Getting Ready . . .

What a blessing to be able to travel to Boston for the Vision Forum Reformation 500 celebration! This event (July 1 - 4) is a wonderful opportunity to experience God's faithful providence toward His people over the centuries. There will be historical re-enactors, stimulating lecture sessions with some of our favorite godly teachers, fellowship with families we have met before and new friends we will make, and the historic Boston atmosphere for the 4th of July.

Daughter Molly's family is traveling by SUV, and they leave on Saturday to do some sightseeing along the way. Danny and I are taking the Amtrak (one of our favorite ways to travel!). Our train leaves on Monday afternoon, so there is much to do!

Since part of our train trip involves travel on a commuter line on which there will be no allowance for checked luggage, we decided to ship most of our clothes for the week. Sweet Sarah came over to help with ironing all my dresses . . .

. . . and mending needed items! What a blessing she is! Sarah's family loves the Vision Forum events so much, ever since we all piled in in 2007 to go to Jamestown. But this time, her family has decided (wisely!) to stay home and welcome Discher baby #8, who is due about the same time! This is a blessing they wouldn't miss for anything, and Grandmother only hopes Grandbaby #23 waits until we return to make his/her appearance!! Thank you for your invaluable help, Sarah!

Here Danny is helpin pack the UPS hanging container -- hopefully, everything will stay on the rack and still be nicely pressed! It is a funny feeling to place most of your clothes in a box and send them away days before you leave! Trusting all arrives in good shape!

Taking care of last minute details. We have discovered another family we met at Jamestown will be in the very same train car as we will!! We are looking forward to fellowship along the way. In addition, Susan, daughter Molly's mother-in-law, will be traveling along with us on the train, so the trip going will be a pleasant part of the whole experience! Thank you, Lord, for the opportunities You provide for us to meet, fellowship with, and develop lasting relationships with families of like precious faith! Hoping to update during the adventure. . . . !

A Special Celebration Part 2

Well, by now, diligent traveling companions have faithfully recorded for interested family and friend our adventures on the road trip to North Carolina. So I will just post a few more pictures, especially in honor of my Aunt Mary Lee, the honoree of our trip!

I remember Aunt Mary Lee when she lived in the Atlanta area with her first husband and her son. I vividly remember going to visit just after her husband had passed away, leaving her a grieving young widow. Even in those circumstances, she was a picture of peace and trust in the Lord.

Later, she married Uncle Clarence, who became a favorite of ours when we visited the family home town. He was a character, and into "rasslin' ". He didn't want to miss his rasslin' shows! He brought Aunt Mary Lee companionship for her older years.

When my little sister, Ginger, passed away at age 19, Aunt Mary Lee expressed her grief through poetry, "Sweet Little Ginger Girl". If I can get a copy of that sweet poem, I will post it. She inspired me that I, too, could use poetic verse to express what the Lord had placed in my heart. Some day, I will post some home-grown poetry.

When my father passed away a year and a half ago, Aunt Mary Lee broke down in sadness for her "little brother". I had not ever thought of my father in that way. To me, he was always a powerful and forceful man of God, but to her he was her little brother. I loved her even more that day.


I am so glad we were able to take the trip to honor her and to bring my mother there for a good reunion. It was a special time, seeing these generations of my family together. Thank you, Lord, for your faithfulness to our generations.

Aunt Mary Lee, on her special day. I think she is more spry than I am!

Aunt Mary Lee had one request -- that I play "Indian Love Call" for her. Well, I couldn't find sheet music for it, so I had to resort to "YouTube", listening over and over to Jeanette MacDonald singing it in the old black and white movie, "Rose Marie". She said that many, many (well over 60) years ago, for her first wedding, she had wanted someone to sing or play it and could find no one who could in the backwoods of Georgia.

It was not an easy task, but we did it! Abigail played the echo on her pennywhistle, and Margaret Anne and Callie did the "ooohing". It was beautiful -- at least to her! She was in tears and asked us to do it again, so we did! (But I won't be sad if I don't hear it again for a long, long time!)

Kitty and Markie with another of my father's sisters, their great-great Aunt Benita.

Callie and Margaret Anne give Uncle Bob a great big hug.

My sweetie on the right, and my oldest cousin, Theron Teagle, who is close to my father's age. Daddy was 10 out of 12 children, and Ted's mother, Aunt Evelyn, was oldest, so Ted and Daddy were like brothers. We love to hear him tell stories!

