Today is Simone's birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Simone!!

Presbyterian General Assembly
1926-1927
(Grandpa would have been about 7 or 8?) These are his words:

This is an account of attending the General Assembly by a rural minister from Missouri in either 1926 or 1927 as seen through the eyes of a 7 or 8 year old son as remembered 62 years later.

Dad, Rev. D.M. Crawford, was the pastor of the two small rural Presbyterian churches. They were Mulberry Church (finally closed about 5 years ago, about 1984?) and Amoret Presbyterian Church, Amoret, Missouri (still active).

As I remember the General Assembly was held in Pittsburgh, Pa that year. Two weeks later the national convention of "Womens Christian Temperance Union" held their national convention in Philadelphia, Pa. My mother and a women from the Amoret church were delegates to that conference. For both my mother and father to attend their respective conferences it was necessary to take my brother and I along (that would be Uncle Harvey, Uncle Roy was not born yet). To drive and camp was the only way it could be financially accomplished.

They devised methods to pack and transport the tent, grocery box, tools, sleeping material (no sleeping bags), clothes and all other necessities for such a trip on a 1923 Model "T" touring car, without a trunk. The tent was tied to the spare tire, which was attached to the rear of the car. The tool box was bolted to the left running board, where the driver's door would be on a modern car. However, the 1924 model "T" did not have a driver's side door, so the installation could be permanent. The food box was built and strapped on the right running board and had to be taken off before the rear door could be opened. Suitcases, blankets and miscellaneous materials; such as, tent stakes, were tied between the hood and the front fenders. The isinglass curtains which had to be installed when it rained, (and boy, did it rain) were rolled up and stuffed along the edge of the back seat. The rest of the space was for people. There were five of us on the trip back from Philadelphia, as Mrs. Hamilton, the delegate from Amoret did not have sufficient money to ride the train both ways, so she rode with us and camped on the way back.

It rained for several days before we departed and the roads as far as Kansas City, were hub deep mud ruts. So the first 60 miles took almost a half day. The best days drive, after taking down the tent, packing the car and setting up the tent, was between 200 and 250 miles. It took 5 or 6 days to get to Pittsburgh;, however, we stopped for church on Sunday morning so only drove a few miles on that day.

There were few, if any, camp sites, and even if there had we would not have had the money to rent space. So Dad would stop at a farm house with a large side or back yard and a outhouse (most farms did not have inside plumbing) and would ask permission to set up camp for the night. This resulted in some long time friends. The tent did not have a floor so several mornings, after rains, all the bed clothes would be wet. I do not remember how Mother solved the problem of drying them for the next night.

I remember several interruptions to the trip; such as, Dad having a migraine headache and we sat between a railroad track and road for a half day while he lay on the grass trying to recover. My brother and I played on the railroad tracks. Then we would have to stop ever so often for an engine tune-up, mainly spark plug cleaning, which had to be done every 1,000 - 1,500 miles.

We ate all meal but one in camp or in the car. One night on the return trip, it rained so much that everything was soaked and it was decided we would have to go to a restaurant. I remember ordering ham and eggs (.35 - .50 cents) only to have mother change the order to a bowl of cereal (.10 - .15) We counted the gas money to be sure there was enough money to buy even cereal.

During Dads attendance to the General Assembly, mother and we boys stayed with her sister in Irving, Pa. Dad stayed with a host family from the Pittsburgh area. After the General Assembly we drove over the mountains (two days) to Philadelphia, where we camped in a municipal camp ground (it was free) whle mother attended the WCTU conference. It rained all week and the campground was a muddy mess. I do not remember how Dad diverted the rain from getting in the tent, but as I remember it was relatively dry. We saw all the historic sights of Philadelphia while mother was in meetings and then with our additional passenger, headed out on the 7 day trip home.

This is how it was for a rural minister who attended the General Assembly in the late 1920's.
Posted on: Saturday, April 02, 2005

Today is Frank's birthday!!
Happy Birthday, Frank!!

Happy Easter Everyone!!!

Posted on: Sunday, March 27, 2005

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope you remembered to wear green today!
Posted on: Thursday, March 17, 2005

 I AM NOT EVEN GOING TO SAY shhhh (31)

I WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT MY YOUNGEST SON IS 31 . . . THIS IS JUST A REALLY BAD DREAM . . .

