Nana Judy's musings

Thank You , God!

2011-05-27T20:05:00.002-05:00

Missouri has had some trying days this week with weather! Thank you, Lord for keeping our family safe.
Last Sunday was our oldest grandson's wedding. It was a simple, but beautiful, wedding. Dillon and Melissa chose some really cool music. Nothing at all" traditional"! They are Beatles fans, so there was some of that [the parents and grandparents went down the aisle to "When I'm 64!"] and some other groups that I should remember the name but I can't. Mostly I liked it because it was SO THEM!
Good friends from Webb City, Missouri came to help with the wedding. Daryl officiated as minister, and his wife Karrie was the wedding co-ordinator. They were on their way home Sunday evening and learned that the Tornado had struck Joplin. Webb City is just North of Joplin. It took them a couple of hours to go the distance it usually takes 8 to 10 minutes to cover because they had to go back roads around road blocks, etc. to reach their home. They had no damage there, but Karrie works for the hospital that was NOT hit in the tornado, and I am sure she has had a busy week! Their son did not come to Sedalia with them, but he was safe, too.
On Tuesday we went to hear Erika sing in her talent show at Heber Hunt. She was beautiful and sang so sweetly!
Wednesday morning we were taking our time with breakfast, and thinking about what we might do for the day when Karen called to say that there was a tornado warning out for Sedalia and Pettis County. We decided that it would probably be prudent to get dressed and head for the basement. We changed the TV to a local station, grabbed the radio and our flashlights, and some batteries for back up, and our books :) as we headed down the stairs. Ended up spending the rest of the morning and almost all of the afternoon down there.
When the tornado hit the South edge of Sedalia, it was VERY close to the new high school. [Jacob , Karen's son, was at the high school.] Then it tore a path through a couple of trailer parks and a sub-division before lifting about a half block from the middle school.[ Madison, Karen's oldest daughter, was at the middle school.] If it had remained on that course, it is very likely that it would have hit the hospital area, too. It did come down Northeast of the Beaman community in Northeast Pettis county and tore up trees and out buildings.
There were no deaths, and only about 15, or so, people injured--with minor injuries. There is several million dollars of damage left behind, but everyone is SO thankful that there were no deaths or major injuries!
Just want to say, once again," Thank You, God!"

Happy Easter!

2011-04-22T23:44:00.003-05:00

Wait...this is Good Friday...we should probably dis cuss what that means, first!

Erika said to me,"Why do they call it Good Friday! It was a BAD day 'cause Jesus died because of those mean people."
"Yes," I told her," but that is why it is GOOD Friday. Because Jesus died for our sins on that day. And, THAT is why it is Good. He died to take our place in punishment. Because He died we don't have to take the punishment for the BAD in our lives."
"Oh, so BAD was Good", she said, because it was a good thing for us!"

[I hope she gets it as well as I think she got it at that time!]

"Besides," I told her, "Jesus arose again in three days. That showed he had victory over death, and that is why we celebrate Easter."

So, let me say it once again... Happy Easter, everyone!

About time...

2011-04-19T10:38:00.002-05:00

for Easter 2010! In fact, it is 5 days from now! We still have not 'made plans' for a family dinner and egg hunt. I had better get something done about it today!
I have been waiting for God to open 'communication' between me and some one again [see a previous post]. I t has been hard...but I have felt 'comfortable' for the most part. Not in a rush to push into anything. The reward came when I was approached for a 'hug', and a sincere look into my eyes and the words "I love You!" coming from both of us. There is still work to be done, but God is THE HEALER! Thank You, Lord! Amen

Easter Egg Hunt at Papaw and Nanny's 2010

2011-03-02T10:51:00.002-06:00

This year the weather was warm and dry, and we were able to have our 'Hunt' outside!This is Dillon and his fiance` Melissa

Dillon is congratulating Bostin on finding so many eggs while Emily and Stacy look on.
Looks like Emily's bag is pretty full, too. Mommy helped her by carrying the bag and telling her " you might look...over there...I think I see something..." It is amazing the ones they find with no trouble...and then there are the ones they completely miss that they have almost stepped on!
Maggy and Danielle are looking through the flower bed. I think Maggy found the special egg that Papaw had put money in!
There are lots of "hidey holes" here for eggs. And a few were hiding in that front flower bed, too.
We always count the eggs before they are hidden, and then count each childs 'collection' so we know if they have all been found! Years ago, we didn't do that and there was a very 'stinky' egg hit by the mower several weeks afterwards! Also, we do hide a few 'real' eggs but most of them are the plastic kind filled with "goodies". I think everyone had a great time...either hunting or helping

Giving Advice...

2011-02-28T23:32:00.002-06:00

...can be tricky sometimes. I try to be 'oh so careful', but occasionally some one gets their feelings hurt.
It has happened again recently. someone was posting a lot of things that not everyone needed to see or read. Matters that should have been kept private.
I prayed about it a LOT, and was so sure that I had a message for them that God, himself, had given to me to pass on to them.
It was NOT appreciated! In fact, I should have kept silent until God opened the door for me to deliver the message. I was SO EAGER to 'help God out' that I pried open a door that He was not ready to have opened, yet.

Will I ever learn???

2010 Easter Sunrise Breakfast and Service

2011-02-20T23:36:00.004-06:00

Our church has a long standing tradition of having an Easter Sunrise service and a breakfast. For several years, two couples have gone together to fix the breakfast. They know exactly how to get it done and it is always good! Biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit of various kinds, and sweet rolls. After breakfast is the service

Making the gravy

This pic was taken right at the end of the service outside. The sun is just starting to rise behind the tree line. The birds were singing their 'Morning song' and we began to celebrate the Risen Lord! "He is risen! He is risen indeed!!"

Life just keeps on happening!

2010-11-28T18:52:00.003-06:00

How can it be that so many weeks have passed since I last posted?? You get busy for a couple of weeks... then you 'put off' taking the time to write...then you get even more 'busy'...then you're 'out of the habit'! sigh! So much for 'good intentions'!
We are all well...except for our usual aches and pains. Ron did have arthroscopic surgery the middle of October to 'clean up' his right knee. Doctor said there was very little arthritis in the joint, but that he did have a tear and some rough places in the miniscus in his knee joint. He has made agood recovery.
Cory had her left knee replaced on the 13th of October [same doctor], and she is also doing very well. About a a week and a half after her surgery though, she landed in the hospital with severe pain in her belly. After some tests, it was determined that her gall bladder was the culprit and so she had that out. She is recovering nicely with that, too. She also hopes she does not have to have any further surgery for a LONG time! Ron and I spent some time helping out with Maggy during this time, too. We kept her overnite a few times and took her/ picked her up for school several days, too. She is really loving kindergarten.
Karen had her yearly tests and checkup with her family doctor and oncologist, too. She is thrilled to report that she is still cancer free! We celebrated her 2 year 'cancer free' anniversary with her at a local Mexican restaurant on November 7th. Her oncologist sent her to a genetic specialist in St.Louis for a test to see if she carried the 'cancer gene'. That test result came back in the week before Thanksgiving: she is NEGATIVE! And again we say, "Praise the Lord!"
We are thankful for all of God's blessings during this past year...I have named just a few of them... and now we are looking forward to the celebration of Christmas!

Timber!!!!!!

2010-09-13T23:35:00.002-05:00

These pictures loaded backwards to what I wanted them to load! So, start at the bottom and work UP to this one, please!
This last picture shows that they are almost through cutting up the tree. Afterwards they raked up a lot of the debris--wood chips and tiny broken branches, etc. While some were doing that, the owner brought out his stump grinder and set to work. The 2 stumps were ground into a pile of chips and sawdust. They went down several inches and ground up a lot of the roots, etc., too. It was really something to watch all of the process. We thought we would miss the tree, but really, we didn't miss it all that much. And we felt 'safer' because it was gone!
Now, they are getting down to the bigger parts of the tree. Some of the biggest pieces [and heaviest!] went onto a pickup one of the crew had there, but MOST of the wood went into the trailer.
Here is one of the crew loading up some of the 'brush'. When it looked to me that the trailer was getting pretty full, whoever was 'loading' would take a small chain saw down through the brush and cut it up some more. Then they would pile some more on ...and do the same thing again!
A lot of the leafy, smaller branches have already been cut up and loaded onto the trailer.hmmm! looks like we have the same picture--twice! GRRRRRRRRRR!

We had a big tree in our back yard last fall that needed to come down. It had several broken limbs and part of the trunk had been damaged. We had already asked this company to come and trim back some branches of our maple trees that were growing over the house. We liked how they worked [to please us!] and so we asked them to come back and take this tree down, too. To get to the tree we wanted down, they also had to take down a smaller tree that was right beside it. Here are both trees down and the crew is starting to cut them up into shorter logs for removal.

Bostin: FLAG FOOTBALL

2010-09-02T21:28:00.003-05:00

We went to a couple of Bostin's games last year. Here he is after the game with his well-deserved drink! He did a pretty good job of HIKING the ball to the quarterback. He even ran the ball into the end zone once---but someone had captured his 'flag!

The next picture is of Emily in their garage at home. showing us how she could RIDE her bike.Bostin and Kirk after the game. It was a crisp, windy day. Thankfully the sun was shining!

Emily and her sunglasses. She was giving Stacy a hard time...trying to run out on the field. I think she finally got the idea that she would be in the way and MIGHT get run over!
I wonder if Bostin will play again this year? Emily goes to "Tumbling" class on Saturday mornings, now. Guess we will see how it all works out!

Their 25th anniversary!

2010-08-28T22:56:00.003-05:00

I think this is a GREAT picture of Kevin and Cory!
Ron seems to be amused...probably at something Kevin was telling!
I think Ron took this picture of me that night.
Ron and I took Kevin and Cory to Independence last December to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Had a wonderful meal in an Italian style restaurant! Sorry, I can no longer remember the name---That happens when you wait too long to post these things. We thought about doing some 'shopping', but Cory was on crutches because she had injured her knee so we decided against it. We did drive through a couple of neighborhoods looking at the Christmas lights on our way back home. We had a really great time with lots of visiting and laughing!
[ I'm not sure why the picture of me loaded twice...but I could not seem to edit it out]

Can you belive it?

2010-08-18T10:00:00.002-05:00

Just got my new Reader's Digest. An article in there is titled: How to SOUND Smarter. Covers a lot of the things [and more!] that I talked about in the last post.
There is a LOT of info in the article. Probably means I will have to read it several times for all of the information to even begin to soak into my brain!
I remember how my Mom was always LEARNING, up until shortly before she died at 97. She was a good example of how you can keep improving and growing as a person. One thing she never did learn: The difference between crotch and crouch when she was talking about pants. She ALWAYS said it CROUCH! Never could figure that one out. Love her and miss her, though.

Tricky words and spelling!

2010-08-06T23:42:00.003-05:00

I probably notice these things more than a lot of people do...! But I've been noticing that there are a lot of tricky words that people have trouble with, and sometimes we stumble over the spelling of words, too.
Here are some examples: loose or lose? That belt is too loose, you'll lose your pants!
to, too, or two? I'm going to the store for two loaves of bread, do you want to come too?
bring or take? Will you bring me that list off of the fridge? I need to take it to the store with me.
There, their, or they're? They left their book over there on the table. Wonder when they're coming back?

There are several others, but you get the idea. Sometimes we have known which word to use in the past, but after seeing/hearing the wrong words used we get confused and can't decide which one is right!
I have a dear sister who always adds an extra' m' to coming. Another word that I see confusion over a lot is : congratulations. I think someone spelled it--conGRADulations for a card and somehow people began to believe that is how you should spell it.

Do you notice things like this too? Do you want to "help people out" when you do? Or, are you able to resist that temptation to constantly correct them?
BTW: I had to correct my spelling several times as I was typing this up!...My fingers hit too many keys sometimes, or the wrong key. Does that ever happen to you?

No pictures yet...

2010-07-27T19:57:00.002-05:00

but need to post anyway!
Have you ever had friends that you were so 'close' to that even when you have not seen each other for a while...you just take up with each other like you saw them just yesterday???

That is how our friendship is with Glen and Linda W. We got to go see them in Indiana this past weekend. Had a great time laughing and talking together! Got to thinking though, that it had been close to eight years since we had been there. They were here to see us a few years ago, but we have not been there in...forever!
I sincerely hope we never have to wait that long again! Got to see Joe and Jean P. too. Fun to all go to dinner together and then to a southern gospel concert,too. We all went to church together on Sunday, and Ron and I saw several friends there that we had not seen in a long time either. This is the church we went to and worked for during the time Kirk and Karen were both born. A lot of faces were 'missing'...either moved away or passed away...but we were so pleased to see and worship with quite a few.
All in all it was a GREAT weekend!!!!

Found these old pics of Ron...

2010-06-24T00:57:00.003-05:00

...And thought I would share them! Of course they loaded backwards to what I wanted them to load! So we'll start with the school picture first:

Not sure how old he was in this picture, but I'm guessing around 9 or 10. Can remember some of the boys looking a little like this at this age. Kirk's boy, Bostin, reminds me of this look, too.

These next two pics were probably taken at the place in Leavenworth Kansas where they lived for several years. They moved back to Kansas City for Ron to go to Northeast high school like his sister and brother did. Funny thing about this fact...My Mom and sisters all graduated from that same school, too. But by the time I was ready for high school they had built Van Horn high school. Even though my parents had not moved I was in the Van Horn district.
New suit?? And are those his Gym shoes, shirt and shots??
This picture was taken when Ron played in his first recital. I think his Mom made his 'tuxedo'. She was good at doing things like that! I think he was 4 or 5 here. Standing on their back steps. Kinda interesting to see her shadow on the steps and ground in front of him.
Been wanting to put these up for some time. Tried once and couldn't get the pictures to load. Kinda figured out what I must be doing wrong, so this time I got them to appear!
Hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane. I have lots more pics like this.

Lets try this, again!

2010-06-09T11:39:00.002-05:00

I just spent the past 1/2 hour catching up on everyone's blog. So many of you post to facebook, too, that it seemed that was all everyone was doing for a while. You can say a lot more on a blog, sometimes, so I am glad to see so many new postings. Now I am the one who needs to get back into the habit!
It seems like we are always busy, but when I think back on it...I am not really sure what we were so busy DOING! Just living life I guess!
We have a nice garden out this year. Tomatoes, sweet peppers, and a few green beans. Ron has a little more time to devote to gardening, now, so he has been tilling and weeding etc. We may actually have a LOT less weeds and more produce in the garden this year.
We took advantage of a city wide garage sale in Eldon the last of April and, together with Kirk and Stacy, her mom Debbie, Kris and Karl and Cory, actually made a little money while we got rid of some of the clutter in our house. Trying to get ready, now, for a City-wide sale in Smithton the last Saturday of the month. Same cast of characters, except for Debbie, I think.
Have not heard a great deal from Keith, but know that they were busy with end-of school projects and competitions. Keith has had a job most of this year, but it may have 'run out' now. Need to call and ask him how things are going.
Kevin and Cory have put in a garden, too. I think last year was the first time they had tried it. They still are learning...but they are having fun doing it!
Kris and Karl are enjoying the fact that Karl was finally able to get a job! He is managing a doughnut shop. Not his first choice for a job, but at least he has one! Knowing Karl, he will learn some things from this job to take to the next one, and he will share some of the things he has learned in other places to make this job better than it was to begin with!!
Kirk and Stacy stay busy, too. They get to have Bostin fairly often, now, and enjoy having the two kids together as much as they can. Stacy has been back in school since last August and will be finished with this phase of her ongoing training by this August. She is learning more about giving radiation treatments, etc. for cancer patients. She loves learning and advancing in her career.
Big news! Chris and Karen and family will leave Oregon to move back to Missouri by the end of this month. Sears has advanced him into a new job and he can live anywhere as he will be traveling to train people for the job he has been doing [there is more, but I am not sure what all he does do!] They thought it was a great opportunity to move back to be closer to family.
I left the end of May with 2 of my sisters for a trip to Michigan to see another of our sisters. Had a good and restful time spent a little over a week there. Wish our other sis could have gone, too. Her husband is an invalid, though, and she can not leave but for a few hours. I am the youngest of 6 girls, and the one that was closest to me was 12 years older. [She died a year before Mama did.] So all of sisters were in their teens when I was born.[I was a surprise!] The oldest will be 85 in October, the next will be 84 in November, the next was 81 in May, and the one who could not go on this trip was 79 in March. We had a great time! but if we did something one day, we had to 'rest' the next day! LOL! Still, we got a lot of 'visiting', stitching,reading and resting done while we were doing it! Oh, forgot cooking in that list, too.
Well, we'll see how good I am going to be about keeping the blogging up. Hope to post some pictures, too!

