Photo of Rosalyn Hardee aka Roz Attaway on a windy, cloudy day at the marina at

 Cedar Key, Florida, 2007, it was getting ready to storm, my father said I looked like Janis Joplin

with my hair blowing wildly in the wind and my large sunglasses.  

This was my last trip to see my father, Roy Attaway aka Oscar Leroy Attaway before he passed away!

Welcome to my Father's World!

Cedar Key Wildlife Sanctuary

Youtube music video by Rosewindansea

Angel Wings music by Marisa

 (includes white heron, pelicans, seagulls, boats, scenic waterways, sunset over the Gulf of Mexico at Cedar Key, Florida)

Rose dreams of flying like the seagulls, pelicans and  white heron into the sky on angels wings!

Dedicated to the memory of my father Roy Attaway, who soars in the realms of glory with My Heavenly Father in eternity and beyond.

 We both loved  the wildlife, seafood and the beautiful, glittering sunset over the Gulf of Mexico at Cedar  Key, Florida.

Photos taken at Cedar Key, 2007,

edited on September 14, 2009 to music slide show video by Rose

Seabirds on Cedar Key in  foreground, island off Cedar Key in background, Photo by Rose 2007

Cedar Key is surrounded by islands in the Gulf that you can go to by boat, 

there is a lighthouse on one of the islands,

 where the University of Florida has a marine biology lab. 

I hope to return soon to Cedar Key and explore the islands and the lighthouse!

 Join me!  It is a fisherman's paradise, wildlife sanctuary and an artist community.

Cedar Key art , photo by Rose, 2007

"Fear not, for I am with you;

 Be not dismayed for I am your God. 

 I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

Pelicans waiting to dive for fish at Cedar Key, Florida on the Gulf of Mexico, photo by Rose

The pelican dives for fish and returns to its perch on the dock post, then throws the fish up in the air and catches it again, getting the right position to gulp it down, watched one pelican do this over and over again, fish was too big to swallow, pelican let the fish hang from his mouth for a while, fascinating to watch from a restaurant on the pier.

"Thus says the Lord:  'Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool.  Where is the house that you will build for Me?  And where is the place of My Rest?  For all these things My hand has made. And all those things exist,' Says the Lord."

Isaiah 66 1-2a

The King of Kings is Coming!

We must be ready, we know not what day or hour He may come! 

Jesus is coming again in the clouds of glory to receive those who are His Own to take them to His Holy Mountain in the New Jerusalem. 

"Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains. And shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.  Many people shall come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths." Isaiah 2: 2-3b

Blue Run aka Rainbow Springs, head of the Withlacoochee River, Dunnellon, Florida,  blue water bubbles from the spring, most beautiful place I have seen in Florida, my Dad lived down the river from the spring, water is 72 degrees year round, let's go swimming! I took this photo in 2006, on a visit to the spring with my brother and his wife.  First time I visited the spring was about 10 years ago with my Dad.  Visit with me in my Father's World!  All nature and creation sings of the Lord's glorious handiwork.  We know God exists by the things He has made.

The Lord also comes every day to take  His Children home to be with Him, at times  when we least expect it.   My own father Roy Attaway, passed away last summer, 2009, he was 82, full of health and vigor, pursuing a life of exercise that would be difficult for almost anyone at any age to accomplish.  It was a shock, we never expected him to go home so soon.  It was a terrible, painful loss for me, but my loss was heaven's gain.  The Lord has been soothing the pain and giving me strength to continue my daily activities.  Come and go with me to  my Father's house.

Kayaking, swimming at Blue Run aka as Rainbow Springs, Dunnellon, Florida, photo by Gary Attaway, 2006

A Tribute to my Father, Oscar Leroy (Roy) Attaway:

A Memorial

I loved him so much and miss him.  He is with Jesus now in a much more wonderful place, He is happy!

 

Dad is Home at Last, Free at Last!

 

Photo of the Withlacoochee River, Florida, taken by Rose, with my father and brother at my side on March, 2007, taken from a dock at a public boat launch.  We drove to this location.

This river was part of an earthly Paradise that we loved and visited together.  The River begins at a blue spring called Blue Run or Rainbow Springs in Dunnellon, Florida, it flows out to the Gulf of Mexico.  My Father resided in a riverfront home on this River.

