~In the Words of Louis Grizzard~

"They Ripped My Heart Out and Stomped That Sucker Flat", Yeap, that is what happened to Larry on Saturday, May 23, his sister's 61st Birthday and the office manager's 51 st Birthday.... What an eye opening learning experience. How it all began.... Went to the Doc on Friday morning 9 AM to get a new script for his Blood Pressure Medication.. I went to see what he said about the cold Larry had about a month ago and why he gets so short of breath, (I knew he would not say anything about it unless I was there, because he knew I would if he did not). The doc did an EKG (electrocardiogram), then another, then another, a total of 4.. He did not like the looks of it, so we also did a chest x-ray, his heart was enlarged.. He showed us on the EKG where the T-waves were inverted and that was a sign of a heartattack .. He left the room and when he came back about 15 minutes later, we were told that Dr. Greer (cardiologist) was waiting for us at Baptist Hospital.. So we drove straight there, with copies of the EKG in our hand.. Mom called me while we were inroute to the Hospital and wanted to know what I had decided about dinner and Graduation, was I going to meet them there or ride with them. I told her, I was not sure at that moment, I had somethings to wrap up and then I would let her know. Did not tell her what was going on.. When we arrived, they did he initial intake info, then they triage, then they took Larry back and I finished the paperwork, because Dr. Greer was literally waiting for us. He looked at the EKG and listened to Larry and we were told he was scheduled for a Heart Cath in 30 minutes. Larry asked about a stress test and was told, "you are beyond that"... So we go for the Heart cath, which we were told would take no more than an hour, either they would find nothing, and then they would be out in 30 minutes, or they would do balloons/stints and be out in an hour.. At that point I called mom and let them know what was going on. While I was waiting, my boss called with a work question. I was crying, scared to death... she asked what was going on, so I told her where I was and what we were doing. She asked who was with me and of course no one was, By the time mom and dad could have gotten there the heart cath was supposed to be over. I told her I was OK, just in shock.. The next thing I knew, she walked in the door ( my office is only 5 minutes from the Hospital). I was glad not to be alone. After an hour, they came out and told me everything was going well and they were about half way through, now I had been told it would take no more than an hour to begin with and now I am being told after the hour, they are halfway finished. I really got upset, Marilyn tried to justify it, they got a late start, so I was kinda OK, but had this gut feeling that something was really wrong... An hour later, they came and got us and took us to a conference room, Marilyn said she would step out when the doc came in and I asked her to stay.. The first thing he asked me is "Are you the one that got him to the Doc", I said I strongly suggested he go, then I was told I had just "Saved His Life", Still not letting myself think about surgery. I asked how many stints did we have and again I heard those words, "You are beyond that", we have to do "SURGERY" I was shocked and terrified.... He began to describe and draw pics of the blockages, His LAD (Widow Maker, main artery) was 99% Blocked.... Had he moved the wrong way, that would have shifted and he would have instantly been gone and there would have been nothing anyone could do to save him. Now remember Larry travels all the time with his work, he had come in from Sioux City, IA on Wednesday evening.. We are so very BLESSED that this happened like it did... He could have been away somewhere and it happened.. But, let's don't go there, that did not happen. The Good Lord saw fit for him to be at home. So we discuss Surgery, when, They were already trying to schedule it with the Surgeon and it would be Sat or Sun at the latest, Now remember this is a Holiday weekend... All of this has happened in 5 hours... I am a basket case by now. I have to pull myself together, because they will be bringing him out shortly..
Now I have phone calls to make, My parents, his sisters, my sons,, his boss... etc.... They are not letting us go home, so I have to ask mom to go to the house and bring me some clothes and stuff, because I may be here awhile..
Mom and dad get there around 4:30 because they are meeting for the Graduation/Birthday (Maranda on Sunday) dinner at PF Changs..
The Surgeon comes in at 5 and explains to us what is happening and what is about to happen. We talk to him for over an hour.. We will have surgery at 7:30 Sat. AM.. So within 22 hours we have gone through all this and will be in surgery...