Whats up? with you??

2010-02-22T15:27:00.002-06:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I posted. I used to check several blogs every day and write more frequently on mine, too. Now I spend more time on facebook it seems; but I still love the blogs! It seems like you can say so much more here!! Hopefully I can get back into the habit of posting here more frequently.

Ron had a funny thing happen a couple of weeks ago. He got a phone call from the plant where he used to work. It seems that they were going through some changes in personell, and re-defining some jobs because they had some people retiring. Upshot of it was that they did not have anyone to do the job he used to do...and would he please consider coming back for a few weeks???
He is working on a 'contract' basis until they hire someone for the job. He is supposed to be done with it by the 2nd week of April. I guess we'll see how that works out. I know that they have posted the job in the paper and other places. He comes home tired...and heads for bed early..again! But, I know he was kind of 'proud[?]' to be asked to come back and help out.

Life, otherwise, is about the same around here. Some days are lazy...and some days are full! Hope you all are having good days!

Ron's Retirement Party

2009-12-28T22:43:00.004-06:00

Ron finally decided to retire this year! He had waited two extra years for me to be eligible for Medicare, so I could be fully covered by insurance. Besides that...I don't think he was quite ready to retire! You can tell by the dates on the pics that this was early August when he retired.He was not expecting Keith to be able to come---so this was a good surprise for him!! Glad you could make it, Son!
Here, Kristopher, Stacy, Kirk, Keith, and Kevin are dressed out in their favorite baseball t-shirts for the party!A baseball 'theme' was used for the decorations. Everyone knows that Ron is a SPORTS FAN! Here he is enjoying the kind of food you would find at the ball park. Nachos, Hamburgers, Hot dogs/Brats, and peanuts and Cracker Jacks. There was soda [or beer if you wanted it] to drink; and for dessert they had frozen malts! There were baseball bats and ballons and gloves on the tables for decoration!
The lady behind Ron is Debbie Lamb. Her husband, Steve, is sitting across from her (you can see his hands) They are Chris Lambs' Mom and Dad. Steve also works at PC. His Dad, Frank, was Ron's boss in the early 70's.Don't expect you to know these people, but I wanted you to see the 'poster' on the wall. They used a photo of Ron from the 70's to make this baseball card type poster! His kids were loving reminicing over his clothes and hair and GLASSES! [The ladies in the pic work in the offices.]

Here, the Plant Manager is giving Ron one of the many 'gag' gifts that were presented. Ron had a few to give back, too. [The man in the white cap was Ron's boss for many years---until HE retired earlier in the year!] One of the nicest gifts they gave him was an authentic numbered picture of George Brett and the "Pine Tar Bat" that George Brett had autographed. It is very nicely framed with a certificate of 'authenticity'.

I must say that Ron has adapted well to being retired. We have been busy with several things and I don't think he misses having to get up and go to work everyday. He misses a lot of the people...but has been back a few times to 'go to lunch' with some of them.

Maggy's 4th Birthday Party-- at Truman Dam

2009-12-15T00:40:00.003-06:00

Maggy's birthday is on the 21st, so her party was the weekend before that. Here is a picture with her Grandma Evans. They were discussing all of the 'princess' stuff that was on this cute gift bag.

Here she is with her Memaw [Cory]. She is ready to go down to the lake and "swim"!

Opening her presents. I am not sure who some of the kids were that came. Some of the people Danielle works with, and some of her friends, came with their kids.

Waiting to see if Momma can get her candles to light so we can sing Happy Birthday! The wind was really strong!!

Danielle is really trying to get the candles to light and stay lit long enough for Maggy to blow them all out.[ Important when you are four to do all of the traditional things!] I think she had a great time. She said,"Thanks Guys! for coming to my birthday party!"

Whenever she wants to say something to a group of people, she calls us ALL 'Guys'.

What a girl! We love our great-grand- daughter !!!

5th of July--Barbecue at Nana and Papaws

2009-12-14T00:53:00.002-06:00

I'm SO behind on posting pics! Here are some from July 5th when Kirk and Stacy, Bostin and Emily came for a belated 4th of July celebration with us. [Kristopher was there all weekend!]
Stacy is helping Bostin choose what he wants on his plate. We had typical fare--hamburgers and hot dogs and all the other 'stuff' that goes with them!Emily has already cleaned up her plate and is waiting for MORE hot dogs. Bostin is peeking over the top of the chip bags that were on the table.Tried to get a good pic of Emily's hairdo. Stacy had frenchbraided a crown around her head. Surprisingly, Emily sits pretty still for Stacy to do this. She likes the result---no hair in her eyes, or down on her neck!
You can see in her 'part' that she was out in the sun and got a little pink!Pretty typical view of Kristopher and Ron! Buddie loves to be on someones lap, and if Kristopher is here---he is the lucky one to provide the lap! I don't think it bothers him much.If you click on this and make it bigger, you can see that Bostin is sitting on the couch watching TV. He also had a DS he was playing games on, too. No telling what pictures I'll find to post next. We'll just have to see!!!

Emily at Two

2009-11-10T01:26:00.003-06:00

Such a little giggle box!

Drinking from a regular glass, and not spilling
She thinks she is really playing this game. Loves to 'drive' that vehicle!
This was the night before Emily's 2nd birthday.
We met at Bobbio's in Tipton for pizza buffet. I felt privileged to have her sit on my lap, usually she goes to Papaw and not me so much. She is a loving little girl, very bright, and VERY BUSY!!!

Dakota's Graduation

2009-11-05T23:02:00.004-06:00

Dakota's graduation was on Saturday, May 16 2009. It was held on the fairgrounds, in the Matthewson Center. Here is a picture of Cory [R] and her friend Carrie waiting for the ceremonies to begin.
The next afternoon, there was a picnic at Bothwell State Park for family and friends to celebrate with Dakota.

Here is a pic of the banner Cory had made so friends and family would know this was the place for Dakota's Party. Cory's stepdad Jim, and family friend Earline [aka Mamaw] are included in the pic, too.
A shot of the cake, displayed with Dakota's senior pictures and his diploma.

Here he is opening presents. There are pics from his school days, and some of his awards displayed on the table. Cory found some 'music' decorations to hang from the rafters in the picnic shelter.

Reading through cards from friends and family.

The day was sunny, warm, and with just a slight breeze. So different from the day before at Rob's celebration.

These cousins were born just 24 days apart. Dakota's b-day is the 4th of April, and Rob's is the 28th. Proud of both of them!

Robbie's Graduation

2009-11-05T22:23:00.003-06:00

Finally able [with my new computer] to get some pictures up! Here are some that were taken at Rob's graduation[Friday night May 15,2009] and party.

This one was taken at the school right after the graduation. The room is Valerie's classroom. She teaches FACS- Family and Consumer Science-[we used to call it Home Ec!]. From the left, it is Danielle, Valerie, Rob [all 6 foot 9 of him!] looking over his diploma and awards.

Here he is with Papaw Ron and Nana Judy.And here he is with Papa Jim and Nana Janet Clark [He always called her Nana Fay!]

The next day[Saturday, May 16], there was a picnic celebration at Valerie's house . It turned out to be windy, cool ,and damp. So most of us ate inside. We had a buffet of salads [Val made] and Subway sandwiches, and Cake, too, of course! This pic was taken at the side of the house--out of the wind!

This shot was taken in the kitchen before we ate. Some of Robbies friends are in this pic, but the guy on the extreme right is Dakota. His graduation was that evening in Sedalia.

Have you done this???

2009-10-12T23:39:00.003-05:00

Today was the day...I have done MY part...Have you???

I went today and had my mammogram. No...It is not the most pleasant of experiences...but all of us gals need to do it---for ourselves, and the ones who love us!

Come on now...call and get that appointment if you haven't done it already.

AGE doesn't matter. My daughter was 32 last year when they found her cancer. My sister was 80 this year when they found hers. My daughter recently had her year follow-up check up and mammogram--everything is great! My sister is taking radiation treatments [she may even be through with them by now].

They would be the first in line to tell you...get your mammo!! They are sure glad THEY did!!!

Jacob at Two! [or was it One?]

2009-10-08T22:06:00.005-05:00

Loving on TJ Cinnamon . Not so sure TJ appreciated it! Hershey Bar got in the pic, too.

Not sure what this was all about. maybe he was doing some kind of 'trick' ??? Uncle Kirk was looking on. Swinging with Mom in Nana and Papaws back yard.

Waiting for Uncle Kirk to graduate from SFCC. I found these pics the other day, and since Karen just finished blogging about Jacob's first high school dance, I thought I would share what he looked like as a toddler. See, he had lots of curls even then!! Love you Jake!!!

How to have a Garage Sale!

2009-09-14T23:09:00.002-05:00

No, I'm NOT going to give you step by step instructions! Just going to share about our very successful sale this past weekend.

E---N MO has a city wide sale in the Spring and in the Fall. Kirk and Stacy have a great place to have a sale. Their garage is big and their driveway is fairly level, and they live in a great housing addition, too, only a block off of a well traveled road. [like that run-on sentence??]

Anyway, we had a great sale last Spring with Stacy's sisters and her Mom, too. The kids all know that we NEED to get rid of a lot of the STUFF that has collected in our house over the past 30+ years. I tried all summer to go through stuff and get a bunch of it ready for the sale this Fall. I did get some work done, but there was always something else that needed doing ,too.

Two weeks ago, we did take a load down to their house, but most of that was stuff that we had brought back from previous sales- intending to try and sell it again. Once we got all of that out of the garage and a corner of the basement where it was stored, it was easier to get motivated about getting more stuff together.

We ended up taking three more van loads-2 during the week prior to the sale and one the night before . We spent Thursday night at their house so we would be ready EARLY Friday morning to get everything set out for the sale. Stacy's Dad and Kirk made an awesome rack to hold ALL of the clothes[except one small table of baby/kid clothes] that ran 2/3 of the way down their driveway. It was great to not have to worry about the wind blowing a rack over, or a rack collapsing because it had too many heavy clothes on it! Other than an entertainment center for Kirk and Stacy, none of us had any really 'big ticket' items to sell this time. Stacy's mom[Debbie] and Ron and I and Kirk and Stacy were the only ones selling this time. We had a pretty steady stream of 'customers' all day Friday and up until about 2PM Saturday. Kristopher did bring a few things down Friday night and we put them out Saturday, too.

When we sorted out the 'remainders' we gave several boxes of items to Stacy's great aunt to sell in a 'senior center' store she manages, and several boxes to Goodwill/Salvation Army, but I believe we sold well over 2/3 of the things we had put out to sell. Stacy kept back a few things she wanted to try and sell again, and I did, too. We brought home one half full tub of knick knack stuff, and one fairly full of clothing and 17 empty tubs!![not counting the cardboard boxes of stuff we took, too.]

Now we need to sort through some more 'stuff' and get ready for another sale here in a couple of weeks! I told you we need to get rid of LOTS of stuff!

Momma Gets a Day with Her Boys!

2009-09-04T14:35:00.004-05:00

A little over a week ago, Karl called his Dad all excited. He had found out that the Chiefs would be in St.Louis to play the Rams, and--that his boss had season tickets, and--that he wasn't going to use the tickets and Karl could have them. The game was on Thursday September3rd.

Anybody who knows us, knows that we are all Chiefs fans, so that looked like a great opportunity for some of us to go. So Karl and Ron called around to the different brothers in Missouri, to see who could go--and of course everyone had to 'check their schedules' before they could answer for sure. [I had let them know last time they did something like this that if there were enough tickets, I wanted to go too!] Meanwhile, Karl found out he could get 2 more tickets from someone else. It wasn't long before the calls came in that everyone could go!

We [Kevin, Ron, and I] left here a little after 10:00 AM and headed an hour South and East to get Kirk, then an hour North and East to get Kris, stopped for a Subway sandwich and drink to eat on the way and headed East on I-70 to St.Louis. Made a couple of 'comfort stops' on the way and got to downtown St.Louis around 3:00PM to pick up Karl. We went for an early dinner, because we knew that the Cardinals were playing an afternoon game and we figured it would get busy in the restaurants when that game let out and also more people were coming in to town for the football game. Had a great dinner in a rather large facility. When we went in, there were about 2 other tables in use inside and 2 or 3 sidewalk tables, too. By the time we were finished with our leisurely dinner, the place was really filling up! We had strategized together and came up with a place to park that was not too far from a restaurant, or too far from the "Dome" where the game was played. The walk was easy for me [which was the point!] and the weather was great! We entered the Lumiere Casino from the road area where we parked and went by tunnel, using moveable sidewalks, under the busy highway and came out 1/2 a block from the Dome.! The gates opened at 5:30. Karl, Kris, Ron, and I had seats on the 30 yard line, seven rows up from the field. Kevin and Kirk had seats in the end zone,2nd section up from the field, and 3 or so rows up from the concourse. By the middle of the first quarter, we realized that there were a lot of empty seats around us so they came over and sat with us the rest of the game.

We had a lot of fun to gether. It was nice to see the interaction and be a part of it!

Some Favorites: Ron making a deal with Kevin to let Kevin drive to St.Louis. So that Ron wasn't too tired to drive back when all of them needed to sleep if they could, so they could get up to work today! Holding hands with Karl as we walked along the street toward the restaurant. Taking Kirk's arm so I could step down at the curb.Everyone sharing 'bites' of their different food choices at the restaurant. Kevin bringing his cane along for me to use if I needed it [thoughtful!]. Kris bringing along a 'mixed bag' of candy to share as we traveled.

Once we cleared the downtown area we had no traffic problems all the rest of the way home. We stopped once for gas, etc. By the time we made the rounds to take Kris and Kirk home and got to our house it was around 3 AM.[Kevin drove his car to our house and then had to wake up and drive home!] Ron had gotten coffee when we stopped for gas, and he really wasn't very sleepy. Plenty tired, though! We got to bed as soon as possible, and got up around 9:30 or so this morning Will admit that we have not really done much today! It doesn't help that the weather is dark and rainy! We'll probably have an early bedtime tonight!

Retirement!!

2009-08-17T23:35:00.002-05:00

As of Friday August 7th, Ron is retired! We have now begun a new era in our lives.

The company had a nice retirement party for him that evening. All the kids who could get here were there. Keith came down for the evening-stayed all night with us- and went back to Nebraska after breakfast on Saturday. Kevin and Cory were there, and Kristopher, and Kirk and Stacy. Of course Karen was in Oregon and Karl had been here the weekend before from St.Louis.

It was a very 'casual' affair with a baseball theme. We were asked to come dressed in baseball themed clothes, and their were bats and baseball balloons on the tables and other 'ball' decorations, too. Even a poster each from the Royals and the Cardinals. There were pics of Ron-from his early years down through this past year- on display, too.

There were baskets of peanuts and Cracker Jacks on each table, and the food was hamburgers, hot dogs or 'brats', and nachos! For dessert they brought out frozen malts like you can get at the ballpark.Several people had little 'gifts' or momentoes to give to Ron, and he had a few to give out, too. A silly, fun time with all that. The main thing he was given that night was a matted and framed print of George Brett and the pine tar bat incident and it was signed by George Brett. It was a GREAT night and a good celebrationof 38 years with the company, and Ron had a great time!

On Sunday afternoon, Ron and I headed to Branson for a week of R&R. Did a lot of resting and reading, saw one show, did a little shopping and ate at least one meal a day out somewhere! Came home this past Sunday with a stop in Springfield to see my nephew Raymond on the way.

