And ~ we’re off…headed for
Port St. Joe.
in the panhandle of Fl.
The plan is for all of us
…the Lenfest’s, Price Jr’s., Honey & Papa…
to leave Saturday morning,
driving separately
&
meet at
San Bliss
that late afternoon.
(Thankfully, we all traveled safely.)
Sunday morning,
together ~ we went to Mass.
And ~ after Mass….
Sam got to ring the
church bell 
(Now for the sad part.)
After church,
…per the plan…
I called my cousin
Alan to see when would
be a good time for us all
to get together
for a visit.
I haven’t seen my Sweet
Aunt Ann
for almost 2 years.
Very sadly ~
Alan told me
…she had been admitted into the
hospital Thursday, been going
down hill
and had been given
Last Rites.
She was still alive, unconscious;
but, he was assured….
she could still hear
everything that was said to her.
Additionally, we were 2 hours away.
Allen & I hopped in the car & drove right there.
Thankfully, I was able to visit
with her & the family
before she died on Monday October 3rd.
(Which also is the same date 38 years ago my Daddy died.)
(I don’t like that date.)
BTW ~ this is the sunrise Allen managed to
capture the morning
Aunt Ann died.
Remember ~ the name of my blog is
“Bitter ~ Sweet”
We’re on a family vacation.
Allen & I took lots of walks on the beach.
I entitled this photo…Mamma Duck & Her Ducklings
Sea gulls lifting off the ocean in flight.
The point…conflicting currents
Yep ~ it’s a shark…YIKES !!!!!
Now for the SWEET
We met Jason, Sandra &
Sam
at the
Indian Pass Trading Post
A new food for Sam
…corn on the cob…
On Tuesday, Sam got stung by a
Mean ol jelly fish 
She really got stung very badly
at the top of her thighs.
She was such a trooper.
But, everyday ~ she’d
turn around, stick out her back side
and say
…mean ol jelly fish
Jason’s & Sandra’s anniversary is this month.
Angela suggested
…they take the whole day;
do what ever they wanted
and we’d watch Sam.
We had a BLAST !!!!
Here…Sam is mining for sea shells
~ so she can throw them back in the water
Uncle Brandon got Sam to bury him in the sand
He’s very brave!!
Now that Sam has gotten sand all in
Uncle Brandon’s mouth & hair,
she’s a “sand angel”
Aunt Angela helps Sam build a castle.
Sam decided to add a mote
We had such a great day
filled with so much activity;
we totally wore Sam out.
Night Night…Sweet ~ Sweet Sam!!!
Every morning,
Sam & I had a favorite routine
…we’d watch the sunrise together
Sam is such a JOY!!
She brims with awe & wonder;
then she expresses her joy very colorfully
Sam decided it was “her turn” to
take the pictures
“C-H-E-E-S-E-”
On Allen’s & my last day,
as a family, we decided to take
a sunset cruise around the bay.
Sam LOVED every second of it!!
Here…Captain Gary ~ called Sam up
to drive the boat
We had a wonderful vacation!
The Blessing for me…
I got to say Goodbye to my Sweet Aunt Ann.
She altered my life
in many ways (for the better).
I’m very thankful & grateful
and will miss her very much.
I love you Aunt Ann.
Rest in God’s Peace.
While attending Aunt Ann’s funeral in Columbus we visited the grave sites of Brenda’s grandparents, the original Honey and Papa. Now, two generations later, we are Honey and Papa and dearly hope we can be a credit to their names. The wheel keeps turning and perhaps one day our sweet Sam will pick up the mantel of Honeyhood as well.
It was a great vacation even though it had that touch of sadness to it. I’ll never forget the time Aunt Ann asked you accusingly WHY your children had “yankee accents”?! LOL
Elinor Howard Cook:
So glad you got a chance to say goodbye and that you had the joy of Sam to bring you the peace of understanding life continues on til we all meet again someday. The pictures are beautiful!
Linda Woodward Etter:
So sweet. The pictures amazing. What kind of camera do you use?
Babs Douglas:
We LOVE that area of the Gulf coast. So glad you all got to go together. What a blessing . . and for God to have you there in time to say goodbye to a dear aunt . . . amazing. Thanks so much for sharing. See you Saturday!
Diane Hodge Elrod:
Brenda, I am so happy that you had this wonderful trip with your family, and so sad you lost a beloved aunt. How good of the Lord to allow you to be there to tell her good bye – God is so good.
Brenda, I am so happy that you had this wonderful trip with your family, and so sad you lost a beloved aunt. How good of the Lord to allow you to be there to tell her good bye – God is so good.
from:
Diane Elrod
Sandra Hollingsworth:
Brenda, this last episode is beautiful. You are a great writer and photographer. Your sweetness shows in all the parts of the story.
I am sorry you lost your aunt, especially without a good two way visit, but it is obvious there was much love there at the end as all through your life.
Your sunrise and sunset and water pictures are stunning.
I look forward to seeing all of you soon – hopefully it will work out to do that. Mother is up and about but seems weaker than for a while. So, who knows what happens next.