So the rest of the night, we are in x-ray, ultrasound, echo, blood draws, Now keep in mind, Larry has not been in the hospital or had ANY type procedure done since he was 7 and cut his wrist.. So he is not liking this at ALL... At 4 AM they come in and wake him up to draw ABG (Arterial Blood Gasses), this is drawn out of an artery and hurts like all get out... REALLY BAD.. He is squeezing my hand so hard I about go to the floor, but I stand there and talk him through it. Then at 6 they come get us and take us to Surgery waiting, I am trying really hard to be strong, but the longer we sit there the more the tears roll.. His sisters called and said they were in the waiting room, So I asked one of the nurses if they could come back and so they got them. Then off to SURGERY!!!!!! I told them I wanted some of his drugs, he would be asleep and not know anything, so I was the one that needed the don't care stuff, but I did not get it. I was told they had about an hour prep and then surgery would begin. That would take about 4 hours. So we wait, Mom, Dad, Mary, Linda, Roger, Patti and I.... and we wait, and we wait, etc. at 11 we were told they were closing up... and we waited, and waited... I walk to the doorway and stand, tears just rolling,,, and I see the surgeon (Dr. Martino it is 12:30) and he is SMILING.. So I know things went well. So he explained what he did and that we should be able to see him shortly, he would be in CVICU for the next 48 hours or so and that would be the critical time.
So at 1 were allowed to see him.. Words cannot describe what I saw, tubes, wires, monitors,, machines,, everywhere.... And my husband, laying there with a machine breathing for him, motionless... A man that is NEVER still, we had planned to finish the trailer and start on the Wheel Horses this weekend... and here he lies not moving at all, not even breathing on his own.. I am terrified, all I can do is cry.. But he is alive and the docs say he is doing great... I am thinking what do they know, they do not know this man and how active he is..
Mom and dad leave to take care of some things, but Mary, Linda and Roger are staying for awhile. Linda will not go see him, She cannot stand all the machines and tubes, and that is OK. Mary and I go back in at 5 and we have to wait, because they are pulling the vent tube.. Finally he will be breathing on his own.. We are asked to not let him talk, just talk to him..
Mary, Linda and Roger leave, I would be fine, he is doing really good, and I just needed some alone time to think about all this and try to absorb it and get some of my crying out so I can be strong for him when he knows I am there. I go back to see him and get to stay for an hour at 8... He told me it sure was good to open his eyes and see me standing there... Then I told his nurse I will be in the waiting room if he needs me in the night.. I am assigned a couch to sleep on... I have my phone on vibrate in my pocket.. Just in case... About 4 AM, I sat straight up on that couch and just had a warm feeling, did not know what that was, but I went back to sleep. At 6 my phone vibrates, scared the bageebees out of me.. It was Larry's nurse, He had been asking for me since, you got it, "4". He did not remember me being there the night before, She told him, I had had a rough day and let's wait till 6 and let her get some rest and then she would call me back there. So he was content with that, but kept asking how much longer till 6.. I got to stay back there for another hour till shift change... Then I went and found me a shower and changed my clothes, I had been wearing mine for 2 days now... He was doing well and I needed to feel better and felt that would help. I got to go back in at 8, they had him eating breakfast, scrambled eggs and all.. Then after that visit, I went and got breakfast.. I was called around 11:30 to come to the desk, My heart sank,, but it was to tell me they were moving him upstairs to a room, HALLELUJAH God is SO GOOD!!!!! It was less than 24 hours in CVICU and we are going upstairs, in a WHEELCHAIR no less, not a bed... Things progressed from there, drain tubes began to be pulled and replaced with just bandages,, They keep telling us how well he is doing and I can see him getting stronger each day... The nurses and the staff are just great.. He is a model patient.. Day 5 after Surgery, Thursday, We get to go home. Boy, am I SCARED.. now it is up to me to take care of him. I have no one watching this little heart monitor, I have to watch him.. But I can do this... Does he mind me and rest when we get home, NO... He ends up getting TOO TIRED and does not rest last night. Today we will do better.. I am going to give him a shower in a little bit.. that should make him feel alot better,, In fact he is wanting to do that now. So I will update more later.. I have to go play nurse....

