lady who wants one is paying me a little a month for one. Also, a friend gave me the name of a lady who wants one. I have to yet call her. So I will be busy in the near future appliqueing quilt blocks!
Well, got to get up from here and head to work! Hope you all had a great Easter and have a great day today!
Here is a lovely picture of her. We managed to find this dress in Mobile. I had to cut several inches off the bottom and then I had to rework part of the bodice for her. I think it looked lovely on her.
Look at this beautiful face! Notice the earrings she has on. Those are some I have had for almost 30 years that I dug out of my jewelry box for her. I didn't think she would want to wear them as they are so old, but she loved them!
Here she is with her date, Bird. Actually his name is Daniel, but everyone calls him Bird. I think the sun was shining a little too bright on them. 
Here is Tara and her two friends, Abby and Tiffanie.
I think Tara had a great time at her prom!I did manage go sing in our Easter Cantata on Saturday night and Sunday morning. There were a few times when I felt like I might pass out, but I managed to make it through. I had promised God if He would just make me well I would sing. Singing in a Cantata takes a lot out of you. I used to love singing in them and could just whiz through. Now my throat and mouth stay so dry that I feel like I am struggling to sing and my feet go numb from the standing and my legs will start cramping on me. Not to mention that I got so light headed. I just don't know if I can sing in anymore of them. I love to sing. But one or two songs at a time is all I can manage anymore.
I was glad I was able to return to work yesterday. I know the ladies in our home office were glad to. They were having to take turns going to stay in my store and getting behind in their work.
I hope to start work on another Alabama quilt soon. This lady who wants one is paying me a little a month for one. Also, a friend gave me the name of a lady who wants one. I have to yet call her. So I will be busy in the near future appliqueing quilt blocks!
Well, got to get up from here and head to work! Hope you all had a great Easter and have a great day today!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
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