Photos gather specific points in time

Photos are fascinating because they show points in time, always in the past.  They bring forth old memories and perhaps even old dreams.  They keep alive long-departed family members and places we have visited.   For those reasons alone, each of us should feel free to allow ourselves to be photographed.  Forget the fact that we will never be totally pleased with our own pictures - do it for your family and friends so they can remember you.

While we were in Alaska, we took several photos of a baby with his daddy, which the mommy liked.  Then it dawned on her that her son might someday want to see what she looked like when he was a baby, so she began allowing herself to be photographed.  Ironically, it was the daddy that passed away a few years later... making the pictures of him very precious.

Much of our enjoyment of Facebook is seeing photos of our family and friends.  I like to "save" photos in albums (folders) on my computer, so I can enjoy them later.  I'm thinking about making DVD slideshows of some of the photos Howard and I have taken in order to share them with family members.  I've not worked with DVDs so it'll probably take me awhile to figure out how to do it. 

When my parents closed their home, I became the keeper of a lot of their old pictures, so from time to time, I scan some of them and send them as email greetings.  We also have old pictures from Howard's family. Scanners are great at enlarging small photos.  As an example, here's one of my brother Carl and I with some of our Seaton cousins; Carl was standing and I was looking away from the camera.  It was taken in 1941 on Uncle Ralph Seaton's farm.  At that time, much of the land close to Branson, Missouri belonged to Uncle Ralph and Aunt Grace.

Until later, Marge

........
Marjorie Seaton Marshall
Home page: www.spaciousskies.me/home/
Howard's Blog: www.spaciousskies.me/howard/

Bears in the Back Yard

We lived in Klawock, Alaska from 1999 to 2004.  Klawock is in southern southeast Alaska, on Prince of Wales Island, much of which is forest land.  Howard was pastor of Prince of Peace Assembly of God, and our home was in the church's parsonage.  We made many friends and it was hard to leave when we retired back to Kansas City, Kansas.

One of my favorite memories was when a black bear and her 3 cubs visited our back yard, munching on the berries there.  The "back yard" sounds like a lawn, but it was simply a bushy area and the ground was very rough, so we didn't walk in it, and had no idea that berries grew there.  For the rest of the story, go to http://www.spaciousskies.us/Bears/.

Marge

60 Years

Howard and I celebrated 60 years of marriage on June 23, 2012.  His comment was "I ain't never been that old before!"  We've had lots of experiences and done a lot of traveling, and now we find ourselves slowing down big time. 

Our daughter Janet drove us to the nearest Red Lobster Restaurant for our dinner.  Howard ordered a lobster, mostly to tease me because I'm so squeamish about eating a critter who was alive until they cooked it.  His opinion was that it was a lot of work, but tasted good.  Jan and I chose to eat regular seafood.  I mentioned to our server that we were celebrating 60 years, so when she presented the bill she also gave us a very nice card signed by each of the other servers.  A nice touch!

    To finish 

From start














Our three children, Larry, Janet, and David have given us 8 grandchildren (one in heaven) and, so far, 9 great-grandchildren.  They all are a blessing to us, along with two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren-in-law.

You can find Howard's blog at www.spaciousskies.us/howard/ if you wish.  He keeps busy painting landscapes and I add them to his slideshow page at www.picturetrail.com/marshallministry. 

We are both on Facebook:  Howard W Marshall and Marjorie Seaton Marshall.

Marge Marshall

"Home Away From Home" book is online

The book has been a long-lasting project, and it's now complete. You can find it at www.spaciousskies.us/HospHome/ The book is printable, as are other documents which serve as Appendices ... they're listed below the "Home Away from Home" icon. We have a lot of pictures too, so I've made a slideshow of them. You will be able to download any that you'd like to keep. Go to the slideshow at http://www.photoshow.com/watch/aS3kG4nB

Marge

In memory of my dad

My dad, Walter Hobart Seaton, was born 106 years ago, in 1905. He as the youngest of 6 children. Here he is with his mother, Martha Jane Caton Seaton. I think he was about six years old when the photo was made.

He was born in Crane, Missouri. My four siblings and I were blessed to have him for our father.

Dad passed away in 1982, and is buried beside my mom, Dorothy Elizabeth Vaughn Seaton, in the Lyons, Kansas, Municipal Cemetery.

Flag of the United States of America

Hello. Remember me? Some people call me Old Glory, others call me the Star-Spangled Banner, but whatever they call me, I am your Flag, the flag of the United States of America. Something has been bothering me, so I thought I might talk it over with you—because it is about you and me.

I remember some time ago, people would line up on both sides of the street to watch the parade, and naturally I was leading everyone, proudly waving in the breeze. When your daddy saw me coming, he immediately removed his hat and placed it against his left shoulder so that the hand was directly over his heart—remember? And you, I remember, were standing there, straight as a soldier. You didn't have a hat, but you were giving the right salute. Remember your little sister? Not to be outdone, she was saluting the same as you, with her right hand over her heart—remember?

What happened? I’m still the same old flag. Oh, I've added a few more stars since you were a boy, and a lot more blood has been shed since those parades of long ago. But now, somehow I don't feel as proud as I used to feel. When I come down your street, you just stand there with your hands in your pockets. You may give me a small glance, and then you look away. I see children running around you shouting, they don't seem to know who I am.

I saw one man take his hat off, then he looked around, and when he didn't see anybody else take off his hat, he quickly put his on again.

Is it a sin to be patriotic today? Have you forgotten what I stand for, and where I have been? Anzio, Guadalcanal, Korea and Vietnam?

Take a look at the memorial honor rolls, and see the names of those patriotic Americans who gave their lives to keep this republic free. When you salute me, you are actually saluting them.

Well, it won't be long until I’ll be coming down your street again. So when you see me, stand straight and place your hand over your heart, and I’ll know that you remembered. I’ll salute you by waving back! -Author Unknown

Great-grandkids

Here we are with our daughter Janet and all 8 of our great-grandchildren. They are a fun bunch of kids! We always appreciate their parents for bringing them to visit us.