Thanks to EVERYONE FOR ALL THE PRAYERS, that is what got us where we are right now..

~Wrong Click~

I am really upset with myself right now.. I had a spreadsheet that is 180 lines lone. I keyed information in to it and deleted what I did not need at this particular time and instead of clicking "Save AS", I slipped and just clicked SAVE... Now I need the rest of the information I had deleted, and it is GONE!!!!! Now I will spend about 5 hours re-creating that spreadsheet.. THose of you that deal with spreadsheets, realize this is not going to be an easy task.. I do not have time for this, this is Year end and I am in a real time crunch.. I know, I need to be doing that instead of typing this, but, I really just need a stress relief and typing is a real good one for me, and this is a good place to just do alot of typing...
Reunion:: It is only 8 days until the Family Reunion. I am excited. It will be interesting to see who all actually shows up... I am sure there will be people, I have never seen or have not seen in no telling how many years.. It will hopefully be a full day of catching up and hearing all kinds of stories of my parents growing up days, wonder what kind of secrets will be revealed??? Might be INTERESTING!!!!!!
The day after the reunion, my baby grand daughter and her mother leave for CA. Deanna's mother is having knee replacement and Deanna and Kelsey are going out for 3 weeks to help her out. I am excited that Kelsey's other Grandma will get to spend some time with her, hope most of it is Cindy feeling good time.. I am so BLESSED to have my entire family as close to me as they all are. My oldest brother and his family has recently moved to Texarkana, but still that is only 2 hours away and they come to Sheridan fairly often. The rest of us are within 20 minutes of each other. I guess Buck lives the next farthest from me and that is only 15 minutes if I go the back roads from my house.. I can do that as long as we have not had alot of rain recently. The water has just now receeded enough I can go that way, and guess what, we are expecting more rain for the next 4 days, then dry weather again. There is only a 10% chance of rain the day of the Reunion. I hope it is gorgeous weather and not extremely hot.. We will have a WONDERFUL DAY, at least I will.. I just found out some that are going to be there, but I am not telling.. You will have to be there to find out who all is there.. I think I need to pick up some name tags for everyone.. What do ya think??

OK< I think I have settled down a little about the spreadsheet. I guess I will get to re-building it, It is not going to re-build itself and I do have invoices that I need to get paid and I have to have that spreadsheet to do it with. SO here I go..

Later all, God Bless and Keep you in your travels to Sheridan Rec Center for the Brown Reunion...

~Life Goes On~

It has been almost a month since I posted.. Sorry,, but LIFE Happens... What has been going on for the last Month... Where do I start???

Larry and I bought and halfway re-built a wooden trailer to pull behind the tractors for a Hayride... Can't wait to get it painted (if it EVER quits RAINING). It too will be RED.. "If it ain't Red, leave it in the Shed"

We had Easter egg hunt and Strawberry shortcake at mom's, the Sunday after Easter (it was RAINING on Easter)... It also rained the morning we had it, but it quit and cleared off, mom and dad's yard drains really well, so we were able to hide about 100 eggs for the kids to hunt.. Strawberry short cake was wonderful, we also had stuff to make banana splits or ice cream sundae's for whomever prefered them.. We all sat outside on the patio and had a WONDERFUL visit. We just do not do nearly enough of that.. Mom had made dressing and we were sitting there talking and Buck said he had to go have more of that, he did not get to eat Mamaw's cooking nearly enough anymore..