Now I am wondering when it is really going to hit Ron that he is retired...and NOT just on an extended vacation!!

How SAD!

2009-08-17T22:52:00.002-05:00

I have some other things I want to tell you about...but first...I HAVE to comment about a tragedy. It is so hard to even think about it, but maybe we need to think about it a little.

A young man is dead. His wife no longer has her beloved husband. His two kids no longer have their Dad. His sister no longer has her twin.ETC. ETC.

The big question is WHY???

Part of the answer we will never know--maybe all of it. There were some clues---there was some treatment, and medication---there was a lot of love--- but for some reason he wanted life to be over.

He couldn't think it all through...couldn't see how much hurt and distress he would cause. [I'm convinced that if he could have he would not have done what he did!]

It is hard for us to wrap our minds around that fact sometimes:--They really don't --even can't-- understand how much we love them and want good things for them.

Depression is so insidious. It causes a glitch in the thinking of those who have it!

[ Those with Bi-polar syndrome are another group of people who can not always think things through. That is why so many of them want to get off of their meds when they are 'doing better'. They think that they don't need them anymore...that they have been cured. If I am totally honest I have to say here that even diabetics don't always think right about their disease either. It is easy to go into denial and decide to ignore your food plan , your need for taking your meds on time and getting enough exercise, etc.]

There are no 'easy answers'. No 'miracle cures' for depression. Each person's story is different. The only thing we CAN do is just keep trying! Keep loving! Keep re-assuring! Keep nagging [in a kind way] to take their meds, see their doctors.....! The biggest thing, and probably the best, that we can do is PRAY!, both for them and WITH them.

God Bless!!

Karl hits the BIG 40!

2009-08-01T22:39:00.003-05:00

Karl had his birthday this past Tuesday. It was one of those 'milestone' events we all face--the big 40! I don't think it 'bothered' him as much as it would have a year or so ago. He seemed to take it all in stride.

Danielle and I went to St.Louis to get him on Friday. Today we all [the ones who live in this area] went to Truman Lake for a cookout and 'celebration' of his birthday. I found a few "Over the Hill" banners, etc. at the Dollar Store in Warsaw and Robbie and I taped them up around the shelter. Karl had a little bit to say about that, but not so much. I think He really kind of liked them!

Kevin brought pork steaks to grill[ I know that surprises some people--uh, not much, that is his favorite thing to grill!] Kirk and Stacy brought hotdogs and Ron and I brought hamburgers and hot dogs. Kevin and Danielle made a fresh salsa [everything was from their garden] and Kevin fixed some guacamole, and sliced some tomatoes. Kirk and Stacy brought chips, too. And I made a pasta salad and some cole slaw. For once, Karl didn't get a lemon cake[there was a glitch about who was making it!?!?] but Kris and I stopped at Wal-mart and picked up and "excellent" chocolate birthday cake! Kris also brought his famous Kristopher dip and the cream cheese, bacon and cheddar spread he makes for crackers that we all like, too.Val and Robbie brought several different kinds of cookies -homemade- that were great

Several people went down to the beach and played in the water for a while, but mostly we just sat around and visited together. and 'spent time' with each other. Cory came down after she got off work and got to spend a couple of hours with us, too. As we were leaving, the sun was beginning to set. This giant orange and gold ball was reflecting on the water as it slowly sank behind one of the Ozark Hills. It was Beautiful!

Robbie came home with us and is spending the night. Then he is going with us to take his Dad back to St.Louis tomorrow afternoon. Kristopher and I are making the trip this time. After this coming Friday, Ron and I will be able to handle this part pf it,---but more about that LATER!

Busy, busy, busy...

2009-07-14T22:41:00.002-05:00

Or as one of my grandkids said one time "Dizzy, dizzy, dizzy".[That is what they thought we were saying!]
It seems like we have been kept busy the past few weeks with one thing and another.
The Saturday before Father's Day several of the kids showed up for a 'work day' at our house. Ron fixed 'Biscuits and Gravy' for breakfast and after a short 'meeting' to discuss what they wanted to accomplish for the day, the work began. Kirk got his tall ladder and cleaned out the gutters [maple 'trees 'were growing in them, plus other debris that had gathered over the winter]. They had decided to take out the overgrown lilac bushes, so Kris got busy with the 'loppers' and started cutting them out. Kevin came back with his chainsaws and they also began to take out the redbud that was growing closest to the deck. It had 3 trunks coming up out of the ground and they had started to split apart so that the branches were getting lower all of the time. I didn't realize that was happening so much, just thought it needed to be trimmed,etc. When they got it down, though, you could see that it was starting to die from the inside. I miss it, and the shade and privacy it used to provide, but I'm glad they realized what was going on with it. There is a humongous, tall pile of branches and clippings waiting to be burned now! Each of the kids brought something to fix for supper and we had pork steaks and chops and weiners etc; with baked beans, salads, deviled eggs, and desserts for supper. Yummy!! [Forgot to say that I had fixed sandwich and chip stuff for lunch, including bologna salad, and braunschweiger for my kids plus other luncheon meats for the others. Had a little arguing over who got "piggy" over the bologna salad!]
A week ago last Sunday, Kirk 'borrowed' a pressure washer from his father-in-law and we started 'washing' the house. Have all of the front and the East side and half of the back done. Ron cleaned the front porch and the steps to the driveway one evening and then Dillon came and helped him do the steps up to the back deck and part of the deck floor, too. Then last Saturday Ron did most of the rest of the floor, and I finished the rest and did the railings around the deck and the seating area. It looks so 'new' now! Then we got a little carried away! Ron started washing off the travel trailer, and worked some more on a resin table he had previously started. Then I went back to the trailer and got most of it finished, cleaned off the picnic table, the yard swing, and some resin chairs. Kirk had come when Ron was cleaning the deck floor and he got in on some of that, but he spent most of his time digging up the root balls on two of the lilac bushes that had been cut down before. It is slow tedious work! Kris had worked some on the big lilac bush's root ball at the southeast corner over 4th of July weekend-in between rain storms. So we still have the West side of the house to 'wash' and the rest of the back.It will have to be dryer than it was last week when they wash the rest of the back because that is where the garden spot is and they will have to be careful and not sink the ladder in to the garden---or damage any of the tomato or pepper plants!

Dawn View;and Something Funny

2009-06-21T21:38:00.003-05:00

The next two pics were taken from our balcony at the hotel on the morning we returned to Missouri. I'm not sure, but I want to believe that this is Mount Hood---but it could be another mountain.This is taken to the left of the last pic and a few minutes later. The sky color was a little deeper. There was a park directly across the street from the hotel. The tree tops you see were from that park. We were on the 7th floor.

This shot was just a few minutes later, and you could begin to see buildings and other structures. We caught the light rail train back to the airport right outside the hotel. We felt like we saw a cross-portion of downtown Portland as we rode along. I think it was only 20 or 30 minutes for the trip. Some areas it traveled pretty fast, but some areas [near other traffic] it was slower. I kind of enjoyed the ride!

Okay, I don't usually take a picture in the bathroom! But I just couldn't resist this one. Oregon is one of the 'GREENEST' states I know about! So they encourage Ecology in many ways. This sign is posted above the stool in the bathroom.

In order to conserve water---this sign tells you how to flush! You pull up on the handle for "liquid" waste[ number 1] and down on the handle for "solid" waste [number 2]. And now you know!!!

HUNGRY! and SO Tired!

2009-06-21T21:15:00.002-05:00

After the Finale, we were all pretty hungry so we decided to eat at the restaurant in the hotel. Here is Erika coloring her menu /placemat while we waited for our order.

This picture "says it all!" about how tired everyone was. It was a lot of work in some regards, mainly for Madison and Karen, to get Mad to her 'appointments'/rehersals, and events on time and in the right outfit etc. And there was some 'let down' after it was all over, but I am so glad that Madison got to experience something like this. and I am SO glad that we got to be there to see it all!

Madison is coloring her placemat with Papaw looking on. We all de-stress in different ways. One of the ways Madison chooses is to zone in on some type of artwork. She has always loved to color and draw and has had great comments from her classroom teachers over how well she does with it.[If you want to see what she created for the pageant contest that won her a 'first' rating, check out Karen's blog.--there is a link to it from my blog!]

Tropies and Tears and Smiles

2009-06-15T23:17:00.002-05:00

After the pageant we met Madison in the hall and took a few pictures. Her trophies are sitting on the floor in front of her. The biggest one is for her "First" in the Art contest, the second biggest is for her "Second" for the Resume' she wrote [all the girls were supposed to write one.] and the smallest is the one she got for being in the state contest. Each of the girls that made it to state got one of those.Karen had gone running back to the dressing room after the finale thinking that Madison would go there first. Madison had been smiling and talking with the rest of us but when she saw Karen come up to join us she burst into tears. I think it was a lot of things--being tired, relief that the stress was over,being happy that she went so far in the contest, and maybe a little bit of diappointment because she didn't win, too. But the tears didn't last long and she got her 'smile' back real soon.Erika was concerned about her tears and gave her a hug. She told her she was happy for her. Chris had found a rose on the floor that some one had dropped and had given it to Erika during the pageant. She decided that she wanted to give it to Sissy, too. So Madison is olding both roses .One last shot of them all. [ Jacob didn't come with them to Portland because he had an "End of Season" soccer tournament to play in that weekend.]

Pics From the Finale-Sunday Evening

2009-06-15T22:37:00.002-05:00

Here are some pics I was able to get from the finale. This first one is from the dance routine that all of the girls participated in doing at the start of the program. The girl with the sash and crown is last years winner. Madison is standing to her left [to your right as you look at the picture].Here is a shot of Madison, with her tropy for being in the state pageant, as she is being introduced for the final time. The girls all rushed back to the dressing area to change out of their 'dance' clothes and get into their formal wear for the rest of the program.This is right after they announced Madison's name as being in the Top 10. I believe she is receiving her Rose for that in this picture.Here are the Top 10 waiting for the judges final decision. From these ten there was chosen 4th runner-up, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and the winner. Madison is standing in the center, and the girl that you can barely see behind last years winner is the one Karen says was the winner this year.

Madison didn't place in the top 5, but she was delighted that she had made it into the top 10! We were proud of her! Glad that she went as far as she did, and really proud of her gracious attitude throughout the whole pageant! And she still had that big smile!

The End Result!

2009-06-11T15:22:00.003-05:00

I'm not sure...but I think this big smile is partly because all of the "sit still,"head up" is finally over!

Here is how the back looked. Remember, this is all Madisons hair . NOT an artificial "fall" or hair piece!

A side view [and she is STILL watching the cartoon show on TV]

The Tee shirt and hair bow are part of the outfit she wore for the dance number that the girls did together at the beginning of the show. She put it on before Karen started on her hair so she wouldn't mess her "do" up by putting it on. Karen warned her that they would have to 'go slow' and be very careful in taking the Tee off when she had to quickly change into her formal wear for the finale.

Time for a quick pose with Nanny and Papaw before we all went down to the finale. She always has had this great big smile! Love it!!!!

Gettin' Beautiful...

2009-06-11T14:57:00.003-05:00

...takes time and patience! Madison's hair is so thick, that it takes a long time to get even a simple "DO" accomplished.

Karen pulled it all into a pony tail, wrapped a piece out of that around the 'pony' to hide the 'band' and then began to separate and curl her hair into ringlets. She tried using her curling iron but the curls were just NOT staying together. I suggested my [smaller bore] iron and that made a tighter curl.

Then each curl got sprayed with lots of hair spray!

Papaw and Erika were reading the 'funnies' together while all of this was going on [Madison was watching a cartoon show!]

Storm Warnings/ Storm Shelters

2009-06-11T14:16:00.003-05:00

Have you ever been 'stuck' in a store like WalMart during a tornado warning, or a severe storm warning?
Several years ago I got to spend a half hour or so in the 'cooler' area of our local Aldi's store while a severe thunder storm raged out side. I was glad for the comfort of feeling I was in a strong safe place.
Last evening a friend and I stopped off at the WalMart in Warsaw for a 'comfort stop'. We had just dropped another friend at her house on our way back from a shopping trip in Springfield. It was a little dark with a few sprinkles when we went into the store. I decided to use the opportunity of being at a Wal Mart to pick up some vitamins etc. that I was needing. My friend and I were looking for one I wanted when an employee came up to us and asked that we would please move to the center of the store as they had been advised that a severe thunder storm was approaching. When we got to that area we could see that nearly everyone who was in the store was milling about in that area. We spent time checking out some merchandise in the area and just walking around in it. About 20 minutes into that someone made an announcement over the store speakers that we were 'in line' of a tornado that had been spotted in Oceola. I was a little more concerned than I had been, and then I was a little more concerned when I thought about where they had gathered everyone: middle of the store, no structural support that would keep the roof from crushing us all if it fell.
I wonder why that area was chosen!?!? Was there not some area of the store: offices, hall, even bathrooms, that would have protected us from flying glass but would have had interior walls to help support a roof structure? I don't know who writes their policy, but I think they should re-think it! I'm probably going to write a letter to Wal-Mart headquarters and maybe one to some state officials expressing my concerns and asking why they approve this policy. Maybe there is something I don't understand, but then ,again, maybe there isn't!!!

Pageant Saturday Evening

2009-06-07T14:35:00.003-05:00

All of the girls were judged in these catergories: Formal wear [with escort], personal introduction, interview with the judges, and ?[I can't remember?!?! :0)].
Here is Madison with her handsome escort, her Daddy. I think her dress fits her personality, and I was very impressed that Chris could still wear the Tuxedo he had while in high school!! [Heehee!]

I know this picture is dark, but this is when she was actually introduced for the first time. After they walked onstage she walked toward the judges and then made a slow circle in front of them so that they could see her total outfit, smiling all the while, of course! When Chris rejoined her, he presented her with a rose bouquet [most escorts did this for their girls] and walked her off stage. Erika was sitting between Ron and I. Madison was number 22 out of 46 or 47 girls to be presented. After a while Ron touched my arm and said to me,"Is Erika asleep?''. Sure enough, she had curled up on the comfy chair and was fast asleep. She stayed that way through all of the rest of the evenings program.
After the 'formal wear' Madison had to rush back to the dressing room and put on her 'interview outfit' and get ready to come back out for her Personal Introduction.
The girl standing by her was last years winner in this division. She stood there and passed the microphone to each girl as she came out [by herself this time] and gave her own introduction. Some girls tried to memorize a whole complicated speech. Some did well with it and some did not. Madison came right out and took the microphone and said,"Hello! My name is Madison Lamb, from the beautiful city of Medford Oregon. When I grow up I would like to become an interior designer. Thank you!"

She had a lot of 'stage presence', perhaps because she was the primary character in a Christmas play at church last December ?!?

Happy Birthday Mommy!

2009-06-05T22:14:00.003-05:00

Today you would have been 104. You got close to 100--just 3 years and 2 months away. I thought, as did many others, that you would make it to 100. God had other plans, and His plans are always best!!
I remember other birthdays after Daddy died and how "Just us Girls" got together for most of them. We took you out for lunch and a shopping trip---usually to Wal-Mart's fabric department because that was one of your favorite places to go. A few times we had a picnic/cookout down below Truman Dam, too. One of the best times was when we surprised you with an 80th birthday celebration and invited so many friends and family to join us at the Methodist church in Smithton. A couple of days later we girls took you out [on your real birthday] for lunch. It was always great when Evelyn could come in from California and be with us, too. One of the saddest times was when we went out for lunch [the guys,too.] and then we all went to see Carolyn because we wanted to include her in the day. None of us had any idea that would be the last time most of us ever saw her again.
I would love to hear you tell the story once again about the surprise party you planned for yourself. The surprise was on Grandma because you had asked your friends to come and she wasn't planning a party! If I remember right, you had told her that you wanted a party but she was busy at the time and did not REALLY pay attention to what you were saying. Then you asked her what she was going to serve or something the day of the party and she realized that you were serious and had to come up with something to eat and drink in short time.
Another story I would love to hear again was about 'old Maude' the former race horse that your family had as a 'buggy' horse and how notionate she was about moving only as fast as and when she wanted to move. Except for the day when she met the 'horseless carriage' on the road and it passed her. She took off for home and you all just had to 'hang on' because she didn't stop until she was in the barn!
I could just see it all in my mind as you were telling it!
There are many more things to remember, but they will have to wait until another time.

