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| image courtesy photobucket.com |
The Fourth of July usually meant a family reunion at our cabin in the Stanislaus Forest!
It was here that we would gather to celebrate our Freedom and Justice for all in the United States of America.
My dad allowed us kids to invite our friends and, in later years, we also followed suit, allowing our children to bring their friends.
Old Aunt Emma came at the invitation of my mother’s sister. She was a child at heart and enjoyed the festivities right along side all the young people. The campfire, roasted hot dogs and marshmallows, singing and lighting sparklers for the holiday thrilled everyone!
Aunt Emma loved the excitement! As each sparkler was lit, she loudly exclaimed, “Whoopee Day!”
Her enthusiasm spilled over to our teenagers who echoed her gleeful cry as each sparkler was lifted in the air. Soon we all joined in with the phrase, “Whoopee Day!” It became our “happy” word for the next year. Aunt Emma’s youth was spent, but she enjoyed herself with child-like abandon!
Tom, one of our youth group teens, seemed to get a kick out of Aunt Emma! Perhaps she reminded him of his own grandmother.
Tom demonstrated his own free-spirit and his attentions soon centered on one of my daughter’s friends. The next day, we spied her friend up a tree with Tom climbing up after her, throwing leaves and pine cones. She yelled at him, “You are crazy,” and he returned the compliment with like words. His playfulness soon compelled her.
Youthful exuberance! Whoopee Day! That was the way they met! Their friendship continued with church as their base for building their relationship. That friendship led to marriage, and decades later they are proud grandparents, enjoying their retirement.
Now some might say that this was an extraordinary way to meet someone and find a mate! Perhaps it was!
If you are single and desire to find a loving, faithful and trustworthy companion with marriage in mind, do consider attending a good church that has other single persons who love God, and want to follow Jesus.
If you are widowed or divorced, join a church singles group. Small groups are where you meet people.
If you don’t put limits on God, He can meet this need and help you enjoy life right where you are. Trust Him, in whatever situation you find yourself, don’t be afraid to be happy and to exclaim, “Whoopee Day”
Psalms 118:24 This is the day that the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This post is linked to Peter Pollock’s One Word Carnival - The word is Justice
Also shared at Hazel's Tell me a Story at: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
8 comments:
That's good stuff! I love finding out the details of someone's life, especially when they mean so much to so many... I include myself in that category... Like an adopted son...
Oh, WHOOPPEE DAY!!!! I feel younger somehow...LOL...I loved Aunt Emma and her youthful spirit. I hope I'm like that - even at this older age!
A very sweet story, Hazel. :D It doesn't sound as if Aunt Emma's youth was truly spent.
Every household should have an Aunt Emma to remind us not to take life (or ourselves) to seriously as it is not permanent. A happy post!
It's great to have someone like Aunt Emma around... takes all the blues away...
You were blessed to have a joyful family! Your story reminds me of a song our kids used to sing, "The Joy of the Lord is My Strength". Seems like His joy was strong enough to hold the marriage of those young people together for decades.
I was just telling my son this tonight!! when he starts to look for a wife...look in church!
whoopee day sure sounds fun!
I love it!! And having a fun friend dropped into your life that you can marry at the hand of God... WHOOPEEEE!!!!!!!!!! Forever and ever...
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