The following Sunday, I took the girls to Disney on Ice - Mickey and Minnie's Memories.. It was Great. I think they really enjoyed it and I know I did. I sure like having little ones, I can use and an excuse to go see things like that. A girl that works with Deanna, got the tickets FREE for me. No, I did not get out of there without dropping a small fortune. I treated the girls to McDonald's for lunch (their choice, not mine), then I paid $10.00 to park,, Then I bought them a SnoCone in a Stitch (Lilo & Stitch), mug that cost me $10.00 EACH... Then I ended up eating 2 of the snocones, because they did not like them.. YES it was well worth it... Then we stopped and got a snack on the way home... I really enjoyed the afternoon...

The first weekend in May, Larry and I took a road trip to pick up a couple of Wheel Horses. If you have not heard of them , they are miniature tractors. They are smaller than a riding lawnmower, but look just like a big tractor. Yes, we have developed a thing for Tractors... Here is a picture of one of the ones we got. We got 2 of them and a mower deck, cultivator and turning plow for them. We will restore them as we did the other Farmalls.. If the weather will cooperate so we can finish the trailer and then get started on these.. I can't wait.. I think the girls will have a good time riding them around the yard.. One of them is a 1960 and the other a 1964... Yes, I know one of them is as old as me.... We got back in late Sunday from that trip, and back to work on Monday, I spent Wednesday and Thursday at Hot Springs at a Public Health Convention. I rushed back on Thursday evening to attend Kelsey's Spring Gymnastics Program. She was a HOOT, She had us all laughing so hard, tears were just rolling. Rocky leaned over and said, I think she has ALOT of Uncle Showtimes (Bruce) personality in her. Nana could not miss that. Mom, dad, Mandy and the girls all got to attend.. Then back to work on Friday to find out it was the deadline for entering purchase orders for this Fiscal Year. So it was a really crazy busy day.. No lunch bread that day...
Sunday was Mother's Day, I had gotten mom a Red Leaf Japanese Maple while I was in Hot Springs.. I had intended to take them to lunch, but I did not call them early enough. I was waiting till they got out of church, but did not know they get out earlier (I know I should have been there, but I was not), so they were almost in Little Rock when I called. I will make it up to them.. Pam and Tony had been over on Saturday nite, James called on Sunday, he is in Texarkana working now. I did go over and spend some time after they got back from LR..
If the weather clears some, Larry and I are taking mom and dad with us to a Tractor show, parade, races, etc... this weekend in Nashville AR.. That will be a fun trip.. I am anxious to go. On the way we are going to discuss and start planning our trip later this year. We are trying to go to the Redwoods, Larry has never seen them and it has been YEARS since I have.. Would love to see them again.. Planning to take mom and dad with us.. It is our turn to do for them..

Well, I think I have caught up. Will try to post more often, just right now is BUSY BUSY time.. Trying to close out the year at work and help on the Reunion coming up in 2 WEEKS... Right now I feel like the little engine that COULD,, I think I can, I think I can,,, etc.... I can do this...

LOVE and BLESSINGS to ALL!!!!!!!!

~work work work~

It seems that is all I do. My job is really busy right now and will be till the end of July. We have decided to move our payroll department down to the 3rd floor and not renew the lease on 4th floor where they currently are. So it is my job to schedule and supervise the move. I have 4 guys coming on Monday to move stuff around on 3rd floor to make room for them. Then I have a moving company coming on Wednesday to actually move them down stairs. I also have a shredding company coming Monday to pick up untold pounds of old patient records that have to be shred, I have people scheduled to round up all the old broken equipment to be cataloged and sent to the state equipment graveyard. I am throwing away and getting rid of lots of JUNK!!!! We have really gotten bad about letting things pile up and I can't stand it any more. Of course my regular duties will suffer from this and therefore I will have to really work hard week after next to get all that caught up. There used to be 2 people that did this job, but one left and they did not replace her, since I showed them I could do it (Big mistake). I did not complain about not having enough time to get everything done, I just pushed myself and did it, so they thought I could handle it and so I have for the last 5 years. Then came AASIS, that doubled my work load, then came DHS and that again doubled what had already been doubled but I continue to push and manage to get it all done. OH well, I guess that is why I will loose time this year if I do not take 25 days off between now and the 31st of December. I just hate to take more than a day at a time, because it is too hard to try and catch up.