Brakfast Buffet--Saturday Morning

2009-06-03T22:39:00.002-05:00

If you reserved rooms at the hotel for the NAM pageant, you received vouchers for the breakfast buffet. The food was really pretty good, but I don't think there was enough communication to the person who scheduled staff etc. for the weekend. They kept running out of certain foods [i.e. plenty of gravy, but NO biscuits!]and did not really have enough wait staff either; but everyone was pleasant and helpful--just overworked. [They also had a "Stamp Show" and some other meeting going on in the motel!]

Madison 'practiced her smile' for everyone with a camera! It has always been beautiful! Everywhere she went in the hotel, she wore her pageant number, too.

Karen is peeling and quartering an apple for Erika. Look how long Erika's hair has gotten. It is so different from Madison's in color, texture, and 'thickness'. But it is beautiful, too. And it is part of what makes her be Erika!
I was scrapbooking a page with Erika's baby pictures one time, and it was very interesting to see how her hair got lighter and lighter each month. It was brown like Madison's had been when she was born, and was this beautiful golden color by her first birthday.

After our breakfast together, Madison had some rehearsal time and other meetings. For lunch, we all walked down a block to a mall at the Lloyds Center and ate in the Food Court then went our separate ways to due a little shopping. It was beautiful weather!

National American Miss--Oregon

2009-06-02T23:29:00.004-05:00

Friday night of the pageant weekend they had a "50's" get aquainted dance for all the contestants and their families. Karen and Chris made Madison's poodle skirt and fixed an "M" on her shirt a la "Laverne and Shirley". Erika got a poodle fixed on one of her skirts and an "E" on her shirt. Both had long scarves tied around their pony tails. Check out Erika's big old sunglasses!

Here, they are dancing on the very crowded stage with Daddy. Karen and I were trying to take pictures---when we could find them in the crowd!

Madison is trying to do the Twist. Her elastic in her skirt was a little too loose and she was constantly having to pull it back up as she danced.

Here is a close-up of the "poodle". She ought to be able to wear this skirt for a while. They both looked so cute!

Mommy and Daddy got 'in the spirit' and dressed 50's style, too. The music variety was great but it was really loud, and then they were trying to talk over it to tell the girls some things. My ears were 'tired'! Might have something to do, too, with the fact that we had flown that day and it was already past Midnite, Missouri time, when we were through! Ron stayed in the room and went to bed. He 'turns into a pumpkin' when it gets that late!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2009-05-31T23:04:00.002-05:00

Today, May 31, would have been my Dad's 111th birthday!{My, how old ARE you Judy??]
No, really, I have told you before that I was the 'unexpected' child. My Mom was 39, and my Dad was 46 when I was born.
Daddy, Isreal Raymon Coen, was the only boy in his family. He had 3 older sisters and 2 younger sisters. He was the only one with 2 names[first and middle] to survive childhood. an older sister, Lena Maude, and a younger sister, Electra Grace both died in toddlerhood. His 2 older sisters were Anna and Mae and his younger sister was Ruth. Daddy's parents built and ran a boarding hotel, across from a railroad station in the town where he grew up. Grandma served family style meals and made lunches for the workers who were building US 36 highway. She never wrote anything down [I'm not sure how far she went in school] but she could 'keep the books' in her head. When it was payday, she would stand at the door and when the men came by her she would recite to them how many meals they had taken at the hotel and how many lunches she had packed for them and they would 'pay-up' before they left the dining room. My Dad and his Dad installed the first electrical system in the town. It only ran for certain hours of the day and was turned off every night. Fifteen minutes [or so] before it was time to shut down, they would 'flash' the lights to let everyone know so they could light lamps, etc.
This early introduction to electricity affected the remainder of his life. He was a Navy 'ship electrician' on a troop ship during WWI. There is an interesting side tale here: Daddy could NOT swim. The captain found out and had him thrown overboard thinking he would 'learn' quickly. He just had to have him rescued. When they docked in New York City he sent Daddy to the YMCA for swimming lessons. Dadddy did everything he was instructed to do, but he still couldn't swim. His feet sank just like they were rocks! The instructor sent word to the captain that Daddy had really tried to learn, but it was just IMPOSSIBLE! Luckily the war was almost over so he didn't have much longer to serve.
At some point, Daddy went to work for the Kansas City Power and light Company. First as a lineman, and eventually as a 'trouble shooter', a job he held until his retirement. I remember seeing him 'at work' several times during my life and it was always a thrill. Usually I was with one of my older sisters, going shopping or something, and we would come to an intersection or something and see his car and look around and see him up on a pole working to fix some problem. One time I was staying overnight at a friends and a big storm came up. The electricity was interrupted all over her neighborhood. Pretty soon we heard voices coming from her alley and saw big flaslights shining. "Hey!, I said, that is my Dad's voice!' Sure enough, he was one of the workers out trying to repair the 'outage'!
Since Daddy's birthday was so close to the 'traditional' Memorial Day holiday, a tradition was begun to have a Family Reunion each year at that time. Daddy's favorite 'cake' was strawberry shortcake, so that was the dessert of the day. After we had our BIG Dinner at noon, while some were cleaning up the dishes,etc. others would begin putting together a huge 'dishpan' full of strawberries while still others began making the homemade ice cream. The first few years there were 2 or 3 hand cranked makers, in later years we had a couple of bigger electric makers, but there was usually at least one hand craked one, too. How else would all of the grandkids learn about 'taking turns' at helping to make the ice cream??
There were always 'ball games' going on out in the field, card games and other table games at tables in the yard, and two other events always happened: One of the grandsons would get grandpa to do his 'pole trick'. He could balance himself on the side of the pole with his arms in such a way so that his body was at a right angle to the pole. Many tried, but few were successful at figuring out how to do that. The other event was getting Grandma and Uncle Ron taking turns at the piano for a singfest!
Great memories!
Daddy died in August of 1977 at the age of 79 after being diagnosed with lung cancer earlier that year. We didn't keep up the tradition of the Family Reunion, but I wish we would have. We did have one in 1989 to celebrate his 100th birthday. Everyone that was able to come had a great time!

Emily at Two

2009-05-28T22:49:00.004-05:00

Take the picture quick...before she decides to get down again.

"Mommy's drink..Nanny's drink..Emily's drink" She was really wound up and talking up a storm!

Big Girl drinking out of a glass with no lid! She usually does pretty well...if the glass isn't too full!

" I play game."

At least she thought she was playing it, and that is all that was necessary!

We have been trying to meet Kirk, Stacy, and Emily [and sometimes Bostin,too] once or twice a month for supper on a week night. One of the places we frequently go to is Bobbios Pizza in Tipton. It is close to 'halfway' between our two places which makes it convenient for either/all of us.[And they have a good pizza buffet, too!]

We met them on the 19th which was the day before Emily's 2nd birthday. Here are some of the pics we took that night.

Emily started yelling "Nanny! Papaw!" When they parked beside us. And then it was "Pizza! Pizza!" but she didn't really eat a lot. She has been eating quite a bit at noon at the daycare and then not eating so much for supper. I don't think she misses out much by the looks of her. She is really 'busy' all of the time! She sings several songs, including the ABC song, and knows several 'finger plays', is doing pretty well on 'potty traing', too. Daddy and Mommy are really enjoying her! And so are we!

Graduation Time!!

2009-05-18T17:07:00.003-05:00

Two of our grandsons graduated from high school this past weekend.

Robert ["Rob", Karls's boy] graduated from Lakeland high school in Lowry City on Friday night in the school gym. There were 43 graduates in the class. This is the school where Valerie [Rob's Mom] teaches. It is in a rural area in the Southwest area of Missouri. Rob attended here his junior and senior years and seems to have made quite a few friends in that time. He has been accepted at the University of Central Missouri [Warrensburg] and expects to attend there this fall. On Saturday morning we drove back down to their house and went to his graduation celebration with family from his Mom's and Dad's side, and several friends. Karl was able to be here and be involved! It was great to be there and enjoy this time with Rob.

Dakota[Kevin's youngest!] graduated from Smith-Cotton high school in Sedalia on Saturday night. The graduation was held in the Mathewson building on the State Fair grounds [Has been for several years!]. There were probably 300 +/- graduates. Dakota has been accepted at Missouri Southern University in Joplin Missouri. [This is the same university that his brother Dillon has gone to for the past 2 years. Dillon will NOT be going back this next semester. He plans to work this summer and fall and hopefully go to a "tech" school at the first of the year.] Sunday afternoon we had a weiner roast and celebration for Dakota at Bothwell State Park north of Sedalia. The day was a little cool, but it was great to be with 'family' from both Kevin and Cory's family and several friends of Dakota's, too.

Now we have seen the first 4 of our grandkids graduate from high school. Thankfully, it will be about 4 years before the next one---Jacob!!
Naw, its too early to even THINK about that, yet!!!

Mama: Mary Kathryn [Bradley] Coen

2009-05-09T21:35:00.003-05:00

She was born June 5 1905. The youngest child of 8 and her mother was 39 years old when she was born. She had one brother and six sisters. She had thick white-blonde hair and blue eyes, and was tall and lanky for a girl. She loved to run but was always getting into trouble for running with her head down, watching her feet instead of where she was going. She had a voracious appetite for reading and said in later years that she probably read things as a very young child that she was way to young to understand. At some point in her childhood, she began to play the violin and became a quite accomplished violinist. She, and a friend who played piano, held several recitals and were asked to play as entertainment for "teas" and other events before they had even graduated from high school. It was a rare treat, though, for me to ever hear her play.It was something she just 'gave up' due to the demands of raising her own family. She also played the piano [self-taught basically] and remained active in the music programs at the churches she attended--either singing in or directing various choirs.
There were 6 of us girls: Kathryn Dorreen, Evelyn Mae, Maryan Ray, Marjorie Adeline, Carolyn Ruth, and me-Judith Eileen. I heard her refer to us many times as "The three big kids, the two littl kids, and Judy." I really was a "surprise Baby", coming 12 years after the sister next to me. She spent a lot of time in bed before I was born threatening to miscarry. A lot of that time was spent praying that I would be the BOY she was hoping for! She actually cried when I was born, but quickly decided that "God know best". She was 39 when I was born. I ALWAYS knew that she loved me.
Another one of her talents was sewing. She made most all of my clothes growing up and even into high-school. The best thing she made for me was my wedding dress. It was beautiful!
But perhaps her best "talent" was praying! She spent a good deal of time praying everyday: for her family, for her friends, for her church, and for her country's leaders. She was blessed with the ability to truly listen when people went to her with their prayer requests. She also spent a lot of time reading her Bible and praying for God's wisdom. She always thought that there was something more she could learn about God and His desire for her life.
The last few years of her life she was basically confined to a wheel chair, because of severe arthritis in her feet and legs. But her mind remained active until just before the end. She loved board games, and Dominoes; a good joke, and a quick response.
She went to Heaven on April 15, 2002. I just wanted to remember her in a special way this Mother's Day.
God bless! A Happy Mother's Day to each Mother!

Most of it got sold!

2009-04-23T08:59:00.002-05:00

Remember, a couple of weeks ago I wrote about cleaning out my kitchen cupboards? I also went through our closets and one corner of the basement. I thought that this corner was storing stuff for a garage sale. Well there was some of that stuff in there, but there were a few other things, too. Some of it went straight to the trash can, but some of it was : "So THAT is where this was hiding! I wondered what happened to it!" Sometimes Ron helps me and puts things where I would NOT put them!

I had a goal in mind: gathering stuff for a Rummage Sale.
Eldon [where K&S live] had their city-wide sales this past weekend and I knew that Stacy and her Mom and sisters were going to have one. K&S house is a great place to have one. They are in a good location, their driveway is fairly level, and their garage is pretty big.

I took a van load of stuff down on Wednesday night, including my 3 'racks' for hanging clothes, and my folding tables. We did a lot of 'organizing' and 'setting up' that night, too. On Thursday night I took another load down along with my suitcases to spend the night. Stacy's Mom came down after her evening at work,too. We were up early the next day and had the garage doors up to set things outside by 6:30. Our first customers came soon after. We kept 'organizing' and selling for a while and a lot of stuff was going almost as fast as we set it out! At one point in the morning-when we had already sold bunches of stuff- Stacy's mom looked at me and said "Not bad for 8:30 in the morning!" I looked at my watch and could not believe that it wasn't 10 o'clock or something! We had steady business all day and there were very few times that we didn't have at least one customer on site. By evening, Stacy and I began to work on getting everything that was left, organized so it would all fit into the garage the next day because the forecast was for rain. We didn't 'open' quite as early on Saturday, and it was misting and sprinkling when we did. Before long, though, the rain stopped but it remained cloudy for most of the day. As soon as the driveway was dry enough we set a few things out on it,too, to make a little more room in the garage. More people were having their sales on Saturday, because of working, and because of that, too, we still had LOTS of people coming through our sale.
Along about 2:30 in the afternoon we noticed that no one had come for 15 minutes or so and there was no more traffic out on the road so we began to pack up. Each of us kept a few things to try again in another sale,but the majority of our 'leftovers' went in to four big boxes to take to Salvation Army/Goodwill. We were all very pleased with what we made in the sale! And Kirk and Stacy also sold Kirk's old work truck. They were glad to get that off of their hands!
I went home with my van about 1/2 full, and that included my tables and racks. I am glad,too, that all of that stuff is not in the house any more. Now, I just have to keep going through stuff and get ready for another sale--either here, or at my friend's house in Sedalia--or maybe BOTH!

We had a different ...

2009-04-22T22:16:00.002-05:00

...kind of family celebration for Easter . It was more laid back and 'easy' for one thing. We had it in the evening instead of right after church because Ron and I had lunch with a former pastor and his wife.
Greg and Amy Crofford had emailed and asked if we could meet them for a meal on that day as they were going to be in town, and they had to be in KC that evening. They are getting ready to go back on the mision field in June and are traveling weekends to different churches for 'deputation' meetings.[They tell where they are going, and what they will be doing, and create an interest for the missions program.] It was really great to see them and visit with them. They will be living across the street from my nephew Don and his wife Evie who are also missionaries.

Easter was also Danielles bithday so we took time out to celebrate that, too--with[Danielle's request] cheesecake!
I had a spiral cut ham, and bought some rolls and rye bread to make sandwiches. Kris helped me make deviled eggs, and cut up veggies for a green salad. He made a fruit salad and a cheese spread for crackers, Kirk made baked beans and they brought a slaw, too. Cory made cheesy potaoes and provided the drinks, and the place to have our meal!
There were only 2 kids there--Emily and Maggy-- but I had fixed plastic eggs to hide. So, Cory took the girls into the other room while Kevin and Kirk hid the eggs in the living room. The girls had a great time finding them, and we had a ball watching them.
Danielle is raising some ducks, so she went out and brought one in for Emily to see. It was quacking and the girls were imitating it--so cute. Emily wanted to touch it, but everytime she got brave and reached out toward it-- it would quack again and scare her.Danielle had wrapped a big towel around it so she could 'contain' it on her lap. Ducks grow so fast! Just the week before they were still 'peeping' with an occasional quack out of one of them [kind of like when a boys voice changes!]and now they were all quacking! Everyone had a good time watching the duck and the girls interact.

Oh, Yeah? Well What Is So GOOD About It?

2009-04-10T12:53:00.002-05:00

When I was a young child, I could never understand why they called to day GOOD FRIDAY. Isn't this day supposed to remind us of the day when Jesus died? What was so GOOD about that? I even harbored feelings of ill will towards "those people" who put him to death! Someone dying represented sadness to me. Especially, if it was someone I LOVED! Why should I 'be thankful' for Jesus dying on the cross? I just didn't understand.
As I write this I am thinking of a song my Mother sang for church: "Why?" by John M. Moore. Here are the words to the first verse:
"Why did they nail Him to Calvary's tree?...Jesus the Helper, the Healer, the Friend. Why? tell me, why was he there?" and then the chorus:
"All my iniquities[sin] on Him were laid. He nailed them all to the Tree; Jesus the debt of my sin fully paid. He paid the ransom for me."

