Sunday, June 28, 2009

Some one had a birthday today!

Happy Birthday 1st Jackson!


Blowing out the birthday candle with Mommy's help!

His own cake to eat!!! Only a face a Grandma could love (well maybe Mommy too, and Aunt Lori, and Aunt Reta etc etc)

Of course Grandma bought him a present that had to do with Disney/Pixar Cars. His own McQueen!

more pictures later! I took over 100!

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Leonard Warnick Johnson - Oct. 17, 1915 to June 10, 1991

Today is the 18th anniversary of my Dad's passing.

I'm reposting this tribute I did in 2007. Thanks to those who posted their thoughts back in 2007.

In remembrance of Dad here are a few precious photos and memories.


1967

Of course to my sister, my brother, and myself he was the best Dad! He was always there for you when you needed him and never let his family down. If you needed a few dollars before pay day, call Dad. He always had a few in his pocket for you. If you needed a ride when you car was broke down, call Dad. When I had my youngest dauthter, Lori, in August of 1990 and had the baby blues, he would come and take us both for a ride and buy us lunch. He always found someplace nice for us to eat lunch such as the park. I never told him how much he helped me. Here are few pictures of me with my Dad!



1970


1962


1979


He was always fun when we were kids. Whether it was making homemade ice cream, building us a skating rink in the back yard, or listening to our music with us, he made childhood fun! He never had much money but he made up for it by just being our Dad. We love you and miss you everyday!


1971


1961


1966

I'm sure he is smiling down from heaven at his beautiful grandchildren.


Christian, John, Josh, Sara, Amanda, & Lori (1991)


He was the best Pap Pap a kid could have. He always had a dollar for the kiddy rides at the mall. In his later years, he ate lunch at the GC Murphy lunch counter everyday and if we showed up he would always buy us a milkshake. He never worried that they came to play at his house and built a fort in the living room or put the race track down the steps so they could race their matchbox cars! There was always something good to eat at Pap's and many a time you would find one of the kids on his lap enjoying a bowl of cereal or ice cream!

He didn't have many years to share with his grandchildren until he went to heaven but I know he left behind many precious memories.

He was also a good son and brother. He came from a large family of 11 and grow up during the depression.


1937

He played baseball when he was young and was known as "Slugger".


1947

He only went to school until 8th grade and then worked at the local paper mill until joining the Army in 1940. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands during WW2 as a dockhand and cook.


1942

His first marriage ended after WW2 when his then wife left him and he lived with his mother and took care of her until he married my Mom in January 1953.


1966


1976

My sister Reta was born in 1954, my brother Tom in 1956, and me in 1959. He worked for most of his years at Kelly Springfield Tire Company. He retired in 1978. Unfortnately my mom, whom he called Dolly, died in 1980 and wasn't here to enjoy retirement with him. He then took up a new passion, Rope Making.


1986

He attended craft shows as a demonstrator of old fashioned rope making. There were always lots of people ready to watch his demonstration.




He passed away on June 10, 1991 after a courageous battle with heart diesase and diabetes. We are all the richer for knowing him and wait patiently until the time we will see him again in heaven.

Here are a few more photos of our Dad.


1935


1933





Saturday, June 06, 2009

Remembering those who served on this Day of Days - June 6, 1944

I'm reposting from last year my post on D-Day June 6th.

Remember those who served.

Here's a sad article.

"They are leaving us every day now, the men and women of these war years; soon we, their children, will be alone in the world they saved for us" Bob Greene - Our Finest Hour





Here's a clip from the HBO show Band of Brothers. The language is a little rough but I'm sure we can all understand these men were facing life and death. The clip is from part 1. The date is June 5, 1944. Easy Company led by Lt. Richard Winters will soon be taking part in history as they jump behind enemy lines. It always astounds me how much gear the men had to carry.



The most moving part to me is when Lt. Winters tells his men "God bless you" and then helps each man off the ground into a standing position. As he does this he looks each of them right in the eye. He knows he won't see some of them alive again. It gives me chills. The depiction of the planes taking off is also moving. It brings the whole event to life. Then at the end of the clip Lt. Winters sits in the doorway of the plane and looks out on all the planes and ships that are taking part in this day of days.


Thank you to all the veterans past and present who have fought for our country so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

Ronald Reagan 40th Anniversary of D-Day Speech
June 6, 1984 - Pointe du Hoc, France



"If you were to have asked him - which I don't think we ever did - what was the best accomplishment of his lifetime, I am quite certain he would have said, without hesitation: serving in the United States Army in the greatest conflict in the history of man." Bob Greene - Our Finest Hour