Say a little prayer
Kneeling with head bowed low
Bring peace into my heart
Dear Jesus, let me know
Troubled heart and tear filled eyes
The pages become a blur
Come lift me up and sing
Praising you in wonder
Oh, Redeemer my heart is yours
Your sacrifice for me so pure
I open my heart to accept you
You have promised eternal treasure
Amen
Cathy Windham
4/12/14
Smiles held in the heart
Smiles held in the heart
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Friday, May 16, 2014
It was just another Friday evening. It was so perfect and spontaneous.
Kids playing on their bikes. The skateboard ramp and tree house kept them busy for hours. A jug of pink lemonade and plastic cups sat at the edge of the porch.
We sat and chatted sitting in old comfy adirondack rockers and sipped on laced drinks. Laughing together and swatting a bug or two.
The sun was setting behind the palm. It looked like black daggers against a pink curtain.
Music made
it feel like a tropical vacation hot spot.
I look at these kids and just love what I see in their faces. A deep dimple, freckles, shiny tendrils in a messy pony tail, bare feet.
I realize at that very moment this is my life.
My everything. It is such a wonderful rush that I want to capture how I see it so I will not forget.
As if I ever would!
Cathy Windham
5/16/17
Kids playing on their bikes. The skateboard ramp and tree house kept them busy for hours. A jug of pink lemonade and plastic cups sat at the edge of the porch.
We sat and chatted sitting in old comfy adirondack rockers and sipped on laced drinks. Laughing together and swatting a bug or two.
The sun was setting behind the palm. It looked like black daggers against a pink curtain.
Music made
it feel like a tropical vacation hot spot.
I look at these kids and just love what I see in their faces. A deep dimple, freckles, shiny tendrils in a messy pony tail, bare feet.
I realize at that very moment this is my life.
My everything. It is such a wonderful rush that I want to capture how I see it so I will not forget.
As if I ever would!
Cathy Windham
5/16/17
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Military Brat
Military Brat
I remember climbing up
into the tree house my brothers had built.
It was so amazing to sit up there and look out far in all directions. We lived on a farm in Hampton, Va.
I was about three years old. Coming down I decided I needed to see where I was going so I cautiously put my feet on the board nailed to the tree with my back to the trunk. I do not remember falling. The story was my brother yelling to mom,
"Cathy's dead!!"
We had a lot of fun growing up on that farm.
Somewhere I have a black and white photograph of me standing by a pasture.
I look like a refugee in a coat, black buckle up rubber boots that were too big and a scarf tied over my head and under my chin. Mom called it a "babushka!" To this day when I see a floral scarf I think of me along that dirt road.
We had a sheep named Petunia. She was tormented by us. I remember my brother being butted by her up against the fence. He deserved it I'm certain,
On another occasion, he and I were in the pasture and a cow or bull ran towards us. I got away and my brother fell into a ditch. The animal jumped over him.
We played in the woods.
He and I would race up and down the dirt road to our only neighbor who lived at the end.
We fed the chickens and avoided snakes.
We got poison ivy and got stung by a swarm of bees playing blind mans bluff.
We loved getting filthy.
We considered it fun!
I was badly injured after taking a fall from a motor scooter. I remember being wrapped in a sheet and being in a car lying in my mom's arms.
My dad brought me a little stuffed wire hair terrier dog when I was in the hospital. It is one of my most prized possessions.
We built our own covered wagon! Later that kind neighbor built us a real one when we had to move away.
I consider my childhood as being wonderful.
It was traumatic at times because of my tomboy ways. I was the fourth of five. "Scrappy and tough!" I was a military brat and so very proud to have had those farm memories!
Cathy Windham
5/14/14
I remember climbing up
into the tree house my brothers had built.
It was so amazing to sit up there and look out far in all directions. We lived on a farm in Hampton, Va.
I was about three years old. Coming down I decided I needed to see where I was going so I cautiously put my feet on the board nailed to the tree with my back to the trunk. I do not remember falling. The story was my brother yelling to mom,
"Cathy's dead!!"
We had a lot of fun growing up on that farm.
Somewhere I have a black and white photograph of me standing by a pasture.
I look like a refugee in a coat, black buckle up rubber boots that were too big and a scarf tied over my head and under my chin. Mom called it a "babushka!" To this day when I see a floral scarf I think of me along that dirt road.
We had a sheep named Petunia. She was tormented by us. I remember my brother being butted by her up against the fence. He deserved it I'm certain,
On another occasion, he and I were in the pasture and a cow or bull ran towards us. I got away and my brother fell into a ditch. The animal jumped over him.
We played in the woods.
He and I would race up and down the dirt road to our only neighbor who lived at the end.
We fed the chickens and avoided snakes.
We got poison ivy and got stung by a swarm of bees playing blind mans bluff.
We loved getting filthy.
We considered it fun!
I was badly injured after taking a fall from a motor scooter. I remember being wrapped in a sheet and being in a car lying in my mom's arms.
My dad brought me a little stuffed wire hair terrier dog when I was in the hospital. It is one of my most prized possessions.
We built our own covered wagon! Later that kind neighbor built us a real one when we had to move away.
I consider my childhood as being wonderful.
It was traumatic at times because of my tomboy ways. I was the fourth of five. "Scrappy and tough!" I was a military brat and so very proud to have had those farm memories!
Cathy Windham
5/14/14
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Dreams Come True
Sunset Cruz
I was looking through some photos today. Fun days in years past when we had so many dreams of the future.
Boating was one of them.
I remember sitting at a restaurant along the intracoastal waterway in Palm Valley, FL. It was late afternoon and high tide. The sun sparkled on the water as people enjoyed the music, food and the beauty of the place.