Because of MY sin. He voluntarily paid my sin debt. By becoming the one true sacrifice for the sins of us ALL! He wiped out our sin debt!

That is why it is GOOD Friday! Jesus selfless act for us means we don't have to pay for our sins. All we have to do is accept His gift to us by: recognizing we live in sin, we need a savior, and Christ Jesus became that Savior for us when he died for us and rose again to sit by God's right hand and intercede with God for us.
I have accepted His gift! I hope you have, too. Blessings to all!!

Rain + Mud+ "Bored"Kids = ...

2009-03-31T09:09:00.002-05:00

...A lot of fun for them...Not so much for Mom!
Saw someone else has a post about kids and mud and it made me remember this little bit from my kids' past.
It was early Fall and we had had several days of soaking rain, so the ground was pretty soggy. My three youngest were at home and "bored" because they were 'stuck in the house'. About Mid-day the rain quit and the sun came out and they could stand it no longer. They decided they HAD to get out and do something.[I was probably wishing they WOULD find something to do because I was tired of hearing them moan and bemoan about the rain!]
They decided to play football!!!
I thought about it for a few seconds and decided it would be 'okay!' if they put on OLD clothes and shoes. [Not their good school clothes and shoes,as they might have done if I had not suggested they change!] So they found some 'old' stuff to wear and went outside to play.
Such Hilarity!! They tried just passing the ball back and forth but every time they ran they splashed water from the soggy ground. Next thing I knew they had invented some kind of game that required whoever caught the ball to slide merrily across the soggy muddy grass. Then it became a contest as to who could slide the farthest. They actually stayed out there for an hour or more and were absolutely covered in mud.
When they realized that it was getting late they wanted to come inside. THEN I thought: How are we going to accomplish THAT! I certainly don't want all of that mud going through the house!
I decided that they could come in at the garage, strip off everything, and leave it there.
Karen had to be the first while the boys waited outside during her 'turn' in the garage. I took an old towel to her to wrap her dripping muddy hair . Got her into the shower for a 'fast as you can' clean up. Then took the boys a couple of old blankets to wrap themselves in after they shed their clothes. After they were cleaned up [I think Karen had to wash her long hair once more to get all of the mud and grass bits out] I got the privilege of sorting out the soggy, muddy clothes! I think we threw the shoes away, and maybe the socks...but the rest went through the washer at least twice!
They had such a great time, though!!! It was something that was talked about with fondness for a long time! BTW the grass in the back yard was never the same! It took a couple of summers before we could no longer tell where they had played.

They'll never believe it!

2009-03-30T22:27:00.002-05:00

I spent the day doing something that most of my kids will have a hard time believing I actually did.
I cleaned out some of the kitchen cupboards and actually got rid of a lot of 'stuff' that was in them.
It is amazing the things you collect sometimes! I found a lot of things that I used to use often that I have not used in several years. Times change, your activities change, and you just no longer need to keep all of that stuff on hand. Hopefully it will all sell in a rummage sale before long, but what doesn't sell is going to be given away! I don't want it back in my cabinets, again.
I have also started to go through our clothes. "They" keep saying :"For every NEW thing you bring in, you should get rid ofsomething OLD." Well, it is obvious that I have NOT been doing that [and neither has Ron!]I can scarcely get things into the closets again on laundry day. It is time for the 'seasonal change' of clothes to begin so now is a good time to sort it all out. We keep our 'off season' clothes downstairs so I started by going through all of that first. Now I have to start on the upstairs! There are clothes that I no longer need since I 'retired' last year from Housecleaning. I have already dumped some of them but I realized that there are still a few things to get rid of, too. That will soon be the case for Ron, too, as he plans to retire around August 7th. He wears a different type of clothes now then he did just a few years ago [more casual] so he has quite a few things to go through. I can't wait to see what we find to get rid of. Hopefully we can reduce it by half, or at least a third!

A Break in the Routine!

2009-03-26T12:18:00.002-05:00

A BIG break!
There are 3 friends of mine that share a love for scrapbooking with me. Last Spring we went to a scrapbook fundraiser in Springfield together. In January we went to a Cabin Fever scrap event from Friday night through Sunday noon. We had a great time at both events, but we wanted to spend some time 'just us' where we could scrap and visit without interruption from others.
We decided to go to Branson and scrap in the 'condo' for a week end. We took food with us and fixed our breakfast and at least one other meal everyday. That way we could stay in our 'jammies' till we WANTED to shower and dress. We each had a 'spot' to spread our equipment and supplies in and we left it all out so we could pick up a project and work with it right where we had left it. It was so great to be able to leave and come back!
I wish you could have seen the back of my van! I had one little area I could see out the back through. I relied heavily on my side mirrors and the eyes of my friends riding in the middle seats when I had to change lanes,etc. We did not have the back seats in, but we each had at least one big suitcase, 2 or 3[or more] cases of scrapbook materials each, 2 of us had Cricut machines,2 good sized tubs of food items, a large cooler and a small one, various 'special' pillows and blankets etc. etc. !Iit took some thought and elbow grease to get it all in the van!!
We ate at Lambert's on the way down, at the 'special' table in McFarland's in the IMAX mall, and a late lunch at The Hard Luck Diner in the Grand Village. The rest of our meals we had in the condo. Each of us took at least one meal to prepare and supply the food for. We went to see one show: NOAH, the musical. It was a little pricey, but I totally reccommend it. Save up for it if you have to, to see it. There are LOTS of real animals and quite a few animatronics ones, too. At one point you are inside the Ark with Noah, his family, and all of the animals.
We all got a lot of scrapbooking done and a lot of resting done,too. Plus a lot of silliness and a lot of talking together about different things going on in our separate lives. It is good to 'share' with someone when you know full well that they respect your privacy and will pray with you for God's solution.
When you think about it...Isn't that what true friendship is all about?

It was wonderful...

2009-03-17T13:34:00.002-05:00

but I was so tired when it was over!
I'm talking about the weekend. We had a lot of family "together" time so everyone could see Karl, and so we COULD spend a bunch of time together. We missed Karen and Chris and the kids; and Keith and Sharon and the boys but those of us who were able to be together did a lot of eating and talking!
We tried to make it as 'easy' as possible, so we could spend the time talking and laughing together and NOT doing a bunch of kitchen chores.

Ron and I and Kris took Karl home to St.Louis on Sunday afternoon, then we turned right around and came back home. Got to Kris' house in Columbia about 9:30 PM and were home here around 10:30. Kris had taken yesterday off--in case we were late getting back, and Ron had taken the morning off yesterday, too. I was a little concerned about how he would feel after that long drive--considering he was in the hospital just last Sunday! But he did very well. We didn't have any problems with traffic or the weather, so THAT helped a lot! I could kick myself about only one thing! I realized yesterday that I didn't take even one picture the whole weekend. I don't think anyone else did either. Hopefully, Karl will be able to come back here for Dakota's and Robbie's graduations in the middle of May. We are all praying for that.

Happy Homecoming!

2009-03-13T23:39:00.002-05:00

Karen came home from the hospital today. She is feeling pretty well. Just very sore, and her energy level is not very high.That is okay! She needs to do a lot of resting! Chris will be home this weekend and only has one short trip to make next week. I think the kids and Chubs were glad to have Mom at home again.
The other homecoming we had in the family today was Karl. He got to have a weekend pass to come home. It is the first time he has been here since early 2003. Kevin was able to go to St.Louis and get him today, and Ron and Kris and I will take him back on Sunday afternoon. Val and Rob were here when they got here, and Cory and Maggy; and our friend Earline[better known as Mamaw] came in with Kevin and Karl. Kris got in a little later from Columbia.
I fixed lasagna and a salad for supper. Tomorrow everyone plans to be here for breakfast of Dad's biscuits and gravy. Kirk and Stacy and kids are planning to be here, too. Tomorrow night we are going to barbecue at Kevin and Cory's in honor of Kevin's birthday on Sunday. Karl is really looking forward to that! He had asked if we could barbecue, weather permitting, of course.
It was so good to visit together in a relaxed atmosphere. Watching Karl and Rob interact was fun, too. Rob is past 6foot 9 inches, almost 6 ft. 10 in. Karl is the tallest of the boys, but at 6 ft. 4 in. he has to really look up to his son!
Val and I had a talk about how hard it is to find clothes and shoes for Rob. A lot of the "big and tall" stores tend to think that you are either big or tall. So it is hard to find a 3X tall shirt or a 50 x 36 pair of pants!
Karl just sits and watches him and just shakes his head sometimes.

We know what it ISN"T...

2009-03-09T08:53:00.005-05:00

...but not necessarily what it WAS!!
I took Ron to work on Thursday--like I usually do because Thursday is the day I see Donna--and all seemed normal and FINE. In fact he went into his office and brought me a box of quarters he keeps there because we had discussed how dirty the van was, and why didn't I wash it?
After washing the van, etc. I went back home and did the things I usually do to get ready to spend the afternoon with my friend. About ten o'clock I was getting ready to step into the shower when the phone rang: This is ______ at Dr. Sharp's office. Ron is here. He is having some chest pain and we are running some tests. He says you have the car and thinks he wants you to come get him.
So, thinking: I wonder what this is all about...He sure seemed fine this morning... I headed for the doctor's office. As I start to pull into his parking lot, I realize that there is an ambulance sitting there. My heart fell to my toes! On top of that the lot is full and I am having trouble finding a place to park. I round a cormer and see Kevin coming toward me, so I put my window down to see what he wants. "Dad is okay! I've talked to him. They don't know what is going on yet, but they think he better go to the hospital where they can run more tests." By this time the ambulance has started to move and I get right in behind it. I am encouraged because they are NOT using the siren. Kevin is right behind me in his car.
When they get Ron settled into a room in the ER they invite us to come back and see him. I can tell he is in a LOT of pain, and he says it is all across the top of his chest, but not down his arms or in his neck. They start doing blood tests and EKG and x-ray and asking all of the usual questions... I had remembered to grab his medications [that is the easiest way for them to actually know what he takes. Just grab a plastic zip bag and throw them all in it!] so they took that info down and asked about his previous treatments etc. Finally, they gave him a shot of morphine and in a while his pain started to ease, and his color started to get better. Then they sent him for a CT scan. Gradually, the results from all the tests were starting to come in, and there is NOTHING to indicate he has had a heart attack. "But", the doctor says, "sometimes it may take 6 to 12 hours for those enzymes to show up in the blood. Meanwhile, the CT scan shows you do have some stones in your gall bladder, and the liver enzymes support that you may have been having some trouble there."
So they decide to keep him overnite for observation.
Ron had a stress test at the Heart Clinic in Columbia in late January as part of his regular check-up. A week or so before we went to Branson he had gotten a letter from Dr. Kennett saying that everything looked fine except one little area at the bottom of his heart was a little 'cloudy' and they needed to schedule a heart catheterization to check that out. Ron had taken a copy of that letter with him on Thursday because he was going to call and make the arrangements for the test.
Dr.Sharp and Dr. Kennett conferred and decided it was a good time to send Ron to Columbia for the Heart Cath. test. So Friday I picked him up at Bothwell and drove him over to Boone hospital. Their blood test on him showed that his blood was too 'thin' to safely take the test, so they kept him off of his Coumadin and also gave him something else to make it 'thicker' and scheduled the test for Saturday morning. Meanwhile they continued to have him on a heart monitor, etc.
Around 8:30 Sat. morning they came and took him for the test. The doctor that id the test talked to me and said that everything "looked fine" except for one of the bypasses he had in 2002 was completely blocked[It was the one they had put 'stents' in back in 2007]. Ron and I talked about what that might mean they would want to do to 'fix' the situation. We were both afraid that they would want to do another bypass or something. Dr. Kennett came in and said "This is really a Good Thing! Yes, that bypass is blocked, but your heart has made collateral arteries around that area and it is nourishing the heart very well!" So, no bypass!!
They had to keep Ron for 24 hours after the test.[They make sure you are not going to 'bleed too much.] But I picked him up Sunday morning and he has gone back to work today [went in a little late and may come home early]
They said his pain COULD have been from the gallstones, or it COULD have been something else but they are really SURE that he did NOT have a heart attack. Dr. Sharp told him on Friday morning that after he was checked out at Columbia they would need to "test further" about the gall bladder issue.

Surprise!

2009-03-04T12:13:00.002-06:00

We got back from Branson on Friday afternoon, and by the time we unloaded the van we were "done" for a while, so we rested. Kris got here to spend the weekend around 6:30 or 7:00, and we headed to Sedalia for something to eat. I had called Earline earlier to tell her we would pick up our dog, Buddie, on Saturday morning if that was alright. [Buddie and Nuisance, her dog, and J J her cat love to play together and she graciously allows us to let Buddie spend time there when we are out of town.] She said,"Did you know KDRO is calling for snow? An inch overnite, and a couple of inches tomorrow?" At first I thought she was kidding, because we had had 70* weather on Thursday!
Well, I woke early on Saturday morning [because the cat wanted out] and it was snowing but hadn't been for long because you could still see grass,etc. But that cat took one look outside and ran back the other way. He wanted no part in the snow!! It continued to snow and by the time we were all up[I went back to sleep!] we had about 3 inches. By the time it stopped around 12:30 we had about 5 1/2 or 6! That is the biggest snow we have had all year!
Ron and Kris cleaned off the sidewalk and a path up the driveway to the van so we could get to town. The snow was light and moved easily, in fact they used a broom to move most of it. We did a little necessary shopping and then picked up the dog. The state was out cleaning off 50& 65 hwys, and the county had been down W hwy so we were able to get around with no trouble. The attendance at church the next morning was a little light, but we have people who come from as far as Cole Camp and Greenridge, quite a few older people, and there are quite a few on the sick list, too. Never the less we had a great service!
In the afternoon was Bostin's birthday party at Stacy's folks house. He had turned 7 on Friday. His Mom gets to have him on his birthday, but Kirk and Stacy always have a family party for him, too, either right before or just after his birthday. He was very loving, and gave out thank yous and hugs with out a lot of prompting from Kirk or Stacy! This is a lot of progress for him, as he is usually very shy about things like that.

We're Back!

2009-03-03T11:30:00.001-06:00

Ron and I had a week in Branson last week. It was a week of relaxation and rest, basically. We took books to read with us, and a few other things like: DVDs and CDs; but we didn't take an AGENDA with us! I did take my scrapbooking items with me [including my new Cricut!] and got several pages done on the album I'm working on. I told Ron it was a pleasure to be able to spread it all out, be able to leave it that way, and come back to finish a page or go on to the next one with out putting it all away in between. I have a designated area at home, but it is NOT big enough! I have a table in the computer room/office, but there is a real minimum of space there.

