“For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition that I made to him.”
1 Samuel 1:27 ESV
Any healthy male within a certain wide range of ages can, in a matter of minutes, become a father…but it requires a lifetime of love, sacrifice, and commitment to be a Dad.
~Butch Richardson
I believe all childbirth is miraculous and all children are a gift. Many of you know our story, as we were married almost 13 years when our only child was born. It is a story much like that of Hannah and Samuel (today’s opening verse), as prayer and God’s plan did not line up or adjust to the medical prognosis. And look at those 3 additional little smiling faces! I think their daddy was originally on the giraffe.
I think everyone was saying “cheese”!
Pam’s dad is nearing 94 and lives at home, about 10 miles from our house. If you’ve followed everyday living very long you will feel like you know him. An incredible gentleman and wonderful dad, grandad and great grandad. You might enjoy reading more about him in this Veteran’s Day post.
I know, those aggravating Canada geese, but I did give a mother goose and her little ones a spot on Mother’s Day. I felt that this family group was gathering for Father’s Day and all were following the patriarch. I watched for a while and it was follow the leader. Geese do mate for life.
Friday was flag day. We ordered a new flag from Allegiance Flag Supply and it arrived just in time. Their flags are hand sewn in Charleston, SC, and the quality is truly obvious.
Last week I mentioned several challenges to blackberry picking. If I could ride the ATV along the trail and pick ripe ones like these from the ends of the vines it might be an option. But still, those thorns are nasty!
One of our readers last week made an excellent point, somewhat related to the things I mentioned about gathering blackberries…Why is it that good stuff, such as fruits, berries, or other desirable plants are often smothered by undesirables, like poison ivy? I began to notice and sure enough, it is the case more often than I realized. I pulled up poison ivy yesterday where I found it thriving amongst the shrubs and flowers where the grands like to play (EM is highly allergic to it). Above is a beauty berry growing in our yard at the woods edge. The darker green behind and beside is all bothersome poison ivy!
Pam insisted, that as part of celebrating Father’s Day, we dine at Bottega Cafe. Most often we will order a different dessert, but last week was an exception. We both wanted peach semifreddo. When I say both, it absolutely does not mean we shared the dessert, but ordered one each. It was one of the best desserts I’ve had in a while and Pam agrees. Incidentally, the dark sauce (for lack of a better term) around the bottom was from blackberries. I was glad somebody was brave enough to pick them…delightfully delicious!
Pam had a visitor while she was out in the garden working on a tablescape. We rarely see this moth, called an 8 spotted forester, but this one was persistent and determined to get it’s picture taken!
The ragged (same clothes for 3 years) old guy in the back is doing a fair job of keeping birds away from the blueberries which are growing behind the zinnias and wildflowers. However, the berries are disappearing slowly as they ripen. WL has discovered them, is not phased by the scarecrow, knows which ones are ripe, and loves to eat them right off the bushes. We believe he would eat every ripe berry if allowed, and grandparents have been known to allow more than they should!
Ella Mae , on numerous occasions, has told us that these statues in the garden are not appropriately adorned to be displayed publicly. She has mainly taken note of the one standing. To ad’dress’ the issue, I decided to place shorts on him and hopefully this will pass the modesty test. I am inviting EM up to gain approval! Maybe she won’t notice the one sitting.
I enjoyed an orange glow from high clouds on several late afternoons last week, but almost missed a waxing crescent moon hiding behind them one evening.
We saw one living cicada on Friday and none yesterday. Depending on who you read I guess, but most writers say the cicadas do very little damage to trees. As I look at thousands of dead ends on trees, just around our place, I can’t help but believe there is at least some temporary damage. I see that most dead ends are on oak trees. Acorns are born at the ends of branches of oak trees. A lot of wildlife species benefit from acorns. My theory is that the acorn crop could be harmed quite a bit. I’ve not read this anywhere, so it is only my crazy idea.This picture is the end of an oak branch where cicadas laid eggs. You can’t see them all, but there were 25 or 30 tiny acorns on this one branch.
Another “orange” evening enjoyed from the garden. It has been a hot weekend here in the foothills, and becoming very dry too. Many folks are currently experiencing extreme heat!
I think I recognize these people out on Weiss Lake taking in a summer sunset as it drops behind Lookout Mountain. No, Pam and I are not present, but the grands love these family outings only 10 minutes from home!
Wishing you all a wonderful week!
”Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”.