 

 My own father,  who was a World War II veteran of the United States Army, passed away this summer.  He died unexpectedly, in excellent health at 82, while he was fishing, sitting on the river bank of his home in Florida. He was an ironman triathlon champion, an electronics engineer, graduated from Georgia Tech. He also graduated with a Masters in Business Administration.

My father was a business man for many years, owned and operated a nationwide aerospace business representing major corporations in the aerospace industry. Dad had a business branch in Huntsville, Alabama where the Redstone Arsenal is located, one in Houston, Texas, near the Space Center, one near Cape Canaveral where the Kennedy Space Center is located and a main office in Orlando, Florida. 

Dad worked as a broker and property appraiser after retiring from his aerospace business.  Dad admired Neil Armstrong, the astronaut and  first man on the moon as well as Lance Armstrong, the world's greatest man on a bicycle.  Dad also believed in a strong military, that it was necessary for America's safety.

Dad worked hard, accomplished many wonderful pursuits in business, health and exercise, he was also an accomplished landscaper.   Dad studied many subjects, cooking, gardening, he was an avid reader.  I loved his gardens.  We all enjoyed his barbecues.  Thanksgiving was special, we shared meals, stories and singing with family and friends. 

When Dad lived on Wauseon Bay on Lake Butler Boulevard in Windermere, Florida he planted a rose garden, so beautiful it was photographed in the National Rose Society magazine.  People would come to his home and go on rose walks.  Dad would give his roses away and they were admired and delighted many.  Dad planted grape vines, citrus trees and various other fruits  and vegetable   gardens. This was about 35 years ago.  At this time we lived on the Lake Butler chain of lakes in Windermere, north  of Disney World. We could see the fireworks from Disney World that went off at night from our back porch over the lakes.  Dad also loved photography and boats.  We had canoes, row boats, pontoon boats, sailboats of various types, ski boats, and fishing boats.  I liked to take my beagle out for a paddle in the canoe. 

Dad is admiring one of his multitude of roses in the photo on the right.   He had 400 to 500 rose bushes in the front yard as well as in the back yard, in pots on his dock on Wauseon Bay.  Dad was in his 50's when this photo was taken by Nancy Richardson, my stepmom.

After retiring  to Dunnellon, Florida, Dad enjoyed a life of fishing, landscaping his home on the river and rowing down the river for exercise for hours every day.  He rode his bicycle, rollerbladed on bike trails, practiced karate and did amazing feats of exercise till the day he died.  I could hardly believe he died sitting on the riverbank fishing.  Was an unexpected shock.  I thought he would outlive me and my brother.  I leaned on him for guidance, now I lean on Jesus more.

Photo of the Withlacoochee River, taken July, 2007, while my father and I walked down the river bank , this photo was taken down the river from a restaurant, we drove to this location as well to eat seafood at the restaurant. At this restaurant there is a huge stuffed gator. Go Gators! Rose aka Roz is a University of Florida fan and alumni.  Dad called me Roz. Photo of Florida gator below:  Yikes! What big teeth you've got!

My earthly father was my hero, now he is with my Heavenly Father who is the Master of all things on earth, heaven and the universe throughout eternity.  Jesus, of course is King of Kings and the Master of all Heroes. My earthly father was strong and active till the day he died, never sick.  He worked hard on earth, he never gave up, quit or slowed down.  He fought the good fight until the end.  He stood up for what was true and right.  He loved God, his country, the river, ocean and wildlife.   He loved the space program.  He exercised and persevered beyond the limits of most humans.  He was like a superman.  He loved the fish in the river and the wildlife, especially the birds.  There are some awesome birds along the river.

Photo of the Withlacoochee River taken from the bank at my father's property, it is a river you can go down by motor boat, or canoe, kayak or row boat, from Rainbow Springs, to the Gulf, along the way are lakes and inland islands, want to explore it all in the future, the inland waterways, springs and the islands along the Gulf.  You can also explore it all by car, it is only 11 minutes from the Gulf.  Come and go with me to my father's house, photo taken June 21, 2007 by Rose

I am not saying that my father was perfect, he had his faults, we all do.  The Lord has forgiven him for any evil he has done through Jesus  blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary for the sins of the world.  My father taught me honesty, perseverance, motivation, to study hard, work hard and exercise, among many other valuable qualities.

Photo from a walk with my father down the banks of the Withlacoochee, July, 2007, one of the best memories of my life.