We took food with us [we have time in a condo] and ate all of our breakfasts [most of the time it was brunch!]there. For all of our other meals we basically ate out. Went to Golden Corral, Joe's Crab Shack,Montana Mike's, and Jack's Plaza View. The last is our favorite because he does such wonderful Prime Rib dinners. We used to go to a little restaurant called PZZAZ! that he owned, then we went one time and the restaurant had been sold and something else was in there. We were so sad! Last time we were in Branson , Ron asked somebody where we could get a good prime rib dinner. They began to tell him...and as they described the food and the kind of service...we wondered. So we went to try it out and sure enough..it was 'our friend' from Pzazz! He has the restaurant on the 9th floor of the Grand Plaza hotel. On the way to Branson, we stopped at...You guessed it...Lambert's! That is almost a RULE! When we left Friday morning we stopped at the Grand Buffet for brunch. That is another almost rule...that you eat there at some point during your stay. But I'll have to say that our favorite breakfast buffet is the one at Docker's restaurant. They were not open for the season, yet, though. There were quite a few places that were not open yet although most of them were to open this past weekend or this next one.
We did see two shows during the week, plus a little get together at the condo complex. On Monday night, they had snacks at the complex and two groups of entertainers showed up to give us a 'taste' of their show. They were both entertaining and we went to one of the shows later in the week. It was billed as a variety show with a magician/illusionist [he was the one who came on Monday] and a ventriloqist as the 'lead' entertainment. They were both very good at their craft, but the ventrloquist had a lot of basically corny jokes to go along with his 'schtick' and it just got boring when he was on. and it was too bad because he had a lot of talent when he was just being a ventriloquist. The magician/illusionist and his wife were really great! I don't know how they did some of their acts but they were well timed and surprising.
The best show we saw, by far, was the one called SIX. This was six brothers who did their whole show a cappella..there was no band or tape... but they sounded as if there was one! They each had a very good voice [with a great range] and they all did things with their mouths that provided the drum/percussion, and other accompaniment sounds. They did a variety of songs from different eras and were constantly moving in their choreography routines. They had the audience rally WITH them the whole time. I would definitely go see them again!
And of course there is shopping to do, too. We went to all three outlet malls and to Branson Landing, too. Got a few bargains, and a lot of 'looking' done.
After a week of sleeping late and being basically lazy it was a little hard to get back into our routine this week!

Now what?

2009-02-16T21:16:00.002-06:00

I tried to edit that last post : "Well...". because it posted before I was finished composing it. I typed in the information that I wanted to include, but the program would not let it post!?!?

I was just going to comment that I had resolved the picture size and it was posting in a size that you can view it all . Now, I f I can only fix the other problems! Smiling! as I type!!

Well..

2009-02-16T21:07:00.001-06:00

at least the picture is now the right size so you can see it all. I wish the other problems would get fixed as easily! :-)

Frustration!!!

2009-02-16T20:49:00.002-06:00

That is what I am feeling right now!!!
I can't seem to get any more of my pics to load to my computer. I have tried to use the jump drive Karen sent me, and the cd disc I got at Walgreen's, but I must be missing a step or something. I get all kinds of computer messages, but can't get any pictures! Then I tried to upload a pic of Ron and I to my Blog page. The site told me it was 'shrinking my pic to fit the space but as you can see...it wasn't successful. Some things are accomplished so easily when I try to navigate through this site, but I wish there were better instructions, sometimes, for those of us who have trouble at times. Is there no "Home Page" you can go to to ask for help? I can't seem to find it if there is one.
Okay! I'm going todrop this subject for now, and calm down. Maybe next time I'll have happier things to say :-)

Kirk's Early Birthday

2009-02-07T23:33:00.003-06:00

The evening before we left to go back out to Oregon for Karen's surgery, we met Kirk, Stacy, and Emily at the Mexican restaurant in Tipton. Kevin and Cory and Maggy, and Dakota and his girlfriend Casey came too.

Here is Emily smiling big for the camera. This was before she pitched a fit about wanting to hold this cup by herself to get a drink!

Here is Maggy enjoying one of her favorites--Chips and salsa!. Casey is in the background. Cory had gathered Maggy's hair into a ponytail to get it out of her face.

Kevin and Ron are 'fixing up' the salsa to make it spicier. I think they almost got it too spicy.

Since we knew Kirk's birthday was going to be while we were gone---we decided to sing Happy Birthday to him. The proprieters heard us and brought him this sombrero to wear (and a shot of ?something?,too!). Then sang a Spanish version of a Happy Birthday song to him. He has already grown his mustache and beard for the cold season, and also because 'deer season' starts in just a few days.

This pic will have to be sideways since I forgot to turn it before I uploaded it. You can see how red his face got when he realized they had brought him that shot of ?something? He didn't want to offend them since they had brought it to him to be nice. They did not speak much English so he could explain about it...so he just drank it. They thought they had really done him a favor!!

[ I'm glad Kistopher and I figured out how to get my pics where I could get them to upload for blogging. Thanks, Kris!]

What is "Bugging" you???

2009-02-04T09:32:00.002-06:00

Do you have little things that bug you? Even when you are having a wonderful conversation with your really good friends...and something happens -either something they say or do, or something about their 'person' [ie the way they're dressed or something on their clothes etc.], or something going on in the area you are in- that is just "NOT RIGHT"!! No matter how you try to ignore it...you just want to "FIX IT"!

Sometimes I can sucessfully ignore it. Sometimes I can't. And that has cost me a time or two. For some reason, my attempts to "fix" my friend were something that "bugged" them. Most of the time, now, I manage to keep my mouth shut. I hope that means that since my age has advanced, I have also reached a measure of maturity, too. LOL!

Since I am the sixth daughter in my family, and the one next to me was 12 years older than me...you can figure that my parents were older than most of the kids my age. They came from an age where achievement in school was revered and expected. You didn't 'pass' from one grade to another until you had earned that honor! On top of that, they were both "wordsmiths". They read a lot and used 'big' words, did the daily crossword in the paper, things like that. Maybe because of that environment, and those genes, I rarely had trouble with spelling and vocabulary in school. I could visualize the word [most of the time] and literally "see" how it was spelled. I didn't understand, for a long time, that other people could not DO that! I am NOT 100% right all of the time, though, I get 'hung-up' on some of the 'tricky' parts of spelling, too. Some things I have just had to practice till I got them right, or just use a 'trick' of my own to help me remember.

I've been observing some things for a while, in speech and spelling used today, that have "bugged" me enough that I have tried to figure out the "why" of it. I have decided that one reason kids have trouble spelling is they have heard a lot of "lazy speech" from us. We don't pronounce things very distinctly and when a kid tries to sound out a word they write down what they hear. For instance: How is a kid going to know the difference between their, there, and they're if they all sound the same? So they write "Their deciding whether to put their stuff in that closet, or over their , in that one." instead of "They're deciding whether to put their stuff in that closet, or over there, in that one." Some things you just have to learn: the difference between loose and lose for example. If I say: "I need to loose some weight." Do I have it tied up somewhere and I need to let it free? LOSE is the word to use here. There are many other examples, but now you know what has been "bugging" ME lately. Have I "bugged" you with this? Do you have something "bugging" you that you would like to post on your blog?
{Oops! there is another one : when to use your and you're!]
Thanks for listening to my fussing! I feel better now! Heehee

I just HAVE to post this!

2009-01-29T21:59:00.003-06:00

So, a few minutes ago I was sitting here reading my friends blogs, just minding my own business... All of a sudden I heard this big crash/bang noise in my kitchen. I was almost afraid to walk in there, but as I am heading down the hall, I hear Ron calling from downstairs "Judy? Did something fall? Are you okay?" By that time I have reached the kitchen door and am looking inside to see my cat, Babie, is after something along the base of the cabinet or under the stove. I tell Ron that I think the cat is after a mouse and then he [the cat] comes prancing out of the kitchen with a mouse tail dangling out of his mouth. About that time he drops the mouse, and then pounces on it again as it tries to run away. This happens several times and Ron [still downstairs!] suggests that maybe I can get him to take it outside. So I go to the backdoor and call him...but there is NO WAY that cat is taking the mouse outside!! When I come back into the living room I see that the mouse is very dead...but Babie still wants it to "play" so he bats it up and down the hall for a while. I decided to call Karen and tell her what was going on because of her recent blog about a mouse at their house; and while I am talking to her the mouse 'mysteriously' disappears. [I'm pretty sure Babie ate it!] BTW the noise I heard in the kitchen was the cat running into a little step stool and knocking it into the cabinet base. He also slid on a rug and ran into the stove while he was chasing the mouse down.
And, oh yeah... just went out to the car to get something Ron left out there. When I came back and went to hang up my coat in the closet... there was the dead mouse! I guess Babie batted it a little too hard and it went under the closet door. So glad I found it tonight. Ron would have really had a fit if he had seen it there in the morning!!! He can't stand mice!
HMMM! The reason for that would make a nice post for another time...

Its the Middle of the Night...

2009-01-27T10:22:00.002-06:00

...and you hear this bloodcurdling scream! Yikes! What is going on...?

I'm laughing now, because I just read Mandy's blog, but it isn't very funny at the moment it happens, is it?
A couple of times it was Karl screaming. Once, unbeknownst to me , he had gone to sleep with a root beer barrel candy in his mouth. The candy fell out of his mouth on to his pillow and as he rolled his head in his sleep it stuck to his ear. He came awake thinking he had a bug attached to his ear. More than that, he just knew it was a JuneBug, which he HATES to this day! Another time,again in his sleep, he was 'sleepriding his bicycle' in his bed. Literally in an upright position pedaling away. Of course he tripped over his covers and fell and hit his ear on the dresser that was by his bed. Try to figure THAT out when you've been awakened out of a sound sleep! Unfortunately, it meant a trip to the ER to stitch up his ear, too. BTW, the ER personnel really look at you funny when you are trying to explain how your child got an injury like that!
Once or twice it has been me that was screaming! Kristopher woke up with some kind of a problem one night that he thought he needed to bring to me. He didn't want to wake his Dad by calling for me from the hall/door so he very gently and softly came into my room and touched my soulder or face. I came just barely awake to see this person leaning over me and I let out a scream that scared Kristopher so bad he ran screaming down the hall away from our room. Ron jumped out of bed yelling "Whats going on? What's gong on? Judy, are you all right?Who else is screaming? Is somebody hurt? Somebody answer me!!" By this time all of the boys were up from downstairs and Kirk and Karen had come out of their rooms, too. It took a while to sort it all out, but by that time we ALL had a good laugh and with hugs all around went back to bed until morning. All of the kids learned that night that if they needed me they had better be sure I heard them coming to get me! [I've been laughing so hard while I write this that I have gone through 2 tissues just to wipe my tears!]
Thanks Mandy for causing me to remember a few funny episodes in our family history!

Nanny, I'm so angry at you...

2009-01-26T21:30:00.002-06:00

I kept Maggy today while Danielle worked. The gal that usually has her had some things to attend to today so I kept her. She is not really any trouble to keep, if you keep her interested in things to do: read books, play games, watch 'new' [to her, anyway] videos, etc. She likes routine, so she knows what to expect and when. So after lunch I told her that as soon as "Little Bill" was over it would be time to take her nap. She has a favorite "blankie" that she likes to sleep with and she took time to fold it just so and hand it to me before she went 'potty' before her nap. However, it came partially 'undone' when she handed it off to me. I took it and laid it on the bed just like it was. When she came in the room she said "Oh! Nanny! I feel very angry at you because you didn't keep my blanket all folded up!" I told her it was just like she gave it to me, but she gave a big [disgusted sounding] sigh and folded it up again and laid it on the bed in a very particular way. But that was all! Never another word about it. She snuggled down in the bed and within five minutes was fast asleep.
Don't you just wonder sometimes: How does a kid sift through all of the words and phrases they hear from us and come up with the most 'appropriate to the moment' things to say?!?

Shopping Buddies

2009-01-23T21:46:00.002-06:00

I haven't kept the car very much the past 2 or 3 weeks so I haven't been out there looking for bargains. :-(
But the past 2 days---I've made up for it---alittle bit, anyway!
I didn't know that ALL of the Goody's stores were closing! The last I heard it was just going to be SOME of them or at least that is the impression I had gotten. So I went to the Goody's in Clinton on Thursday with my friend Donna. Found a couple of tops, some slippers, a purse and a new 'cammy'. Thought I made out pretty well, too. One of the tops I have had my eye on since autumn, but I didn't ever try it on---just went back to check on it anytime I was in the store.
Donna and I have been spending a day together a week since the eary 1990's. We used to hit all the flea markets and bargain stores in a 50 mile =/- radius from Sedalia, and spend the whole day doing it! Can't do that so much anymore. Donna has MS and she wears out quickly so we usually go to lunch and then hit one or two stores and she is DONE! We have shared a lot of good times together and supported each other during some bad times. too. It is great to have a friend you can share with like that!
Today I went to lunch with another of my good friends, Earline. Then we went to K-mart for a while[didn't really find anything there--unusual!]. She went with me while I got a haircut [Finally!!!], and then we went to the Goody's in Sedalia. Today I found some clothes for grandson Joel's birthday, a pair of earrings, and some slacks to wear with the top I bought yesterday. I just love bargains! All of the kids clothes I saw today were 50% off the original price. So I was able to double the amount of clothes for the amount of money I intended to spend! YAY!
Earline is a relatively NEW friend, but we get along well together. She loves Hobby Lobby and other stores like that, and I have introduced her to some of my fave flea markets, too. She is a very GENEROUS person, always looking for a way to help somebody out! Her dog, Nuisance, and our dog,Buddie, are great friends and love to play together. She usually keeps Buddie for us when we are out of town---like Oregon, or somewhere. We spend a lot of time together SHARING--past and present-- good and bad--triumphs and tribulations. It is great to be blessed with TWO wonderful friends such as these two. And they are great bargain shoppers, too!

There is danger everywhere!

2009-01-16T15:06:00.002-06:00

Try as they might, our government agencies cannot 'protect' us from everything!!!
Case in point: We got a phone call from Stacy wednesday night. They were at the hospital with Emily. She had stuck a rock up her nose at daycare...again!
They were unable to get it out in the ER that night and the ENT doctor had them come into his office the next day. He had tools there that were not available in the ER and he was able to get both rocks out of her nose right away. Yes, there were 2 of them! Emily had done this before late last summer when the kids were playing outside at day care. I asked how in the world she got hold of any rocks to do it again! It seems that the state mandate says that the daycare must use that small chat-like rock in any area outside that the kids may fall into. So there is an area that parents have to walk through to get inside, that is full of that rock. Some of it sticks to their shoes,etc. and is carried inside. Before the daycare personnel could clean up the area [lots of parents were coming in and out for their kids], Emily decided to put the rocks she found up her nose. How do you explain to an 18 mo. old that you just don't DO that?
I guess the state has to weigh all the possibilities and choose the one that has the least likelihood of happening against the one that may cause more trauma--or something like that. In this case, if there was a hard surface and a child fell, there might be a potential for a concussion. You can't use sand, or mulch, in these areas because they could harbor disease bacteria from animals that might go through the area. Hence, my statement: It is impossible for our government agencies to factor out all the danger we might face. We are the ones who must make up the difference, by being aware and vigilant. Then we must realize that no matter how hard we try........ we can't prevent everything, either!

Found!

2009-01-16T14:43:00.002-06:00

I found the pictures! They were in a bag I had taken on our trip to St. Louis to see Karl. I just had to think of where I was, and when it was I had last seen them.

The CD was there, too, but when I tried to download...well, I must be missing a step somewhere. Karen has suggested that I get a notebook to keep by the computer and every time someone shows me how to do something I can write the steps down. The things I do 'often' I retain how to do them, it is the ones I do very seldom that I have trouble with doing again.

This makes me think: Do any of you have more than one address list that you use when you are sending out emails? I would like to have at least two, maybe three. I know a couple of my email friends have done that, but I am not sure how to go about it. I set up some files in my address book location, but I could not figure out how to shift the addresses into the different files. I have family addresses, friends, church related addresses, and several from people I went to school with,that I just use 2 or 3 times a year. It takes me a while sometimes to send out anything because I have to sift through all the addys!
Hopefully, I can get someone to help me get the pictures set up , and maybe even my address problem fixed before long. Otherwise, I'll just have to write about things...and no pictures :-(

I'm Still Here!

2009-01-14T10:30:00.003-06:00

I just can't find where I put the pictures I just had developed! When I find them I will have the CD to download on the computer.[Sorry Karen, I can't seem to get the part you sent me to work successfully! It might have to do with all the other stuff that comes out of the computer now , since we changed from dialup!}

I cleaned up my scrapbook table last week when I got ready for Cabin Fever, and I know I didn't take those pics with me there. I just have to remember where I put them --"For Now"!
I guess that will be my project for today---finding the pictures. Oh, I should probably do the laundry too.

We're finally finished...

