Ruby Zane Rivers Buck 1933 August 31 to 2022 May 10

A precious jewel in our family has left this earth for her heavenly reward.  She was indeed a jewel and she was aptly named. When checking for the many definitions tied to the name Ruby here are just a few descriptive words from those definitions: most popular and very durable, most valuable, glows with intensity.  These are spot on for my beloved Aunt Ruby.

 When I was nine years old she was my Sunday School teacher.   I remember a verse that she quoted in our class one Sunday:

Proverbs 17:22 A merry heart doing good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

She said that laughter was like a medicine and it chased away sadness. I've recalled that for so many years and found it to be true throughout my life. I'm 72 now and easily hear her voice and see her face from that Sunday. I remember telling my mother that when Miss Rivers smiled and laughed it shown in her eyes. As a nine year old I actually said that it came out of her eyes.   She was always the same and her eyes really did smile.

 I remember when she married my Uncle Elwin Buck.  He was my everything as an uncle and mentor.  I was devastated and refused to go the wedding and cried for hours.  I understood nothing about marriage and believed that I was losing both of them in my life forever. I just could not explain my feelings of loss to my parents and they were at a loss as how to comfort me.  She was my favorite Sunday School teacher too and I honestly thought that I wouldn't be seeing them again.  I was definitely upset and hurting that night. They married on my tenth birthday in 1959.  Imagine my surprise when they showed up at our home after church a few Sunday nights later and with Shipley's doughnuts. The joy I felt at that moment was unexplainable and it was not for the doughnuts. I am still smiling at that memory.

She was a gift to all who had the pleasure to know her or even meet her. She seemed to radiate love and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ to everyone whether she knew you personally or not. I remember sharing with her my prayer for each of my sons to have a Christian wife.  She made a suggestion and I amended my prayer that day that each marries a practicing Christian woman with a servant’s heart.

 Aunt Ruby was also a prayer warrior, true woman of faith, loved her Bible and often shared its contents.  My siblings and cousins used to say and absolutely believed that she and Uncle Elwin had a direct hot line to heaven and God's ear.

 Aunt Ruby had a Godly wisdom that she freely shared for which I am so thankful. When my precious and dearly beloved Aunt Ruby passed from this life, she awoke in the arms of Christ, her risen Lord and Savior.  Her legacy lives on in each of her children and grandchildren plus her numerous nieces and nephews as well. What a blessing she was and her children were blessed to have her one last Mother’s Day.

Thankfully I have the comfort of knowing that I will see her later. Right now she is laughing and celebrating with the many who greeted her at heaven’s gate. I can see her smiling eyes. 

Memories.

60 Minutes and Andy Rooney about women over 60

I was actually watching 60 Minutes when I heard Andy Rooney share this.  It was many years ago but  this is what Andy Rooney thought about women near or over 60: Over. Thank you to my friend Lisa Starkey Tarnosky for posting this to Facebook iso that we can all enjoy it again.:

“As I grow in age, I value women near or over 60 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why:

A woman near or over 60 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think.

If a woman near or over 60 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting.

Women near or over 60 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot or stab you if they think they can get away with it.

Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated.

Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman near or over 60. She just knows!

Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman near or over 60 is far sexier than her younger counterpart.

Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off if you are a jerk, if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her.

- If you are a “Woman near or over 60” copy, paste, add some pictures of yourself, post/share and keep rocking the best you!

Andy Rooney

2021 November 3 Grandparents Day

Our first ever Grandparents Day at Eric's school was 7:30am to 9am on November 3, 2021. We visited his first-grade classroom and then went to the Library Book fair where he selected four books, we went to the auditorium to have a picture made plus had orange juice and coffee. 

In his classroom the students were asked to write a story about what they enjoy doing with their Grandparent(s) then draw a picture. Eric wrote "I like to bake biscuits with my Dramaw at my house." His picture is of us at the kitchen island with flour and milk. We considered it a masterpiece. 

We shared memories and our 💕 were filled with love and pride.

I am so thankful that we had that special time together and pictures of that wonderful morning especially since my hubby "Pawpaw" become ill on December 3, 2021 and passed away 23 days later.  Those pictures with three generations together are priceless as is the memory of that happy, joy filled morning. 

By the way, I am Dramaw.

Communication using flowers

 I appreciate all florals.

From several years ago and I am still intrigued by the meaning of Flowers. Fond memories of a book come to mind about how the meanings have changed over the years and how messages were communicated through flowers in years past: "The Language of Flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.