 I am not perfect either, I love my father and my heavenly father.  I have attempted to overcome all things through God who strengthens me.  I look to God for direction and strength and I continue to press on towards the high calling in Christ Jesus.

 In heaven my earthly father has escaped the limits of earth's boundaries and is free at last from the limitations of earth.  He has reached the stars and beyond.  He is with our Lord Jesus Christ.  He is home and free!  He has entered into a state of sinless perfection in the Lord's presence and now he sees His Master face to face.

Manatee Wall Mural by Wyland at the Manatee  Sanctuary in Homosassa Springs, Florida, photo by Rose, 2007. My father, brother and I visited the springs and this is where I saw my first original sea life wall mural and sculpture by Wyland, one of the world's greatest sea life artists of all time.  This is a wonderful place you can go by boat  and see the manatees.

 I miss my Dad, and have mourned his loss, but he is with the Lord now and has a new healthful vigor that he never had on earth.  He has entered a new doorway of  exploration and projects in glory.  I will see him again.  He is waiting for me with Jesus in Heaven with my mother and his mother and a host of brothers and sisters and friends along with a great host of angels.  Death from this world is a passage into a new glorious life in our Lord Jesus for those who are His Children.  My father chose to enter Heaven's Door. Which door will you enter?  Heaven or Hell?  Jesus is the door to eternal life.

Photo of Crystal River Bay, Florida from the Marina dock,

 my father, brother, Gary and I ate seafood at a restaurant at the marina,

in March, 2007, was the best seafood and experience,

was refreshing feeling the gentle sea breeze as we gazed at the boats

sailing across the bay, on the Gulf of Mexico,

while eating seafood underneath an outdoor cabana, want to do this again soon!

 The Lord took him at a time that I least expected it.  He was  full of health and vigor.  The Lord doesn't want me to mourn for him anymore, my father is happy, he is no longer old, but is experiencing paradise in a way that he has never known.  He  lived in paradise on a Florida spring river called the Withlacoochee that reached out to the Gulf and indeed it is paradise on earth.  My fathered has entered a greater paradise in heaven that is beyond all his expectations.

"In my Father's House are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you.  I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also......... Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14:2-3, 6

Another photo of my Dad and brother on the river, taken from his favorite fishing spot at his home on the river.  Dad now has a home with Jesus, He is with the Lord now, Dad is safe and at peaceful rest in the arms of God.  Dad rowed down the river about 5 hours a day.  He was seen rowing down the river the day before he passed into heaven's glory.

The Lord may come for you any day, any moment, you must be ready to go through the Lord's open doorway to glorious eternity.  Jesus may come for you today.  Jesus will show you the way to His Open Door.  It is the narrow way, the other is a wide path that leads to hell.  Jesus is knocking on the door to your heart now.  Open the door and let Jesus in.  Jesus is the door to enter.

  "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.  I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.  I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." 

 John 10: 7-10

Egrets soar on island waterway on Withlacoochee River, ducks in foreground in lily pads, photo by Rose 2007

 My father is now at home in our Father's House in heavenly mansions, he is with the Lord,  The Lord took Dad home to be with Him, June 16, 2009.  I love you Daddy, always!  Till we meet again rowing down the river on the celestial seas of life throughout eternity.

Dad rowing down the river, at 79, photo taken by my brother Gary in 2006. Daddy I miss you, love always, Roz

"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. "

Psalm 27:4

Thank you for visiting with me in My Father's House!

Oscar Leroy Attaway is survived by a daughter Rosalyn and a son Gary and his wife and 3 grandchildren, Jessica, Jonathan, Stephen, and 3 great grandchildren, Taylor, Madalyn and Poppy.

RoseWindAnSea promotes wildlife, sealife and environmental preservation as well as lighthouse restoration, we value the sanctity of life.  We believe in the right to life for  every unborn child in the womb and the elderly, our senior citizens should be valued and no on should set a limit on how long a person can live except our Creator. We do not agree with federal funding for abortion or a federal mandate to terminate a senior citizen's life by a death panel.  As Americans we celebrate freedom to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, there is no age limit on this, we should not have the right to terminate life for convenience, and government revenue purposes.

Jesus is the Door to Heaven and Eternal Life!

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if any man hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him. and he with Me."

Revelations 3:15

Enter Paradise Through the Open Door!

"If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and shall seek My face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, will forgive their sins and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14