2009-01-04T00:03:00.002-06:00

...with Christmas! Everyone has their present . The box finally arrived at the Lamb householdthis week, and we got to go see Karl today. It has been a great Christmas season...but I am ready to move on to other things!
Ron mailed-or sent by UPS- the box to the Lamb's on the 19th of December. We expected them to have it -no later than- the 23rd. We didn't count on the giant snowstorm in the Northwest delaying it in Colorado for 2 or 3 days, then an additional day in Salt Lake before it got sent on to Oregon. By contrast, Ron sent Keith's family, in Nebraska, their box on the 22nd thinking it would get there by the 24th. Hello---they got theirs on the 23rd!

Our trip to see Karl was really great, today. Rob and Val had talked with us before Christmas about going, and we had set the day for today. Dillon asked if he could be included,too. We left our house around 8 o'clock this morning and picked Karl up a little before 11 o'clock. Not bad, considering we stopped for a McDonalds breakfast and a couple of potty breaks along the way. We went to a Pasta House for lunch, and they set us at a big round table in a corner with quite a bit of room around us. Our food was great and the service was really great, too. We gave Karl his packages from all of us and Rob had some packages,too. from family members who had not gotten to see him during the season. We were able to take some time visiting with each other and were not rushed at all. We went to a mall for some shopping and just being together. When we went back downtown toward Karl's apartment we decided to eat at TGI Friday's that is just a few blocks away. Then it was time for the BIG GOODBYE. Karl had not seen Rob since this past summer. It is hard to get together between school and Rob and Val living an hour and a half further from us now, too. We are all praying that Karl can come to Rob's graduation in May.
So now, since Christmas is officially over...I can finally say HAPPY NEW YEAR! to everyone. I hope 2009 is a great year for each and everyone of you! Many Blessings!

WE Had/Are Having CHRISTMAS!

2008-12-30T09:56:00.003-06:00

I love traditions--don't you? There is usually a really good reason why you started doing something the same way each time, and a really good reason to continue doing it that way. We had "traditions" while our kids were growing up. Some have been discontinued because they are no longer needed/applicable to the situation, and some have remained because we like them[!] or they are easily adjustable to our needs.
"Driving around Christmas Eve to see the Christmas lights": This was supposed to get the kids 'sleepy' so that they would go to bed more easily so Santa [and his elves] could come. It worked pretty well, most of the time; but it could not be carried too far, as a tradition, after the kids were grown because they needed to absorb their spouses traditions and establish their own.
"Family coming to OUR house for Christmas": Ron and I were the youngest 'kids' in our respective families, and we tried several years to 'go to Grandma's' for Christmas, which meant 2 different houses in 2 different locations! The last year we did it, we lost small little parts to several toys, had so much packed into the car--luggage,presents, baby 'paraphernalia', kids and us--that we felt 'squished' together for two whole hours and were cranky with each other when we finally got to our destination! Ron and I looked at each other and said "This is no way to spend Christmas!!" So, we let everyone know that we were going to spend the next Christmas at home! and if you want to see us and have Christmas together, you are welcome to come to our house on Christmas day! This worked very well for us for many years. But once the grandparents were gone or had moved away, and our kids began to marry and have their own families...we couldn't all 'fit' into our little house! For several years, we all[at least those who were still in Missouri] went to Karen's and Chris's house. When they moved out of state, Kirk and Stacy graciously invited us there. Over the years some have had to spend their Christmas in various other parts of the world and we miss them, greatly! [Keith and family have not been able to come for years!] And, in the past few years we have had to change the day from Christmas Day, too. After all, new traditions have to be started, and other families have traditions to work around,too! We can be adaptable!!
"Our Kind of Christmas Dinner": This tradition was born out of frustration,too. I realized that I was NOT getting to enjoy watching my kids enjoy their presents [after the big 'opening'!] because I spent most of Christmas Day in the kitchen either FIXING dinner or CLEANING UP after dinner! My Mom and I discussed it and decided to pray about a solution. This is what we came up with: Everything needed to be fixed ahead. It should be 'different' enough to make it seem 'special',and served on 'throw away' plates, etc.
We have a VARIETY of various things: meats, cheeses, breads, fresh veggies, pickles olives, and other condiments, chips and dips, crackers. And [of course!] desserts: pies, cakes, cookies, and candies. It is mostly just left out [some things may be returned to the refrigerator] for people to sample and munch on all day. Now that the kids are grown, with kids and grandkids of their own they are insistent on keeping this tradition. Everyone signs up to bring something on the list, and usually throws in something extra,too, that they want us all to try.

This year we got together on the Sunday after Christmas. Three of the kids and families were able to be there: Kevin and Cory, Kristopher, and Kirk and Stacy. We missed: Keith and Sharon, Karl, and Karen and Chris. We will go see Karl this coming Saturday, and take Rob[his son] and Val [Rob's mom] and Dillon [Kevin's oldest son] along. We have talked to Keith and family by phone and Karen and family, too.
How is it that old saying goes? The more things change, the more they remain the same. Or is it: the more things remain the same the more they change? Either way, it shows that we all must be able and willing to ADAPT when we need to!
Here's wishing all of you a Happy New Year! May you establish some NEW traditions this year---or adapt some OLD ones!!!

Just in case...

2008-12-23T23:44:00.002-06:00

...I don't get back here tomorrow...
Merry Christmas! To each one of you! May you have a day that is warm with love: from your family and friends, but mostly from our Heavenly Father. Who loved us so much He sent His Son to become one of us and die in our place for our sin.
Thank you God for that first Christmas gift!

Ron's Christmas Pageant

2008-12-22T14:35:00.002-06:00

I don't remember a time when Ron ever participated, in costume, in the Christmas pageant. He ALWAYS helped with the music, usually playing the piano, and everything he did was "off stage".
The director asked him to be one of The Kings this year and he agreed. You might notice that there are 5 of them---I'm not sure why-- but I do know that they all had a great time! Here they are singing "We Three Kings"--in a style and manner you have never seen or heard it done before!

Here is a close up shot after the program. Notice the big turban with "jewels"? You should have seen it bobbing and bouncing on his head while he played the piano for the congregational singing.

A shot of the whole cast. This was done in our fellowship hall/gymnasium because it had a BIG stage. The one in the sanctuary is very small.

"We... We... We...We... We Three Kings...! " [They finally found their note!]

They were hilarious and "stole the show" ! Everyone was laughing and clapping!

I hope it doesn't go to their heads!!! "Ooooooohhhhhhh !!! Star of Wonder..." Crazy Guys!

Family Christmas Pictures-Kirk and Stacy&kids

2008-12-21T22:47:00.003-06:00

The little stinkers- Bostin and Emily.

He is usually very patient with her. He likes to make her laugh, and she adores him-most of the time!

The Family group shot. I love how Emily is holding on to Stacy's fingers!

Look at thos soft natural curls, and that ornery gleam in her eye!

I really love this composite page of Kirk and Bostin. Look at those grins! Like Father-like Son!

Emily at 8 1/2 months

2008-12-14T21:28:00.002-06:00

I just love these 2 pics of Emily! We were riding in their van with them on a trip to 'somewhere'. Emily looked so cute and ornery with this little hat on that I just HAD to take her picture! She was just at that age, too, when they begin to figure out you will laugh at their silly antics; and they can laugh at yours!!

Look at that big grin [around the binky]-- and those little ear flaps sticking out. I loved that hat, and Stacy said she did pretty well about leaving it alone so it stayed on her head.

It is amazing how much she has grown and changed this past year. She will be 19months old on Friday. She is already having some 'terrible two's ' issues over 'independence'. Stacy said she has picked up the dreaded "Mine!" word in the past couple of weeks, too. Then she turns around in another minute and gives you a big grin or hides her eyes behind her hands and shouts "Boo!" at you. What an ornery, sweet little character!

An evening in Branson

2008-12-08T15:25:00.003-06:00

Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers

Bill Medley with his son and daughter

Paul Revere and the Raiders. Bill Medleys son also sang with the Raiders. Paul called him Baby Raider! He is such a clown!

Me, on the left, and my friend Earline at Dick Clark's Restaurant.

Our two friends Melissa and Pansy sat across the booth from us.

Back in April, three friends and I went to Branson for the weekend. Three of us have gone there nearly every year for several years: Pansy, and Melissa, and I. This year we invited Earline to go with us. Other years we have had one or two others along, but some have moved away . Each time we go we try to see at least one show. Pansy loves anything to do with the '50s, so this year we went to Dick Clarks restaurant and show. There are several 'acts' that appear on a rotating schedule. We just happened to get to see "Paul Revere and the Raiders" and "Bill Medley from the Righteous Brothers". I must confess--I was pleasantly surprised by the show! Very entertaining and lots of 'oldies' that I knew!! Our meal was terrific, too. And I am looking forward to Spring and our next trip to Branson!!

We always have a great time together, shopping and visiting and taking in a show or two. We all scrap book, so sometimes we spend a good part of the time doing that together--all spread out in the condo--yakking and working away. Ahhh! I can hardly wait!!

Lazy Day and a Pot of Chili

2008-12-06T20:37:00.002-06:00

Today was one of those days where you don't get a whole lot accomplished but you don't really care!! Sometimes you need one of those kinds of days to just catch-up with yourself!

My BIG accomplishment for the day was going throught the mound of mail and other stuff that has been collecting since I went to Oregon. I found a couple of cards that no one had thought to tell me were in the pile!; but mostly had a BIG pile of trash to throw away. I'm really glad that chore is not hanging over my head anymore.

Ron's BIG accomplishment was to make a pot of chili [and watch college football games!]. When Ron makes chili he uses my big canning pot and makes a big batch! We had a bowl for supper and I'm sure there will be plenty to share and some to put in the freezer, too.
HMMMMM! wonder who will get some of this batch??

Birthdays!

2008-11-30T23:53:00.002-06:00

On November 30, 1964 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, a darling baby boy entered our lives. We named him James Bradley. James was Ron's mother's maiden last name, Bradley was my mother's maiden last name. Since we had several "Jim's" in the family, we decided to call him Brad. We loved him greatly. Unfortunately, we only had him for 20 months before he died. Although we had an autopsy done, we are not SURE of his cause of death. Technology is so much more advanced, now, that the cause could probably be determined...but at that time, there could only be speculation. The speculation was that he had picked up a virus somewhere and it had taken a path to his brain. He was not running a temperature, but he did start convulsing suddenly and they were not able to stop his convultions completely.
At the time of his death, Keith was 3 years old and Kevin was 4 1/2 months old. We were very sad at losing Brad, but there were the 2 brothers to raise; so, with God's grace and comfort we began moving on with our lives. Happy Birthday Brad!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On November 14, 1974 in Anderson, Indiana we were blessed with our sixth little boy. We were extremely glad to have him arrive...healthy and 'fine'. We named him Kirk Matthew. We had looked for a "K" name that was a little different from the 'norm', and Matthew seemed to be a good choice to go with Kirk.
It had been a few years since our last child, and all of his brothers were old enough to enjoy their baby brother. They liked to entertain him, and as he got older, he entertained them with each new thing he learned. He brought a lot of JOY to the family!
This year I was in Oregon with Karen on Kirk's birthday, so I did not get to blog about it on 'the day'. So I decided to share about him, now, on Brad's birthday.
Happy Birthday, Kirk! We love you so much!
{ I tried to get this written on November 30th, but I think it is already December 1st!}

Can you figure this out????

2008-11-30T02:08:00.002-06:00

Help! I wanted to change the colors on my blog to reflect the Holiday Season. Somehow, I have done or NOT done something and now my titles don't show up [unless you get the mouse pointed at them just right] and neither does the "comments" log. If you can figure out how I can "FIX" them, please let me know!

We went to see Karl...

2008-11-30T01:02:00.002-06:00

...today, in St. Louis. Had a great visit, too. This time, I got to see his room. It's not bad, just very tiny!! And it was pretty clean, too!
We took him some of his things that we have been storing here, and our old computer, too. He can't have internet, but he can use it to play games, etc.
We drove back West on I-70 to a Cracker Barrel for dinner, and then we took him shopping for his gifts for Robbie's Christmas. It has been a long time since he has been able to choose the gifts for him, and he was SO excited about doing it! We drove South to a shopping center he knew about, and then back East and South for a Target, too. Karl goes everywhere by using the Metro-link, so sometimes it gets pretty comical as he tries to figure out how to tell Ron what roads to use to get where he wants to go!
After we left him we got back on I-70 to head on home. We had not gone very many miles when we noticed a big traffic jam ahead of us, and we ALL came to a complete stop. We heard sirens coming in back of us and everyone began moving over to their right as much as they could. Sure enough, here came several emergency vehicles in the far left lane : police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks; and in a little bit, here came more of the same. Then the IDIOTS [those who always think THEY can get through a situation like that even though no one else is moving!] decided to try and go down the left lane,too. Of course they were jammed in there and blocking the lane when the next batch of emergency vehicles were trying to get through. Next thing you know, there are Emergency vehicles trying to get past all of us by driving down the right side of the roadway, on the shoulder,etc! And, of course, some people decided that if they could get through there, than THEY should try it, too!! More IDIOTS! In a little bit we could hear more sirens coming in back of us. We could tell that they were making very slow progress. Sure enough, they were making their way through the MIDDLE of all us. Now people were pulling to the right or left to make a path for them to get through. Two cars ahead of us the people just sat there with the police cars right behind them using their sirens and horns to get them to move. Finally, they got out of the way! In about 15 or 20 more minutes, we saw police personnel walking among the cars and talking through the window with people. We began to realise that they were giving them instructions on how to move their cars and sending them back the way we had come. Pretty soon, they came to us and told us to take our turn around,too. They sent us back up an on-ramp and directed us through a residential area, past the bottle neck and then back on to I-70. We had the radio on and knew there was an accident, etc. but 2 hours or so later, we heard the story. It seems 2 people had hi-jacked a car.
A policeman recognised the vehicle, they saw him as he was calling it in, they rammed his cruiser and shot at him, then they took off down a 'road' to get away and found themselves going East in the West bound lanes of I-70. Then they hit another vehicle head-on and were killed. There was at least one jack-knifed 18 wheeler and many more vehicles scattered along the highway from trying to miss them. The last news report we heard said there was 'no news yet', about the condition of anyone else at the scene. I'm so glad that we were not 'just a few minutes earlier' down the road toward home, or we might have been more closely involved in the event! "Thank you God!!! "
The rest of the ride home was fairly un-eventful except for the snow that was falling from about St. Charles[sometimes pretty hard, sometimes not so much] until Booneville. Kansas City might get as much as 4 inches, and St. Louis expects about an inch. We may get some, or maybe not. It was just 'misting' when we got home.
Life can get pretty exciting at times!

Home!

2008-11-24T22:04:00.003-06:00

"Be it ever so humble, there's no place like HOME!" or so the old song goes.
I was so blessed to be able to go to Karen's and help with what I could do to help these past 3 weeks! I enjoyed getting to spend time with her andwith the family. I am SO thankful that everything has turned out so well. [I'm still praying that she doe NOT have to have chemo!] I love Oregon,too, and the mountain views that surround their town.

But you know what? I'm really glad to be home, again, too!

Karen and I left her house around 4 AM[their time] this morning, and my plane left at 6 AM. There were a lot more people traveling today then the last time we left there. There were about triple the amount of security people working,too. Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest of traveling times! I feel really blessed to have been able to get a ticket. This time I flew into Denver and then on to KC. Denver is a nice terminal...but it is too long! I arrived at gate 87 [or something near that!] and my next flight left out of gate 19. I had approx. 45 minutes to get there, but first...I HAD to go potty! And of course there was a line... Let me just say...HOORAY FOR MOVING SIDEWALKS!!! I used 6 different ones to get from one point to another. I just can't move as fast as I used to--bad knee and no breath!!! I did get to Gate 19 in time to rest a few minutes and 'catch my breath', but they did begin boarding about 10 minutes earlier than the declared boarding time, too. Probably because nearly every seat was filled!

Ron was waiting for me in KC. I told him I was a little hungry, because it had been a long time since the breakfast I ate on the way to the airport with Karen. We stopped at a Cracker Barrel in Independence and spent some time enjoying our good dinner and catching up on news with each other. It was a great day, with no real problems... but I'm tired now, and I think I'll go to bed! Sweet dreams!!