NOTES FROM MY 2012 CALENDAR: The Language of Flowers

Carnations: 

Fascination, woman’s love, distinction, divine love, love

Rose: 

Love, Passion, Perfection, Beauty, Spirit Flower

Hydrangea:  

Perseverance, Boastfulness, Vanity, Thank you for understanding

Tulip: Fame

Peony: 

Healing, Bashfulness, Happy life, Happy marriage, Indignation, Good health

Orchid:

Love, Refinement, Symbol for many children, Ecstasy, Promotes strength, Rare beauty

Dahlia:  

Elegance and dignity, Good taste, Forever thine

Gladiolus:  

Strength of character, Sincerity, Natural grace, Remembrance, Infatuation, Splendid beauty, Give me a break, Admiration

Sunflower:  

Power, Adoration, Devotion, You are splendid, Homage

Gerbera Daisy:  

Pretty and strong, Enduring purity

Calla Lily:  

Magnificent beauty, Regal

Lily: 

Purity, Pride, Innocence, Majesty, Wealth

2021 October 15 Jason Lee Sample is 47

 

What a special day to celebrate.  In fact it's what I call a "two-fer". Today my son Jason Sample turns 47 years old plus it's also National Boss Day. 

 Yes he's officially his own boss and working his dream job to making a goal his reality. Seeing his artistic side in action is beautiful to see and makes me proud. 

I've watched him grow from crochet booties to white high tops, to cowboy boots as a child, to desert boots, and now his Chucks with black shoe laces. Life from his first bicycle, to a Jeep, to a motorcycle, to his current trucks. From running in the house to walks in the woods on his property.  From shy looks at girls, to questionable relationships, to finally marriage to my much loved daughter in-love Shaina Sample with a son of his own named Eric. One thing remains the same is with each look in my direction and each smile or hug received really warms my heart and I truly covet and cherish each.  

 I love him more each day and am most proud of him. As mothers do I shared his artistic creations with others on a video to Facebook plus some cherished picture collages.

I pray that he greatly enjoys his special day. He is my one and only "Love Bug".

Peace can be a choice

I choose peace. Discontent and anger steal ones joy. It is also a choice not to hate and is  part of our sinful nature. God gives us a new nature if one chooses to have it. 

I am thanking God today, as always and in all ways. 

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meissner

Two different stories and several lives tied to a scarf might sound odd but it fits. Each story resonated with me and the characters could indeed be real in the telling.

It's hard to express how attached I now feel to this book so just let me share some lines that spoke to me.:

"... the freedom to love or be loved,  though it shook you to your core,  made life exquisite."

"Everything beautiful has a story it wants to tell."

Freedom Writers TV special

I recently watched "Freedom Writers" which is based on a true story. One teacher with passion for education and a classroom of students that were forgotten, neglected, abused, fearful of everyday life with good reason, hurting hearts, and each was valuable to her. This one teacher made a difference and offered a "Taste for Change" opportunity. The school did not provide support so this one teacher even took part-time jobs to buy books, supplies, funded field trips that introduced them to intolerance on a whole new level: WWII, Hitler, the Holocaust, and a young girl near their age by the name of Anne Frank. 

Yes, I am now looking for "The Freedom Writers Diary" published in 1999 to cement the story and sequence of events in my mind. The teacher Erin Gruwell is an educator that every child deserves and she also learned a few lessons for herself along this journey. She taught from the heart.

Daisy Fay and the Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg

What a delight of a book. It is written in the form of a diary beginning when Daisy Fay is 11 though about age 18 in the decade of 1950s in the southern state of Mississippi. 

So many situations for a young girl to experience and her optimism keeps her moving. I can appreciate how she handled her family dynamics, loss, variety of friendships, being a teenager, and the list goes on.

I laughed and smiled throughout the book. Her final words on a given day might seem at odds from what is happening but it is actually part of the charm of the book and so Fannie Flagg as an author.  

I admit to looking for more after the last page. After thinking about it I can accept the ending.  It is so Daisy Fay.

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

I just finished this book that was highly recommended in another Facebook reading group. It's even better than "Salt in the Sea" by the same author  and again I was unaware to this extent of the subject matter.  Twenty million lives lost!! When one thinks of genocide the Holocaust comes immediately to mind and Hitler.  Well Stalin wasn't far behind! 

 It will forever hold a place in my memories and as a favored reading experience. 

It's a work of fiction but based on facts and real stories from actual survivors. Imagine being targeted and sent to labor camps in Siberia because you are educated,  a doctor,  a teacher, stand up for what is right or your freedom, voice your opinion, and to dumb down and control a nation by fear and force tactics! 

It happened.