BUT, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE REALLY OLD!!!

 Happy Birthday

William!  have fun and enjoy.  We love you!  Hope school and everything else are going well.

 PAT . . . MAY TODAY BE ONLY A SHORT PAST WITH A LONG FUTURE AHEAD . . .

THIS IS WHY WE GOT MARRIED  . . . . I KNEW YOU WOULD FORGET HALF OF WHAT I SAID . . . .

Mom and I met 40 years ago Sunday. We married 35 years ago today. Mom has forgotten at least 10 anniversaries . . . probably more . . . It is supposed to be the husband who messes them up.

So, to the kids without whom our lives would be less fulfilled, . . .

To the grandkids we are doing our best to spoil . . . .

To a wife who, when grandma Crawford was alive called "the Bobbsey Twins"because we were almost always together, in spirit if not side by side, (Most of you will probably have to look on Google to see who they are.)

To a wife who has laughed with me as we finished each others thoughts and/or words . . . or for that matter, just laughs with me . . . (Okay, at me as well.) . . .

To a wife who has steadfastly stood at my side, not just when we were without challenge, but every time SHE KNEW I needed her most, whether I knew or not . . .

To a wife who struggled to make a home and happy life for six kids who she (we) said our sole purpose in raising them was to know if something ever happened to us, each would be able to face the world with confidence and an attitude of "THERE IS NOTHING OUT THERE I CAN'T DO!!!) . . . and each can . . .

And to not only my wife and partner, not just here and now, but forever and ever . . . the only woman in the world I could ever say is hands down, my VERY best friend. . . .

May everyone reading this post, family or not, find a soul mate who is so much a part of you that whether you are holding hands together or 25,000 miles apart, you remain one in the universe around you as we do, with nothing separating us in mind and spirit, only time and space  . . .

To my wife . . . I an SO happy you took a chance on me, blemishes and all . . . you stood by when needed and gave a little shove when needed, (Okay, sometimes a REALLY hard push.) and let us evolve into who we are . . . two as one . . .

Not recalling the number of year we have been together is nothing compared to knowing we will always be together, throughout time, two as one  . . .

Pat, you are, and without hesitation I say, will always be . . .

MLLB

 oh geeezzz..

You guys get so hung up on dates...59/60...30/35...it's not the years the count, but what you do in them...(whew....got out of that one!)

 Ummm...am I not counting right?

I thought this was 35 years?

 Happy Anniversary!

 30 years....wow

As I was standing there next to Dad 30 years ago, I knew I loved him, I knew I wanted to spend my life with him and raise a family with him. I knew it would be exciting, full of work, but with lots of good times and love. What I didn't fully understand was how much our love would grow and change over the course of the next 30 years.

Today, it is SO much bigger, the depth is so much deeper and the friendship is so much broader. He truly is my very best friend.

We have been through all the words of the vows, the richer and poorer, the sickness and health etc, but still it doesn't matter...as long as we are doing whatever it is together, then the world is right.

Thank you, my husband, for making my life the envy of many woman and for always being there for me. I love you more than you can know (but you do..:) )

 Just trying this to see if it works....

This should be posting a link to the Kohl's Cares site where you can vote for my school to get $500,000.  Please go vote!

 Some Corrections To Frankie's Post

I have just posted a revision of Frankie's original post. Most of the things changed were typographical and grammar. I did make some changes that more accurately describe what Frankie has himself said to me.

In my last post I think my views are clear.

 For Those Of You Who Have No Clue About My Last 8 Months

I am going to lay it all out for all to know why my attitude is not right towards other family member right now so here goes:

 I didn't know...

I knew most of what you described - but not the extent!  Goodness gracious!

I love reading this post though - it's awesome to "hear" the passion you have for your family.  Truly awesome. 

I have this image of you in my mind from back when we were in middle/highschool... and to juxtapose that image with the image you paint of yourself in recent years is... well, it's cool.

Certainly makes me wish we lived closer to you guys - I really believe my boys are missing out by not having a relationship with their Aunt, Uncle & cousin! (although JJ still talks about all 3 of you)

We certainly need to see what we can to plan a trip to Colorado!