Weekend Recap--Part 2 (Pickin' and Grinnin')

Can ANYBODY help me with these videos? I can't get them to load in this post. I'm going to try just putting a link to them. I hope you'll still take a minute to go watch them!

I wanted to share a couple of videos from our family reunion this past weekend. As I said in my last post, this is what I grew up on. The sound has changed a little in the last year or so, as some of our singers and musicians have passed away, but it's still my favorite music to listen to. Of course, I'm a little biased!

Over in the Gloryland: This song is now considered our "family song", because my cousin, Eddie, included it on the CD he recorded. When he recorded it, he had both sides of his family go to the studio and record the choir vocals on it. He's the one singing lead, and is probably the most talented vocalist of the bunch! I would put his vocal abilities up against anybody!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissab1274/4766781628/in/photostream/

He'll Roll You Over the Tide: Another oldie, but goodie. Aunt Lucy, Uncle Amos (who passed away in September), Pam, and Eddie have been singing this as long as I can remember. It was this song that I clung to last summer, when Tracy was laid off from his job.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/melissab1274/4766913750/in/photostream/

Weekend Recap

This past Saturday, my daddy's side of the family gathered for our annual reunion. The Jones reunion started in 1973 when my grandparents, Big Mama and Big Daddy, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. Since then, we've always gathered the first Saturday in July, since that was closest to their anniversary on July 1. This year was bittersweet, as we've lost three precious loved ones since last year. However, it is important that our family gather for happy occasions, as well, and we did our best to smile!

There's always a table full of food, and lots of relatives to visit with, but the best part to me is the singing. Every time we get together, no matter the occasion, we sing. I was raised on gospel music, with a country and bluegrass flavor. While I enjoy all types of music, especially southern gospel and country, my family's singing is without a doubt, my favorite. Some people might consider it redneck or hillbilly singing, but to me, it's our heritage...something I want to pass down to my children. In fact, before Matthew was born, I prayed that he would have the same love of music that I do. Not necessarily that he would have talent, but that he would have a love for music. My Aunt Lucy sums it up well when she says, "There may be somebody else who loves to sing as much as I do, but nobody who loves it more." My sentiments, exactly!

We also have a tremendous amount of talent in our family. We've had lots of guitar and mandolin pickers and piano players, and all the brothers and sisters, and many of the grandchildren (that's my generation) can sing harmony by ear. There is no harmony like family harmony! I remember sitting at a funeral a few years ago, and just weeping, not so much out of sadness, but out of sheer amazement at the amount of talent that was on the stage, and that they were all MY family! I am so blessed to part of them.

Here are some photos from the day, and I'm working on a couple of videos, if Flickr and/or Blogger will ever cooperate with me!

This is what happens when cousins get a hold of the camera!

My cousin, "sister", and BFF, Tricia

My little branch of the family tree

Grandmommy & her boys

Matthew and Bethany

A new generation of singers (The one seated is Tricia's daughter)

And the original ones...

4th of July

Happy 4th of July everybody!

Hope you've had as much fun as we've had!

My Saturday Morning Project

This is what I've worked on this morning. I was in Walmart yesterday morning, and it was relatively calm, so I browsed a bit. I ran across this planter, and thought it would be perfect for my bathroom, to sit on the area around the tub. I have never had much luck with indoor plants, but I decided to try, because I liked the pot so much! I looked around and found this beautiful orchid that was inexpensive, and the visited some friends up the road who have a nursery and found the varigated ivy to put around it. They told me the ivy should fill in within a week. I hope I haven't killed it all before then!

By the way, I know some of you are still waiting to see photos of my bathroom remodel. I am hoping to finish all the decor in the next couple of weeks. Just consider this a sneak peek!

Decorating Dilemma

Now that things are about to slow down a bit, I'm looking for a project. I think I want to paint these planters that I have on my front porch. I bought them because I really liked the shape, but the color wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be when I got them home. They really don't show up against the red brick that well. Here's a close-up, and then a shot of one of them next to the door and the brick. I had thought about black, but I'm not sure. Suggestions.....please, please, please????

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

Hello friends! You all know about our family ordeals of the last several weeks that have kept me busy....well, here's the next thing on my plate. Before school was out (for me at least), we started Vacation Bible School. This was my first year as director, and it was a lot of hard work, but I think it turned out great! Best of all, we had four children saved during VBS, and many, many more seeds planted.

We stuck with Baptist tradition and used the Lifeway theme--Saddle Ridge Ranch. Here are some photos of our decorations for any of you who may be looking for ideas for your own VBS! If you want more detailed info, please feel free to email me or ask me a question in the comments.

Too Soon

Tonight I beg you, my sweet blog friends, for your prayers. Less than one week after losing our Uncle Runt, our family has lost another loved one. This time, my cousin, Garland Jones. He was only 48 or 49. Died unexpectedly early Wednesday morning, and we really don't know what happened to him. Our family is in a complete state of shock. He was just here on Sunday, spoke and sang at Uncle Runt's funeral, then traveled home on Monday. As much as the extended family is hurting, however, it is NOTHING compared to what his parents and children are going through. This is the third son Uncle Mikey and Aunt Frances have lost. No one ever expects to bury their child, much less three of them. If you have a moment, please remember them in your prayers.

Back in a few days, hopefully with much happier things to post!