Guys Weekend

Last weekend was the fall Guys Weekend get together for Daddy and his brothers.  I was thankful that my three fellas were able to join them for an overnight and day.  It is such a special time to spend with Daddy, Uncle Charles and Uncle Mitch and everyone looks forward to it very much.

Uncle Charles arriving

Daddy all set up

the pretty lake

Uncle Mitch

Jackson, Marvin and Jonathan

Jonathan

Marvin, Jonathan and Jackson

The Old Threshers festival was going on that weekend so they spent some time enjoying that, starting with the fish fry on Thursday evening.  They also visited an old schoolhouse that had recently been moved to the area.

old steam engine

Mitch at the old schoolhouse

checking out the old DeSoto... like one their family had.

car show at Old Threshers

Uncle Charles and Uncle Mitch at Shelby County courthouse

A tradition at Guys Weekend is to spend a day visiting historic family locations such as Lowman Chapel Church, Oak Ridge Church, and the Wood Cemetery.  In previous years they would visit the old post office - until it was torn down a few years ago to widen the highway.  This trip held a sad surprise discovery... the house that Daddy was born in has been torn down.  Gone.  I am thankful we have photos of it from years past.  Of course the general store that Daddy and his siblings grew up in (the living quarters was the entire top level) was torn down many years ago when the highway first was expanded.  Thankfully, the old family churches are still there.  It all makes me even more grateful that my boys know their family history - and that we have made a habit of visiting 'home places' all of our lives.  At least when they are gone, we can cherish and remember them.  That is so important.

Marvin, Mitch, Charles, Jonathan and Jackson - at Oak Ridge Baptist Church

Marvin, Mitch, Charles, Daddy, Jackson

cemetery at Oak Ridge

Daddy, Mitch, Jonathan, Marvin, Charles

at Lowman Chapel Methodist Church 

Mitch, Charles, Jonathan, Marvin, Jackson

Uncle Charles inside Lowman Chapel  (they always go in and sign the guest book)   :)

at the Wood Family cemetery

the old general store - they lived on the top floor 

the old post office before it was torn down

the old garage from next to the general store - it survived a few decades beyond the store...

the house where my Daddy was born (his grandparents house)... now gone.  :(

Aunt Marjorie in front of the old school - it is still there!

Oak Ridge in the early 1990's

the Wood family homeplace - just barely hanging in there...

Daddy and Marvin at Prairie Homestead Pulling Horse Farm

So many memories...