I wanted to share a family video with you all for this holiday season. My parents had a Super 8 video camera when I was young and I recently had all the movies digitized, that weren’t ruined from years of moving and neglect. This film is taken of my mother’s family mostly in South Florida near the Everglades and out in Texas where we were stationed. Dad was in helicopter training school there at Fort Wolters.
It begins with Easter-time in 1967, just prior to Dad going to Vietnam. He is the one sweeping off the table. My Granny is cutting up Swamp Cabbage for our Easter dinner. We all go out into the woods to have an Easter Egg Hunt with my cousins. Mom strikes a pose near the table as Dad pans the scene. Heading to Texas for a moment, my Uncle Billy acts silly pretending to dodge a helicopter. We end the video in 1971 during Christmas at Granny & Grandpa’s house in LaBelle, Florida. I’m the girl with long hair and purple pants. My sister is the girl with short hair and striped pullover. Dad is in the chair holding my brother. Granny is standing in the blue dress and Grandpa is sitting across the room helping my cousin get his gun belt and pistols on. I’m so glad this film was saved.
You would never know the turmoil in the outside world at that time by looking at these pictures. I wanted to remind us all (and especially myself!) that we are what we focus on. In Philipians 4:8 it says- “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” From my family to yours, May your days be merry and bright.
~ watercolor of my grandparents home by a local artist in LaBelle, Florida- Boots Spencer.
Squash Blossom Press 