Every family has an eccentric (actually, our family seems to have more than our share!), and this is our long-time friend, Bob, who lives in Charlotte. We had not seen him in decades! I guess, as a child, I got the impression he was an eccentric because he lived a very different life. He was (I suppose still is) a great artist and musician and has a doctorate degree in French. He told us he reads the Bible in French and prays in French. It is almost like his first language. He has lived in Paris and traveled much abroad. Hey, maybe he thinks I'm the eccentric! It was good to see him.

On the way home, we stopped in the lovely city of Charleston, SC, and the girls and Danny did a tour of downtown. Mother and I stayed in the RV, feeding the parking meter kitty! Here they are in front of one of the memorial stones of the Confederacy.

Night falls on the road, and next day . . . home! Thank you, Lord, for these journeys of remembrance. Thank you for your faithfulness to Your plan for families. Thank you for your mercy on our family!

For a more detailed travelogue and young'n point of view, visit these sweet blogs:

http://www.thedischerfamily.blogspot.com/

http://www.thestricklenfamily.blogspot.com/

A Special Celebration Part 1

Last month, we received an invitation to join my father's family, the Harrises of North Carolina, for a special celebration of my dear Aunt Mary Lee's 90th birthday. We immediately called my mother to see if she would like to make the trip with us, since she and Aunt Mary Lee have been like sisters for well over 60 years. Well, when the word got out to the grandchildren, decisions were made! Six of the granddaughters would make this trip -- 4 Stricklen girls and 2 Dischers. With Great-grandmother Harris, Grandmother (me) and 6 girls, Granddaddy was outnumbered by 8 to one! We said he was our chauffeur/bodyguard for a girls' weekend away! Of course, we had to pamper him, too!


Off we went up I-95 -- here is Granddaddy with his "girls" at breakfast on the first morning in a lovely campground. I was taking the picture from the RV, since getting up and down the steps is not easy right now!

Every trip has to include one stop at Cracker Barrel, at least! Since they are so good about letting RVs stay in their parking lot, we have no hesitation to give them our patronage! Most of our meals, however, are in the RV, with many preparations done at home and goodies baked by these accomplished bakers -- even Margaret Anne contributes to the treats! She is as accomplished a baker as the older girls.

Our first major stop was at a Family Integrated Churches conference in central North Carolina. I don't know why no one remembered to get the camera out, but we don't have pictures from it! We enjoyed good fellowship and good barbeque at our friends' farm, the Allen Smiths.

Then it was on to see my Uncle Charles, my mother's brother. Mother had not planned to visit him, but Danny insisted that we make the time. I am so thankful for my precious husband, who loves my family like his own. Above are Mother, Uncle Charles, and his wife, Aunt Polly. What a good, though short, visit we had!

Mother discovered that Uncle Charles' cancer has resurfaced, and he is undergoing another round of treatments. He was physically very weak when we came, but he brightened up to be able to spend unexpected precious moments with his "little" sister. What a joy to see them together!
Uncle Charles and Aunt Polly were delighted when the girls brought out instruments and played and sang for them! My mother's family played bluegrass music together many, many years ago. Before World War II, it was their favorite Saturday evening activity to gather around -- my Grandfather Whitley, Uncle Charles, Uncle Lloyd, Uncle Bascom, and sometimes other relatives, with Grandmother Whitley at the piano -- singing and laughing and strengthening family bonds.

When I realized how ill Uncle Charles was, I knew the Lord would give strength to make the walk to the house to see him and Aunt Polly. He hugged me and cried, saying how much our family means to him. What a poignant time it was! Thank God, after years of not being sure of his relationship to the Lord, we were able to hear Uncle Charles give a clear testimony of his salvation and faith in Jesus as his Savior!

Then it was on to . . . Uncle Bob's!!

Uncle Bob is the family character on my father's side. When I was a child, every family holiday and get-together was made so special because we knew Uncle Bob would tell stories and crack jokes and generally lift everyone's spirits. He is just a year younger than my daddy, number 11 of 12 children. He is the "keeper of the flame" for the family now -- his home is filled with pictures and memorabilia so that he can pass on to new generations the stories of our ancestors. Here (above) he and Mother and Abby enjoy dinner at his favorite BBQ place, where they all know Uncle Bob!

Sweet girls enjoy some of that great Carolina BBQ!

Coming up . . . we arrive at the celebration for Aunt Mary Lee, the reason for the trip! Thank you, Lord, for our LARGE and precious family and for the faithful multi-generational vision that has been the guiding force on both sides of the family. I am a blessed link in that chain!