Time to head home!

2008-11-21T21:49:00.003-06:00

Karen went to the surgeon yesterday. She is doing very well. The surgeon removed the drain tube, and pretty much released her to do anything she feels like doing [within reason, of course] , except heavy lifting. There is one more test that has to be done on the tissue that was removed during surgery. It will tell them whether there is a genetic factor involved. It takes about 2 weeks to get the results. Then, they will finally have all of the data they need to decide on her course of treatment. They HAVE told her that she will NOT be doing radiation treatment. Also, she will be taking TAMOXIPHEN [sp?] for a period of time. They will wait to begin that untill this other test comes back, because if they decide she needs to take a course of "chemo", she will need to take it first. So, as Karen has said on her Blog, we are playing the waiting game!

Since the Holiday Season is upon us, and since Karen is able to do most of her work, and drive; Ron and I made the decision that I should come back home for a while. Karen is in agreement with that, too. So, I will be heading back to Missouri on Monday. If they decide that she will need to take chemo, I will come back to help during that time period. Taking it one step at a time, here!!

Thank You everyone for your prayers, cards, and "care" packages !! It is so great to feel the love from everyone!! God is so good!!

Good days and Funny Kids!

2008-11-14T19:24:00.002-06:00

The last few days have been rather routine--and that is good!
Karen is doing very well, is using her arm well and is healing well,too. She had an appointment with her surgeon yesterday[Thursday] and everything is progressing very well. There was NO cancer in the lymph glands and the places in the breast were all encapsulated[except for the one they already knew about]. Praise God for this good report! There are still some test results to come in, but they will/should be in by the first of next week. Karen has another appointment for this coming Thursday, and the 'drain' should be removed by that time. Her incision is healing and the stitches are beginning to dissolve. She is not taking as much medication and is able to do quite a few of her regular 'chores'. Just needs help with things that are heavy or above her head.
However, she won't see the oncologist until the first week of December, and that means we won't know whether she has to have chemo or radiation or nothing until after she sees that doctor.

Chris had to be out of town overnite last night. Madison's school was having a "literacy night" and it was the last chance to buy books at the "book fair". So, after supper, the kids and I went to the book fair. There were no books for Jacob's age, but Madison found two books and Jacob and I helped Erika find two, also.
When we got back home the girls were eager to tell Karen about their books. Erika said,"Mommy, Mommy! I got a book about a puppy and one about 'Diarrhea Worm' !"

Karen said,"What?!?! Show me the book." The title of the book: Diary of an Earthworm.

What a girl! Of course when Karen read the book to her later she explained what a DIARY is!

Out and About

2008-11-11T19:08:00.002-06:00

Karen had a need to get out of the house for a little bit yesterday[Monday] so we made a run to the post office, Walgreen's [for my meds, that were ordered on line before I left Missouri] and Sonic for a 1/2 price drink [during 'happy hour'!] Yay!

Today we went to Subway for lunch[the kids were off school for Veteran's Day] and took Jacob by two places to find out about doing some community service for a Boy Scout project he is working on. They were "not accepting community service help at this time". So he will have to look elsewhere.
Karen got a 'follow up' call from the surgeons office today and has an appointment there for Thursday. She has more use of her left arm and hand every day, but will be really glad to get rid of the drain in the incision in a few days. Check her blogsite for a few pictures she has posted.

Things are progressing very well here. Ron is heading home tomorrow, but I will stay a few more weeks--at least until they decide what kind of further treatment she will need. I have already done some Christmas shopping on-line before I came out here. Maybe I can get most of the rest of it done that way, too.

Thanks for your continued prayers. God has blessed us in so many ways!

Answered Prayer

2008-11-07T22:11:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to let everyone know: Karen came through the surgery very well. The surgeon said there were no "surprises' and everything went as she had thought it would go. The lymph nodes they examined were a good color and didn't appear to be cancerous. Of course there will be further testing on them and it will be a few days before those results will be known. Then they will finalize the course of treatment. She said tonight that her pain level was about a three on a scale of 1--10 with 10 being the highest. We will see how she is doing by tomorrow, but hopefully she will be doing as well!
Meanwhile, Karen will come home tomorrow to recuperate. Madison's teacher and some of the staff at her school brought pizza for supper tonight, the church they attend is bringing supper tomorrow and Sunday. There have been other offers of support from the community; and cards, and gifts from friends around the country. Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and support.
Karen said," Tell everyone that I am doing okay. I love them, and appreciate all of their support and prayers!"

Wrap up of our Oregon trip

2008-11-04T16:10:00.003-06:00

This is the football stadium at a high school where Jacob played soccer the last Sunday we were there. He plays on a traveling team and we all went to watch them play. This was like traveling to Warrensburg [or farther] for a game. This was quite a facility. You can see the open bleachers here. We were in the covered ones, and they were VERY comfortable.

If you see a really blonde head in here, that is Jacob! It was hard to catch him at times, because the minute you thought you had him in your sights...he would move!

On our way to the game we saw this big flat bed truck carrying this little "Mater" truck tied down right in the middle of it. I took this out of the car window as we travled along beside the flatbed. Karen had the pic that Chris took on her blog,too.

Here is the mountain they call "Flat top". This is also taken from the moving car. If I am remembering right...I think Chris said that there is a boy scout camp [among other things] on the top of it. I could have it mixed up with another place, though.

Here you can see Jacob at that game. I'm not sure if he is playing offense or defense here. His team did win, though. That was the second time they had won against this team.

Last pics of Crater Lake

2008-11-04T10:36:00.002-06:00

I took this on the way back down the mountain. There is some kind of gorge with steep rocky sides, and, I believe, a stream running through it. There are a lot of different colors in the rock face of the cliffs, too.

Here is one of those 'classic' kind of pictures you see from Crater Lake. Trees in the foreground, deep blue of the lake, snow on the mountains behind, and a clear sky!

Another family was there at the observation area when we were. We took their pictures, and they took ours! Ron was so cold and so worried about someone falling over the low wall, that was the only barrier there; that he headed back to the van. Eventually, most of the others did,too.

But, Karen and I wanted to get some more pictures! Here is one of Wizard Island. Karen's 'zoom' is a little better than mine. When she zoomed in on that little white 'spot' at the waters edge, she got a picture of the boat dock,etc.

Apparently there is a tour you can take on the lake [in the summer] that makes a stop at the island.

Here you can get an idea of why Ron was so worried about anyone falling. You would just tumble several hundred feet straight down to the water! I know that people want to see the natural beauty of the area, but you DO think that they would have some type of barriers up for safety. [ I know some kids, and adults, that I would not want to take anywhere like this!]

It was truly great to just be able to go and see this! I'll store it up in my memories, to think about from time to time!

It was WORTH IT ! ! !

2008-11-04T10:03:00.002-06:00

Since the weather was so beautiful in the valley, we took a chance that it would be good in the mountains, too. It was SUNNY, but very windy and COLD! But we FINALLY ! got to see Crater Lake !! It was well worth the trip! Thanks Chris for keeping on with the effort to get us there! It is GREATLY appreciated!

As you can see, there was still some snow on the ground from the week before. Erika was so cold but Madison was trying to warm her up.

First real view of the lake. I think Chris looks like he's glad we made the effort to come again!

Here is Jacob standing next to a pole. There was one like this every few feet along both sides of the road. The higher up the mountain we got, the longer the pole. Are you wondering what that is all about?

Its to let the snow plow driver know where the road boundaries are! If you look closely in this picture, you can see that the pole is about 1 1/2 times taller than Jacob . Probably 15 to 20 feet tall I would guess. Its hard to imagine that much snow, isn't it? Esp. if you are from the mid- central part of the country!

Sunset views and a mystery

2008-11-04T00:02:00.002-06:00

Here is the mystery...You can tell I took this out the car window, but I'm not sure where it was... I might have been trying to get a picture of the moon on our way home. hhhhhmmmmmmmmm! It sure is dark isn't it?

The sun is almost down. There was a cloud bank covering the sun, but you could see the reflection over the water. This was taken just to the South of where we were at the first beach. I was trying to get some of the houses that were further South a little ways.

This is at the top of the hill at the first beach we went to that day.

This one was just a bit earlier, but from that same general area.

I think this is in the same general area that the first sunset picture was taken. { You down load them in a certain order, but that is not how they come up on this page. grrr!] I know the pic will be a little brighter when you click on it to make it bigger. It shows up brighter when I look at it on my camera memory.

Fishing fleet and Fish dinner

2008-11-03T09:04:00.002-06:00

These pics are not in order, but I think you can figure it out. When we left the second beach we were ready to find some food!

First, though, we stopped a couple of places right near the beach to get some pics of the fishing fleet. We saw 2 or 3 come in to dock.

Some of them are pretty big, like the blue one here, but some are pretty small,too There may have been a few 'pleasure boats' in there, too.

Erika wanted some crab legs, but they were not available. So we tlaked her in to trying clams. That little gal, who ordinarily doesn't eat very much, ate a pretty good sized order of clams!

Madison decided on a cheeseburger, and Karen had Chicken Cordon Bleu, but the rest of us had seafood! Chris, Ron, and I had seafood platters with several different things on them and Jacob had a big order of shrimp. Yummy!!!

This "Totem" sculpture was several feet high and was right at the entrance to the parking area at the beach. I forgot to mention in the last post...there was quite a camping area right here, too. It was really filling up, too, as this was a Friday and folks were coming in for the weekend.

Checking out another beach.

2008-11-03T08:25:00.003-06:00

We left the first beach and drove about a mile +/- to another beach that is close to a fishing bay. The access to the beach was easier here--no big hill to go down. There were more gulls landing near us, maybe because the wind was not quite as strong. This one made a nice picture, posing in front of this diftwood and rocks.

"Nanny wants to take a picture of all of us so lets get lined up."

So here is the pic...

...And here is the mad 'foot scramble' as they got out of the way of a wave that came a little farther in than they expected!!!

This beach was different than the last one. The giant boulders were not as close, the beach was rockier, and we found a lot more shells. There was a motel with access right up to the beach, and restaurants and other businesses nearby,too.

"Kids" playing!

2008-11-03T07:58:00.002-06:00

Karen and I decided we wanted to get our feet wet. Boy!! It was cold!!!!! But a lot of fun, too.

Here the kids designed a "house" out of driftwood and rocks between these two giant boulders. They had a lot of fun gathering and building.

I don't know...Does Jacob think he'll see further out to sea if he climbs every boulder he sees?

Maybe its a case of "It is there, so I must climb it..."

Anyway he had a lot of pleasure out of doing it!

Nanny and Papaw and the kids. [I've got this pic for my wallpaper right now.]

"Suze" and "Daddy". Naw, she's not spoiled! She's just Daddy's girl! ... and Mama's girl, too.

"By the sea, by the sea...

2008-10-31T22:38:00.003-05:00

...by the beautiful sea. You and I, you and I, oh how happy we'll be!"
Heh heh! That is from an old song from my Mom and Dad's era!

More pictures were taken of Ron and I together on this trip than I can remember happening for a long time.

I'm not sure why that is?!? I think we need to have more taken, don't you?

Not too bad for 46 years together!

A trip like this is something we have always wanted to do together. We got to do something like this for our 40th anniversary, too, when we went to Tennessee and North Carolina. But this is the first time we have been to the Pacific coast together. Ron's brother lived in Northern California when Ron was growing up. One of my sisters lived in West central California {and still lives there] when I was growing up. We both have childhood memories of traveling to California with our folks to see our brother/sister, and I have been to California twice in the past 12 years to see my sister with other family members. So we consider it a GREAT privilege to have been able to do this trip together! Love you Sweetheart!!!!

I LOVE to go to the ocean!!

2008-10-30T23:36:00.004-05:00

Every time a wave comes in, it is SO different from the last wave! And the sound of the surf.[if the sea is calm/not 'angry'] is so soothing, and yet invigorating, too.
See that spray billowing up in the middle? There must be a rock there that the surf is hitting.

In this area, there are these giant rocks and boulders drifting out toward the sea.

The Grandkids climbed up on this rock for a picture. It was just a step or two up from the sand. They thought they were far enough from where the waves came in to not get wet. But sometimes a wave will come farther in...and they almost got caught!

When you look past the rocks...There is nothing to see on the horizon but the sky and the sea...and you think the sea must go on forever!

Here Chris is getting some shots of the kids at play. Karen is enjoying their antics,too. There were quite a few families at the beach. but not so many as to feel crowded.

Views from the top

2008-10-29T21:17:00.002-05:00

Here are some of the sights from the parking area of the first beach we stopped at on the Oregon Coast.

Here are Karen and the rest of the kids feeding bread to the gulls. It was very windy here at the top of the hill. See the picnic table? I don't think anything would have stayed on top of it! That orange fence was around some construction they were doing to improve the steps etc. that headed down to the beach. We had to go down a different way.

This view was just to the right of the last one.

Did you realize that there is a tsunami danger off the pacific coast? I didn't! If you click on the pic, it will enlarge it and you can read this sign.

More gulls flying! Chubs barked at them, and I don't think they appreciated him either!

The view we could see as we descended to the beach. Fine sand, lots of driftwood,kelp? and other sea plants that were left at high tide , but veryfew shells!

Stopping in the Redwoods

2008-10-28T12:15:00.002-05:00

To get to the coast from where the kids live, you have to drive down into Northern California. I have been to the Redwoods several times in my life [my sister lives in California], but not in this particular area. It was great to see them again, this time with my husband and part [at least]of my kids!
There was a stream near to where we parked, and Karen and the kids walked down to see it and chunk rocks into it.

There is a one way drive through parts of this park. It makes several 'loops' through different areas. There were camping spots along the way,too. OH, I think that would be so awesome!

For some reason, this pic didn't 'turn' upright like it was supposed to. This is the top of a tree-maybe the same tree in previous picture.

Here is Ron standing at the base of one tree. It is so hard to really explain their size. You just have to be there and see for yourself!

You can just barely see Ron here. The smell in a Redwood forest is different than any other forest,too. And I love how the sunshine filters down through the trees... God has made some wonderfully beautiful things for us to enjoy!!!

Here's a twofer!

2008-10-27T08:37:00.002-05:00

Phooey! Papaw won't let me in his lap either. I thought we were 'buds'. I just wanted to take a nap in his lap like I usually do.

Two quick pics on each subject.

First, Karen is always telling us how well Chubs travels. How he stays in his little bed and doesn't get out... OOps! I believe he is trying to escape, now. Or is he just rying to get in Nanny's lap??

Karen had some pics of this on her blog.

Here is what happens when you go shopping with Mommy and Nanny! I really tried to tell them that I'm not tired! Wonder how this happened...

Wii have fun with Papaw

2008-10-27T08:17:00.003-05:00

Look at this concentration...

A smile here. Did we score?

Waiting for just the right moment...

Yep!! Jacob has Papaw playing games on the Wii!!

More flowers and such in the backyard.

2008-10-25T20:55:00.002-05:00

Here are pics of some of the flowering bushes and trees toward the back of the yard.

Some of them look like things we have in this area, but a lot of them were not familiar to me.

These pomegranates are growing just to the right of the back door

There were a lot of plants still blooming.

Enjoying the Back Yard!

2008-10-25T20:40:00.002-05:00

Sunday afternoon I sat out on the patio with my book and just enjoyed the back yard. Chubsy was about the only one out there with me and the birds. Isn't this a beautiful tree?Maybe a crab apple?

This is the view straight back from the house.

This is just slightly to the left of the previous one.

And this is to the left of that.

Here is the trampoline to the left of the back door. I think that is Jacob's window.

On the Fly

2008-10-24T23:33:00.003-05:00

So Chris says to me," There is a really pretty lake coming up. If you'll get your camera ready, I'll let you know when we are about to pass over it."

So here are 2 pics I was able to shoot through the open window as we drove across the bridge. It was getting pretty late in the day, so the colors are not showing up very well. But it was a VERY pretty lake., and there really isn't a spot to stop and take a picture, unless,maybe, we had driven down one of the roads/highways leading off our road. But then...there were no guarantees of that...and I'm happy with these pics!!