Laid back with a cold corona and lime, I took a sip and said pointing with the tip of the bottle toward the dock, "if I had a boat it would be just like that one!"
It was a beautiful cabin cruiser tied up to the pier.
There was room aboard for several people.
We decided to walk down and inspect her closer.
Wow. It was even more impressive up close. Clean white surfaces and a beautiful deep green wide stripe along the side.
The back of the deck was enclosed with a tent awning in a green that matched the hull. The instrument panel was compact and to one side.
Across from it was a bench seat and at the rear another seating area across the stern. A swim platform made it easy to get on and off.
I could only imagine how pretty it was down below were there were sleeping areas a small galley and head.
Holding hands we strolled along the weathered boards and talked. I never dreamed he would ever want a boat. Years of sea duty in the Navy can ruin ones opinion of ever enjoying small craft life.
Over the course of several weeks we found ourselves still thinking of that boat.
It was one if those times in your life that you wonder what have you been working so hard for all your life. Is it just to pay bills and wonder of your future. Will you ever win the struggle to have a few days of fun? Other people manage somehow to do it. Could we?
It is sort of scary doing something that frivolous.
I can tell you though, that the first time behind the throttle of that boat, out on the flat glass water surface, on a hot afternoon was thrilling!
Many a day was spent just cruising the St. John's river.
I'd get off work on a Friday and meet him at the dock. Change out if my scrubs and put on a bathing suit or jeans.
We'd go out a little way and drop anchor to watch the sun set. Deep pink and orange sun made the sky look on fire.
We went as far as Lake George eighty miles south and also up to Cumberland Island and down the intracoastal waterway to St. Augustine. Each outing an adventure.
I was scared to death at times, too! Violent thunderstorms can erupt and charge up the river so quickly. We ran aground a few times and of course there were the times when we ran out of gas!
Thank God for great friends who came to the rescue! You know who you are!!
Camping aboard the boat with our niece and nephew and grandkids. Life lessons learned and to be proud of.
Seeing beautiful wildlife along the way. Dolphins, egrets, hawks, gators!
Falling overboard, yep, me! Too funny now as I remember and so maddening then!
Crying the day our beautiful boat sank while it was tied to the pier at NAS Jacksonville during a hurricane.
Replacing it with another beautiful craft.
Taking it to Key West several times and hanging out with our family as the sun set on a perfect day in paradise. Looking overboard into the crystal aqua water enjoying the moment.
Parking it in the yard when times were tight and health not good.
Cleaning it until it sparkled.
Selling it when we couldn't boat anymore.
My memories of those years hold me captivated.
We achieved a dream as a couple rather than just wished it.
Cathy Windham
5/4/14
I was looking through some photos today. Fun days in years past when we had so many dreams of the future.
Boating was one of them.
I remember sitting at a restaurant along the intracoastal waterway in Palm Valley, FL. It was late afternoon and high tide. The sun sparkled on the water as people enjoyed the music, food and the beauty of the place.
Laid back with a cold corona and lime, I took a sip and said pointing with the tip of the bottle toward the dock, "if I had a boat it would be just like that one!"
It was a beautiful cabin cruiser tied up to the pier.
There was room aboard for several people.
We decided to walk down and inspect her closer.
Wow. It was even more impressive up close. Clean white surfaces and a beautiful deep green wide stripe along the side.
The back of the deck was enclosed with a tent awning in a green that matched the hull. The instrument panel was compact and to one side.
Across from it was a bench seat and at the rear another seating area across the stern. A swim platform made it easy to get on and off.
I could only imagine how pretty it was down below were there were sleeping areas a small galley and head.
Holding hands we strolled along the weathered boards and talked. I never dreamed he would ever want a boat. Years of sea duty in the Navy can ruin ones opinion of ever enjoying small craft life.
Over the course of several weeks we found ourselves still thinking of that boat.
It was one if those times in your life that you wonder what have you been working so hard for all your life. Is it just to pay bills and wonder of your future. Will you ever win the struggle to have a few days of fun? Other people manage somehow to do it. Could we?
It is sort of scary doing something that frivolous.
I can tell you though, that the first time behind the throttle of that boat, out on the flat glass water surface, on a hot afternoon was thrilling!
Many a day was spent just cruising the St. John's river.
I'd get off work on a Friday and meet him at the dock. Change out if my scrubs and put on a bathing suit or jeans.
We'd go out a little way and drop anchor to watch the sun set. Deep pink and orange sun made the sky look on fire.
We went as far as Lake George eighty miles south and also up to Cumberland Island and down the intracoastal waterway to St. Augustine. Each outing an adventure.
I was scared to death at times, too! Violent thunderstorms can erupt and charge up the river so quickly. We ran aground a few times and of course there were the times when we ran out of gas!
Thank God for great friends who came to the rescue! You know who you are!!
Camping aboard the boat with our niece and nephew and grandkids. Life lessons learned and to be proud of.
Seeing beautiful wildlife along the way. Dolphins, egrets, hawks, gators!
Falling overboard, yep, me! Too funny now as I remember and so maddening then!
Crying the day our beautiful boat sank while it was tied to the pier at NAS Jacksonville during a hurricane.
Replacing it with another beautiful craft.
Taking it to Key West several times and hanging out with our family as the sun set on a perfect day in paradise. Looking overboard into the crystal aqua water enjoying the moment.
Parking it in the yard when times were tight and health not good.
Cleaning it until it sparkled.
Selling it when we couldn't boat anymore.
My memories of those years hold me captivated.
We achieved a dream as a couple rather than just wished it.
Cathy Windham
5/4/14
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