IN REMEMBRANCE - Marjorie Frances 'Marj' Mortimore (nee Stringer)

Thirty years ago today my darling Mum passed away - I know time eases the pain a little - but this is still a very raw day for me, I recall every awful minute of that day and all the terrible two years of days before that.  I also remember all the lonely days since.

Mum had breast cancer and even though she had a mastectomy, radiation-therapy and chemotherapy the cancer was stronger and came to the surface and it was simply horrendous for her. 

I am still angry at God for allowing such a wonderful, warm, loving and selfless person like Mum to suffer like that but this is something God and I will have to resolve when / if I get to heaven one day.  

I also vividly remember these days the gorgeous, vibrant, cheeky, happy-go-lucky Mum, the artistic floral art Mum, the wonderful cook Mum, the very crafty Mum (especially her knitting and crochet), the brave Mum who taught me how to drive without Dad even knowing, the brilliant gardener Mum, the loving, playful, giving Nana to her numerous grandchildren and how much they love her, how much we all love her.  

We will always miss you Mum. X

Following are a few photos to show you what a stunning woman she was:

c. 1933 Frm L: Mum, her father Les nursing Joan and Beryl

c. 1939 Mum and Dad beside the Murray River at Red Cliffs, Victoria

c.1938 Dad and Mum by the river at Red Cliffs

c. 1938 Mum sitting on one of the sand-hills at Hattah, Victoria

c.1939 Mum at Block 350, Red Cliffs, Victoria

c.1939 Mum on a beach (I love this photo)

c.1940 Mum near Marysville, Victoria

c.1940 My beautiful Mum

12 Jul 1940 Mum and Dad's Wedding Day

1943 Mum with me, I can't believe I was ever that small

1944 Mum with my brother John

1949 Mum with my sister Janette

c.1956 Family picnic by the river

1969 Mum at the Danish Club, Albert Park, Victoria

c.1973 Mum at our home in East Brighton, Victoria

c.1975 Mum at Seaford Beach

1980 Our last Christmas together (Dad tried to rub marks 

off my face on the photo - almost erased me!)

Mum's grave at Robinvale General Cemetery, Victoria

Coincidence?

DID YOU KNOW?

Q. Why do X's represent kisses?

A.   In the Middle Ages most people were illiterate, so could not write their names.  Instead they scrawled an X and kissed it to affirm their sincerity.  The kiss and the cross became synonymous.

X has also long been used as shorthand for Christ (hence  Xmas), so by kissing it one was making a pledge in the name of the Lord.

EARTH HOUR - 8.30pm, 26 March 2011

EARTH HOUR, 8.30pm, Saturday 26th March 2011. 

In under four short years, Earth Hour has become the largest campaign in history for the planet.

It has grown from one city, one country to over 128 countries and territories in 2010.

Earth Hour -- By The People, For The Planet.

If you can achieve this, imagine what else can be done.


START PREPARING NOW - PLEASE TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW 
GET INVOLVED - YOUR PLANET WILL LOVE YOU.

ARE YOU IN?

Are You In? from Environment Victoria on Vimeo.

Mighty Murray River at Robinvale 1986

CRAFT - JUDIKINS STAMPING WITH MICA GLOSS

I love watching JudiKins videos, I hope you do to:

Araluen

ARALUEN

Take this rose, and very gently place it on the

tender, deep

Mosses where our little darling, Araluen, lies asleep

Put the blossom close to baby–kneel with me, my

love, and pray;

We must leave the bird we’ve buried–say goodbye

to her today

In the shadow of our trouble we must go to other

lands,

And the flowers we have fostered will be left to other

hands.

Other eyes will watch them growing–other feet will

softly tread

Where two hearts are nearly breaking, where so

many tears are shed.

Bitter is the world we live in: life and love are mixed

with pain;

We will never see these daisies–never water them

again.

Ah! the saddest thought in leaving baby in this

bush alone

Is that we have not been able on her grave to place

a stone:

We have been too poor to do it; but, my darling,

never mind—

God is in the gracious heavens, and His sun and rain

are kind:

They will dress the spot with beauty, they will

make the grasses grow;

Many winds will lull our birdie, many songs will

come and go.

Here the blue-eyed Spring will linger, here the

shining month will stay,

Like a friend, by Araluen, when we two are far away;

But, beyond the wide, wild waters, we will tread

another shore—

We will never watch this blossom, never see it any

more.

Girl, whose hand at God’s high altar in the dear,

dead year I pressed,

Lean your stricken head upon me—this is still your

lover’s breast!

She who sleeps was first and sweetest—none we have

to take her place!

Empty is the little cradle—absent is the little face.

Other children may be given; but this rose beyond

recall,

But this garland of your girlhood, will be dearest of

them all.

None will ever, Araluen, nestle where you used to be,

In my heart of hearts, you darling, when the world

was new to me;

We were young when you were with us, life and love

were happy things

To your father and your mother ere the angels gave

you wings.

You that sit and sob beside me—you, upon whose

golden head

Many rains of many sorrows have from day to day

been shed;

Who, because your love was noble, faced with me

the lost austere

Ever pressing with it’s hardship on the man of letters

here—

Let me feel that you are near me, lay your hand

within mine own;

You are all I have to live for, now that we are left

alone.

Three there were, but one has vanished.  Sins of

mine have made you weep;

But forgive your baby’s father now that baby is

asleep.

Let us go, for night is falling, leave the darling with

her flowers;

Other hands will come and tend them—other friends

in other hours.

--By Henry Clarence Kendall  (published 1903)  

THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN ABOUT THE POET’S LATE DAUGHTER

QUEENSLAND FLOODS

Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Australians (both human and animal) who are experiencing the devastating floods in the beautiful State of Queensland and now also those being affected in New South Wales.  


My family is very grateful that our dear friends who live in Toowoomba are safe and sound even though they were very nearly directly involved - thank God that didn't eventuate. 


We, in the south, feel so helpless when we see the horror unfolding on the television news, but please know that you are constantly in our thoughts.  

NEW YEAR GREETING

I would like to wish everyone a very happy, very safe, very healthy and very prosperous New Year for 2011. 

Auld Lang Syne         ["for (the sake of) old times".]

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
 and never brought to mind ?


Should old acquaintance be forgot,
 and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
 for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
 and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot, 
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
 from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
 since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
 for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

IN REMEMBRANCE

1989 Jason

With sad reflection today we recall that it is 20 long years since our sweet, happy-go-lucky, nephew & cousin Jason (aged 18) passed away following a terrible motorcycle accident.

We think of him every day and as his birthday is just two days before my son’s birthday we have measured the years by Mark's growth.

The following is our offering in memory of our beautiful boy:

On Children
 by Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.


They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.


They come through you but not from you,


And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts, 


For they have their own thoughts.


You may house their bodies but not their souls,


For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, 


which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.


You may strive to be like them, 


but seek not to make them like you.


For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children


as living arrows are sent forth.


The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, 


and He bends you with His might


that His arrows may go swift and far.


Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;


For even as He loves the arrow that flies, 


so He loves also the bow that is stable.

1975 Jason with Nana & Pa at Robinvale

1984 Jason & Samuel at our home, Robinvale

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our family 
(old & new), friends & followers a great day 
and that you all  

Love & Best Wishes from Evelyn & Family X

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 1 DAY TO GO

Luke 2

6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Painting by Evelyn 

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 6 DAYS TO GO

Luke 2

The Birth of Jesus

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 

COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS - 10 DAYS TO GO

JOYOUS CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

PRAISE INDEED

A lovely lady sent me the following clip, I just had to share it and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did: