Dearest Readers,
Please indulge this "Grammy" to write a belated tribute, as a daughter.... to her mother....as we realize life spins along faster and faster these days. I want her to know what an extraordinary woman she is, having come from such a humble beginning. But isn't that the beginning of all those who do extraordinary things with their lives?
The daughter of Fred and Effie Aly, Dorothy Jean(my mother), was born in North Georgia and moved to Central Florida as a toddler.
Her daddy built the home they would live in, when Dorothy was a little girl. She recalls dropping a penny in each corner of the foundation of the house...which meant luck, good fortune, blessings, remembrance ....significance of a home being constructed with love, and very little more. The late 1930's and early '40's were difficult years, to say the least.
Dorothy was fortunate to have a loving neighbor woman across the street. Two rocking chairs...a large one for the lady and a small one for little Dorothy...were occupied on endless occasions, for the reading of books. Before she was able to read, the kind lady introduced her to the classic children's books. Heidi, the story of the little girl living in the Swiss Alps, would become one of her favorites. For her seventh birthday, the neighbor gifted her with a tiny crocheted purse....
(As a young mother and missionary to Africa, Dorothy would acquire the Joanna Spyri book in Kitwe, Zambia.)
A sweet little gift, the tiny violet teacup, purchased for 25 cents, would be a Mother's Day Gift for momma, Effie.
When Dorothy was in 5th grade, her beau...Edward Cedarholm...presented her with a lovely "handkersniff". His mother, of scandanvian descent, painted the exquisitely detailed image...
Young momma Effie, made sure to teach her children the stories of the Bible. The book 'Bible Pictures, and what they teach us' was a well-loved book of Dorothy and her little brother Neil. The book is now coverless, with only the spine remaining, but the pictures ...each one, a work of art....are as beautiful as they were at publication.
Young Dorothy would grow to be a lovely young woman, attain the nickname "Dottie" and catch the eye of a tall, blue-eyed young man from Kentucky, in 1953. In January of 1954, William H. Jones, Jr. made his way from Newfoundland (where he had been stationed for 7 months) to Kentucky, and on to Orlando, Florida, within 24 hours. He did not see his beautiful bride-to-be until the moment she walked down the aisle...her veil having been lifted, before she entered the sanctuary, by a dear, wise, friend who simply said..."so he may see your face"....
This wedding photo sits atop the veil, Dottie fashioned herself. (There is a great similarity between the wedding dress of this young bride, and the enchanting wedding dress worn by a princess bride, Kate.)
The receipt for the purchase of gold wedding bands...
Children were born to this union, but not until college and seminary had been completed. Dorothy had felt called, since childhood, to missions. Bill, had a calling to the ministry, and pastored several churches. Together, they were led to the mission field and began to prepare for the journey to Africa in 1964. Three young children sit with them for the photo which would appear on their passports. ...Lynn, age 4 1/2, Christie, age 2 1/2, and Bradley, age 1 year.
Silver baby spoons have been passed down through the generations, being used by Christie's children and grandchildren.
A photo of Dottie....with two women enjoying her visit to their village...
Husband Bill, had purchased the pearl choker for Dottie, before their passage to Africa...she is wearing it in the photo above.
A letter home...
Dottie had to measure her words carefully, in all communications, even the words she used to describe seemingly routine family updates..it was a difficult time in those days of recent upheaval of their government.
This photo of Dottie, along with Christie and Bradley, shows the ladies Dottie worked with, and their children. Christie remembers the little girl in the pink gingham dress, wearing green socks with her sandals...she recollects their innocent friendship...each trying to teach the other their language...
Dottie purchased a carved ivory necklace for her mother Effie and her mother-in-law Leva Jones. This is the one passed down from Effie. The carved ivory elephant statuette and elephant hair bracelet were brought back as mementos. The black Waldybag was purchased on a stopover in London, as the family traveled home. This being the style that the Queen carried...
Even as a 4 year old, Christie loved purses, and has recollection of this wonderful purchase...the cubby shelving the purse was drawn from...
These were the 60's...the era of Jackie Kennedy....Princess Grace Kelly.....elegant role models for the young women of our country...and Dottie followed suit...
Their work in the mission field was shortened by a difficult birth of their fourth child, Stanley, and it would be necessary to travel back to the States for further medical procedures.
Once again, a photo was necessary for passports...this one, though reveals a weary mother of four, maintaining her posture and smile...such incredible strength to be 30 years of age...
After 57 years of marriage...Dorothy is still in love with the tall blue-eyed fellow from Kentucky...
Please indulge this "Grammy" to write a belated tribute, as a daughter.... to her mother....as we realize life spins along faster and faster these days. I want her to know what an extraordinary woman she is, having come from such a humble beginning. But isn't that the beginning of all those who do extraordinary things with their lives?
The daughter of Fred and Effie Aly, Dorothy Jean(my mother), was born in North Georgia and moved to Central Florida as a toddler.
Her daddy built the home they would live in, when Dorothy was a little girl. She recalls dropping a penny in each corner of the foundation of the house...which meant luck, good fortune, blessings, remembrance ....significance of a home being constructed with love, and very little more. The late 1930's and early '40's were difficult years, to say the least.
Dorothy was fortunate to have a loving neighbor woman across the street. Two rocking chairs...a large one for the lady and a small one for little Dorothy...were occupied on endless occasions, for the reading of books. Before she was able to read, the kind lady introduced her to the classic children's books. Heidi, the story of the little girl living in the Swiss Alps, would become one of her favorites. For her seventh birthday, the neighbor gifted her with a tiny crocheted purse....
(As a young mother and missionary to Africa, Dorothy would acquire the Joanna Spyri book in Kitwe, Zambia.)
A sweet little gift, the tiny violet teacup, purchased for 25 cents, would be a Mother's Day Gift for momma, Effie.
When Dorothy was in 5th grade, her beau...Edward Cedarholm...presented her with a lovely "handkersniff". His mother, of scandanvian descent, painted the exquisitely detailed image...
Young momma Effie, made sure to teach her children the stories of the Bible. The book 'Bible Pictures, and what they teach us' was a well-loved book of Dorothy and her little brother Neil. The book is now coverless, with only the spine remaining, but the pictures ...each one, a work of art....are as beautiful as they were at publication.
Young Dorothy would grow to be a lovely young woman, attain the nickname "Dottie" and catch the eye of a tall, blue-eyed young man from Kentucky, in 1953. In January of 1954, William H. Jones, Jr. made his way from Newfoundland (where he had been stationed for 7 months) to Kentucky, and on to Orlando, Florida, within 24 hours. He did not see his beautiful bride-to-be until the moment she walked down the aisle...her veil having been lifted, before she entered the sanctuary, by a dear, wise, friend who simply said..."so he may see your face"....
This wedding photo sits atop the veil, Dottie fashioned herself. (There is a great similarity between the wedding dress of this young bride, and the enchanting wedding dress worn by a princess bride, Kate.)
The receipt for the purchase of gold wedding bands...
Children were born to this union, but not until college and seminary had been completed. Dorothy had felt called, since childhood, to missions. Bill, had a calling to the ministry, and pastored several churches. Together, they were led to the mission field and began to prepare for the journey to Africa in 1964. Three young children sit with them for the photo which would appear on their passports. ...Lynn, age 4 1/2, Christie, age 2 1/2, and Bradley, age 1 year.
The baby gown was worn by Dottie's young sister (20 years her junior), her oldest daughter, Lynn, and her second daughter, Christie...the tiny pink beaded bracelet wrapped Christie's arm as a newborn.
Silver baby spoons have been passed down through the generations, being used by Christie's children and grandchildren.
A photo of Dottie....with two women enjoying her visit to their village...
Husband Bill, had purchased the pearl choker for Dottie, before their passage to Africa...she is wearing it in the photo above.
A letter home...
Dottie had to measure her words carefully, in all communications, even the words she used to describe seemingly routine family updates..it was a difficult time in those days of recent upheaval of their government.
This photo of Dottie, along with Christie and Bradley, shows the ladies Dottie worked with, and their children. Christie remembers the little girl in the pink gingham dress, wearing green socks with her sandals...she recollects their innocent friendship...each trying to teach the other their language...
Even as a 4 year old, Christie loved purses, and has recollection of this wonderful purchase...the cubby shelving the purse was drawn from...
These were the 60's...the era of Jackie Kennedy....Princess Grace Kelly.....elegant role models for the young women of our country...and Dottie followed suit...
Their work in the mission field was shortened by a difficult birth of their fourth child, Stanley, and it would be necessary to travel back to the States for further medical procedures.
Once again, a photo was necessary for passports...this one, though reveals a weary mother of four, maintaining her posture and smile...such incredible strength to be 30 years of age...
The story does not stop here....fast forward to 2010....Bill and Dottie answer the call, once more, to travel to Africa. This trip would last four months...working to rebuild an eye clinic, post-war, and helping novice pastors start churches in the villages desperate for God's word. They left young men and women, who would continue to think fondly of them...even referring to them as Mama and Papa...and who would claim brotherhood/sisterhood to the four Jones siblings (whom they never met... in person).
What a reunion it will be, one day, on the shores of eternity, to come face to face with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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My mother has told me many many times...we remember the women in our family by their first names...as last names will always differ....given names will always remain....
On a favored quilt, she stitched the names of the women, forming a list from my great great grandmother down to my daughter....along with my daughter Olivia's baby bracelet and baby ring in the center of her initial "O"...
such a loving tribute....it will continue to be cherished through the years.
I love you, Mother!
Your darling,
Christie