A Thanksgiving Poem

Wilder Day, 2017 150 yrs. Happy birthday Laura!

On a special day!

A special day (the day of the solar eclipse) calls for a special meal!  So, I got busy in the kitchen and made myself a Shrimp Po Boy, with Dirty Rice!  
You know how it is, when you've got an itch, you just got scratch it!
This was something that I haven't made in while, so now my itch is taken care of, with this meal made from scratch!

I probably won't wait for another solar eclipse to make it again!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

 

Freda's "Mountain Adventure"

*Note: I'm going to be leaving Freda's life story for a time now. Listening to the recordings of her telling of the next events, is too emotionally stressful for me right now. As I listen to the next portion of her story, full of her emotional upset and sadness, it is just too soon after losing her to relate this portion of her story in a post. But I will do it in the near future. Her story is much too interesting to not tell it! 
Thank you for understanding.  Please check back again.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's "Little Shack on the Mountain" Life as it was!

This is Freda's memory from about the age of 4 years of age.  As she related this story to me, she was nearing the end of her time on earth. But her memories of those days was crisp and clear!  God had truly blessed her all those years.  While we may have to endure certain hardships, if we keep our eyes on the Lord, He will sustain us!
I hope you enjoy reading about Freda's life. Thanks!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's "Little Shack on the Mountain at bedtime"

By the time Freda was living in my house, she knew that she was covered by the light of the Lord, but I always left a nightlight on for her any way!  Now, I pray she is resting in peace.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Little Shack on the Mountain "Our Table"

This is the next installment of the story of Freda's life, as I recorded her.  While Freda is no longer with us, her story lives on!  I hope you enjoy reading it. Thanks!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's "Little Shack in the Mountains"

Even though Freda was a cousin to Almanzo Wilder, (who became the husband of Laura Ingalls) they were at least a generation apart. Things had not changed that much, and her experiences in life had not been much different.  The biggest difference between Freda's and Almanzo's, was that his family lived in a fertile area, where food was more easily grown.  As his family moved west, to Minnesota, the family members separated, with Freda's branch going south into Texas. So Freda didn't know anything about Almanzo, until she moved to Mansfield, Missouri and read Laura's books!  
I hope you enjoy reading about Freda's life story, as she related her memories to me before her passing this year.  
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda, The Early Years, "Depression Meals"

This story is taken from my "Freda Recordings", as she told me the story of her life.  
I hope you enjoy these stories. She lived through quite a bit and, I believe, came through it a shining example of a "Proverbs 31 Woman"!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Early memories, "Horses"

This is another chapter in Freda's life story.  She recorded these stories long before she passed away in February this year.  It is heart-wrenching for me to listen to Sister Freda's voice on these recordings.  But I feel that her story is too precious to not share!  In some ways, it is healing for me to hear her voice again, but still ...  
As her story continues, I'll be sharing more about horses in her life.  I hope you enjoy these posts and will continue to come back for more. Thanks.

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda Next Chapter, "Literaries"

In her book, "Little Town on the Prairie", Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote about the "Literaries" that her family attended.  The fact that Freda was a cousin to Almanzo, may not have been a factor in this recollection of Freda; but this is another case where Freda's life was so similar to that of Laura.  It's nice to think that they had such things in common; even though they were a generation apart!
What people did for entertainment or social activities in those days is part of our rich American history.  I wonder if, after another hundred years, people will look back at the manner in which people act socially today and have a similar nostalgic feeling about texting and Facebook!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda Chapter, "The Early Years"

This was taken from the recording I did of Freda, as she related the story of her life.

I hope you enjoy reading these stories from Freda.  It was a joy to have known her, and participated in the later chapters of her life. 
If you continue to follow these posts, you'll find the curious parallels that follow her story and those of the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder.  She had no idea, most of her life, that she was actually a cousin to Laura's husband, Almanzo! 
I hope you'll be blessed, in what I share.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda, as a toddler - over 90 yrs. ago!

As I continued to listen to the precious recordings of Freda relating her life story, I'm sharing this with everyone today.

I thank the Lord for the privilege to have known Sister Freda!  I hope these stories of her life are enjoyable to you.  As time goes by, I'll be sharing more of them.  
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

My loss of Freda has been devastating, and I'm just coming around to be able to cope with her everyday absence.  I took her into my home, some 6 or 7 years ago, to help care for her.  I knew a time would come, when she would pass into the arms of Jesus.  But, I still wasn't completely prepared for that to happen.  We were close friends for some 20 years!  
I hope you enjoy what I post from these "Freda Tapes".  I'll try to do it often. Thanks.
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

From Freda's notebook: "How to have a good day!"

I felt this would be a good post to put on here today,"Good Friday".  Freda did her best to work with each day to make it better, by trusting the Lord to see her through it.  I pray that you will do the same and make each day "Good". 
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

A Quote From Freda's Notes

As I searched through Sister Freda's notebooks, I came across this word of encouragement left behind.  I hope you are as blessed as I am in reading this!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

"Freda's Trip Back"

Now that Sister Freda has made her ultimate trip, to meet the Lord face to face, we have only those memories she wrote in her notebooks.  If you enjoy reading these, please let me know, so I can find more to post. Thanks.  
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Remembrances of Freda "A Cross to Bear"

As Freda's health worsened, her cross became extremely heavy, but she kept right on carrying it!  Her faith saw her through to the end.  She believed that her cross was no where near as heavy as the one Jesus bore on her behalf.  She died in peace, having laid her cross down at the feet of Jesus.  May she be an example for all of us, of a life lived in faith to God.  When your cross seems too much to bear, think of her message here, and go on in victory!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Prayer Time

I hope this gives you a glimpse into how Freda saw her communion with the Lord.  She was my "In House" prayer warrior!  Oh, how I miss her! But, now I know that she is with the Lord, and she has been rewarded for all her prayers.  
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Memories of Freda

As the Lord permits, I will share more posts from Freda's notebooks.  Thanks for reading!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Birthday

Her absence is felt acutely on this day! Now, she is celebrating with Jesus, awaiting a grand reunion!  May the Lord comfort us with precious memories of the time she spent with us on the earth!  Happy birthday to our Sister Freda!
 

"In Honor of Freda"

Missing Freda - The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda's Thoughts "Victory over Death"

The Old Man in the Bib Overalls

Freda "A Ship is Sailing"

To all those who have been followers of Freda's posts on my blog site:
For the last few days, Freda has been off shore of Heaven, searching for a place to put in. 
This morning, she found her way safely into the harbor and her ship docked.
Now, she will be gazing out to sea, awaiting arrival of the rest of us.
If you don't know Jesus, as your personal Savior, now is the time to make that move, onto that ship!  You might not get another chance to do it!  Without being on that ship, you will not be allowed into the same port as Freda. 
For those of us, who know Jesus, in that special way; we have the promise of being Sister Freda once again.  May God bless you and keep you, till that time comes.
Be sure to continue to follow the posts on my blog site, as some of them will be stories that Sister Freda told to me about her life. 
I am ready to accept your comments and condolences on her behalf.  Thank you!
The Old Man in the Bib Overalls  (AKA,  Brother Jim, as Freda called me)