Hebrews 13:8
Linking with:
Pieced Pastimes, Between Naps on the Porch, Katherines Corner, Follow The Yellow Brick Home,
Imparting Grace,Life and Linda
Happy Father’s Day, Butch. You are an extraordinary father, grandfather and son in law. How do I know? Well, I can just tell from all of your posts as you show us your gentle spirit, love of family and God and your lovely way of teaching us and your family, the beauty of nature.
Ruthie, thanks for your kind words. I find my self in awe of creation but then pause to ponder how infinitely greater is the One who created it all. Hope your Sunday and your week are wonderful!
Butch and Pam
Lovely post today, Butch, have a wonderful Father’s Day.
Thank you Carole. We are having a great Sunday and hope you are as well. Wishing you a joyful week too!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day, Butch! This is such a lovely post for this special day to celebrate dads. I wish Pam and you a most happy and blessed day!
Thank you for your wishes. We are having a very good day and certainly hope you are. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Amen Butch to your first comment. I’ve always wondered how my life would have been different if I had had a loving father. I enjoy to the maximum seeing how much you and Pam love your grandchildren and can only imagine how much you treasure your son. The first picture of the cloud makes me think that is an angel dancing in the sky. The oak limb shows damage from the cicadas but I used to have to rake up those acorns and would not have missed those on that dead limb. You have a beautiful loving family and I wish all of you a Happy Fathers Day!
Thank you Alice. Family is a treasure that should be cherished, never taken for granted. Those acorns can be a pain when they fill up a yard and driveway, I can relate. Have a good Sunday and wishes for a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day Butch and Seth! Pam’s father is an inspiration to us all. Laughed and laughed at the pants on the statue! My sister is here visiting and said she has eaten at Bottega Cafe, and it is so delicious. You mentioned chiggers in the blackberries last week…I must taste delicious to those things because I got eaten up by them regularly. Have a great week and send rain!
Thank you so much Roxanne. Tell your sister hello for us. She must travel about to catch Bottega. Sounds like SC chiggers are quite aggressive. Hope you are having a good Sunday followed by a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day Butch, and Happy Father’s Day to Seth and Pam’s Dad. I love your quote about Dads! It is so wonderful you live so close to your son and your grands, truly a blessing! You have shared more beautiful sunsets today, thank you. That is funny that EM thinks the statues are indecent, love the shorts! I agree with your theory about the acorns, that’s not good. I’m glad you enjoyed your special dessert at Bottega Cafe, it looks divine. Enjoy your special day today!
Thanks so much Jenna. My original quote is a bit more pointed but I did amend it a little for the post. EM approved the shorts. We are blessed to have family nearby. Have a great Sunday evening and a joyful week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day Butch. You are a wonderful dad and grandpa. Enjoy your special day.
Yum on the desert. That looked very delicious. Have a wonderful day today and lovely new week. Hugs. Kris
Thank you Kris. I had more dessert today, homemade ice cream and cookies. I must get back on track with better eating. Hope your Sunday is going well and you have a great week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day to you and Pam’s Dad along with Seth too! You have a wonderful family and thanks for sharing them on the blog! It is a blessing to read and enjoy your pics and narratives. Hopefully, the shorts on the statue will do the trick! Love the Weiss Lake shot. Enjoy your day! Clara❤️
Thanks so much Clara. Daughter in love took the lake pic while they were out last Sunday afternoon. EM did laugh at the statue shorts but seemed to approve. Have a good evening and a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
A most blessed Fathers’ Day to you, Butch, Seth and sweet Daddy. Alas, I lost my Dad when I was
too young, but my beloved Husband later filled that void with sensitive care and loving devotion.
The role of a Dad cannot be overestimated. Hail to Allegiance Flag … a great product. I spewed
my tea through my nostrils when I spied the cherub statue clad in denim and tied with a cord.. a
great idea to have a designated holiday to cover the immodest statues in the public square with
costume ideas left to the children… Just imagine some of the “classic” ones so adorned. All your
beautiful pictures of sky and foliage rest so gently on the mind. That Bottega dessert had to be a
perfect ending to your celebration. Thank you for sharing the sweet depth of your Family bond
that is so inspiring… stay blessed.
Thanks for these gracious comments Mary. You place the role of Dad rightly and we only have to look around at our current culture to validate. Sorry about creating a problem involving your tea and nostrils but the new attire has been approved by the Queen. Hope you’re having a good Sunday and a blessed week to come!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day to Butch, Seth and Pam’s Dead! Beautiful post as ever. God bless you and yours.
Sorry for my English: Pam’s DADDY! So sorry for my mistake.
Maristella your English is perfect and we knew exactly who you were talking about. Thank you for the Father’s Day wishes. Hope you are having a good Sunday and have a great week ahead!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day! I think Pam’s idea of Bottega Cafe was brilliant, and the individual desserts even moreso! Lots of great summer photos, love the new flag. So sorry for that poison ivy. Wow, I get such a bad case with just sprouts of poison ivy, I can’t imagine what that would do to me. Scary. And we are not experiencing the cicadas in our region, thank goodness.
Today’s weather has begun a string mid 90s temps and no rain for at least 10 days. I hope it isn’t setting us up for another tornadic situation like we had in early April!
Have a great week, Richardsons (and to Pam’s Daddy!).
Thank you so much Rita. Pam knows how to prepare the best food anywhere and also how find the best dishes when eating out. Poison ivy grows all over the place here and we have to constantly reinforce our teaching about it to the children. Our forecast is the same as yours and we surely pray no tornadoes for you. Have a good Sunday evening and a great week!
Butch and Pam
What a delightful post, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful Father’s Day Butch with so much love around you. Father’s day here in Australia is in September. But our Mother’s Day is the same time as yours.
Blessings to both you & Pam, Jennifer
Thank you Jennifer. I did have a great Father’s Day. I didn’t realize you celebrated it in September. We are having really hot days now and you are approaching the first day of winter; I wondered, are winters mild where you live? We pray you have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
I always look forward to your Sunday posts Butch and Happy Fathers Day to you all. Butch, Seth, Pam’s Day and all the Fathers out there. We need to tell you just how special you all are even though social media and TV shows portray many Fathers as bumbling oafs. Simply not true. The Bible says we are to be under the umbrella of God, Husband, Wife and children in that order and we know God’s law is not wrong.
I love the sunset pics and know that you and Pam enjoy your evenings together and with your family. It is so special to have everyone in close proximity to each other.
I am susceptible to poison ivy and have to go on cortisone shots if I get near it. I don’t even have to touch it. I know sounds crazy doesn’t it.
We have had more than our share of rain the last 7 days…I was beginning to think we might have to start building an ark. LOL But we fared very well and the positive side is all plants and flowers are flourishing with all the daily watering.
Have a wonderful week and God Bless your family.
Thanks Kari and you are right on target about the umbrella of protection as clearly laid out in scripture. As for the poison ivy, I’m not too prone to be bothered by it but I know some who are like you and don’t even need to be near. We heard about all your rain. I don’t think we’ve had any rain in about 10 days and only about a quarter inch then. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam
Happy Father’s Day, Butch! I delight in your Sunday musings. Today, especially as you share your son’s joy with his children. How blessed to have this young man and his family so close by as well as Pam’s dad.
Thank you Sarah. Father’s Day was a blessing and we are glad to have family near. Hope you have a very pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
I know you had a wonderful Father’s Day! I enjoyed all the family pictures, including Dad, son, and kids! What a joy to have them so close to you! Great pictures of your scenic area. Cute cover up on the statue!
I would enjoy sitting outside under the lights in your back yard listening to the crickets. Thank you so much for sharing your loveliness!
Thanks for your comments Nancy. The crickets are lively but insect repellent is a necessity as mosquitoes are aggressive these days. Hot and dry here but the mosquitoes are still doing well. Have a wonderful week!
Butch and Pam
As always, love your Sunday posts. I hope you had a blessed and wonderful Father’s Day. Hearing a little more of your beautiful story makes your post all the more special. I truly love your EM’s sweet sense of propriety–and your ingenious and fun solution to the problem.
Thank you Cindie. It was a wonderful Father’s Day. EM is so observing of everything and doesn’t mind stating her opinion, and of course we love it. Have a great week!
Butch and Pam
I’m sure that Pam saw to it that the three generations of fathers had a wonderful day. I giggled when I saw the statue in the garden more appropriately adorned, maybe you can have different pants as the seasons change. 😊
Thanks Karen. Pam, along with our daughter-in-law-love, did make everything special yesterday for the guys. Maybe I do need a statue wardrobe. Have a pleasant week!
Butch and Pam
Beautiful meditation on Fatherhood–an underappreciated gift!
It was wonderful to see all the photos! Happy Belated Fathers Day to Butch, Seth, and Pam’s father! God bless you all!
Thank you Cheryl and thanks for the Father’s Day wishes for us. It was a good day for the guys around here. Have a blessed week!
Butch and Pam