On a more happy note. I am getting excited about the reunion. Sheri and her family are going to try to be there. Mom and I got all the information typed the other nite. I am getting it printed this weekend and mailed out. Please fill out the form and send (snail or e-mail) back to me. I am trying to put together a family directory, names, addresses, birthdates and phone numbers, etc.... to be handed out at the reunion. IF you are not able to attend and want one, I will mail to you. YOu will not be left out..

Mom, Dad, Larry and I are going to a Tractor Parade/Race on the 16th of May. I am excited about that. Larry and I are trying to purchase a Wheel Horse, which is an old riding lawn mower that looks just like a miniature tractor. We have found some, we are just trying to get time to go look/get them.. We will restore them and use them probably for the girls to ride at the house, we will have a turning plow, cultivator and mower deck with them. Cember wants to cut the grass for us with the riding mower this year. I am going to let her try the next time she is at the house and see how she does. I will probably have to take turns with her and Kiefer. Kiefer wants to do it also, But I think Cember will be in Mississippi most of the summer, Buck is supposed to be working down there and possibly Bruce, not sure on that yet, I think sometime mid June he is supposed to be there. If so, this will be a long summer for me..

Well gotta get off for now. Time to go..

God Richly Bless each of you.

~Where do I start~

Crazy, busy life... What has been going on you say,,, well, where do I start.... Things at work are gearing up for year end. That is a busy, crazy time of year. Trying to spend what is left in this years budget, closing out PO's, getting invoices in and paid. Getting geared up to re-key all the PO's for the copier leases for the next Fiscal Year, (I have 95 that all have to be keyed in on the first 2-3 days after July 4th when we can get back into the system. We are locked out from about the 20th of June to the second business day after July 4th. So I will be crying with my hands hurting so bad from all the constant keying. But I will survive, I do every year.
The first week in May I will be at our annual convention in Hot Springs. I will probably stay at the lake house and not drive back and forth everyday, since it is only 20 miles from the convention center. I used to do the exhibits, but it got too hard on my joints pounding that concrete floor for 3 days, so now I do registration, I get to sit down for most of that.

Larry and I have been doing some work in the yard, digging up and setting out Dogwoods, Wysteria, Red buds, and Roses. We have been moving some dirt around and trying to decide what to do in the circle out front. Still not sure there. But we are going to play with it this weekend and try to come up with something.

I have been trying to gather addresses of all family members to send out reunion info to,, Please send your's(snail and e-mail) to me, just to make sure I have it. Along with the reunion info I am requesting family stats and am planning to put together a family directory. So please get me the completed questionaire as soon as you can, after I send it out that is.

Last weekend Larry and I went to a tractor show up town just to see how ours compares to the ones they have. We are I would say as good as some and better than others. Mom and dad asked why we did not take ours up there. We really just did them to see if we can, Now that we know we can and do a real good job at it, we may take them next time. We are going to another tractor show in Nashville AR on the 16th of May, We have asked mom and dad to go with us for the day. I called to get more info on it and was asked how many we would be bringing and what models they are. I told them we would not be bringing them this time. I was asked to at least bring pictures if I have them. So maybe we will do that, but Larry is looking for a trailer to haul them on, if he decided to show them. We got out on Saturday afternoon and he and I had tractor races on these roads out here for about an hour. The neighbors got a good laugh out of that. We had a blast doing it. Then it was put the toys up and get back to work.
Sunday we mowed the entire yard, he did the riding mower and I did the push mower (to make sure nothing got cut down) for 2 hours each. I was tuckered when I stopped...

Buck and Bruce got laid off in Batesville on Thursday and came home. Buck goes back to white bluff on the 14th and Bruce went today. He thought he was not going until the 20th, so he was planning some turkey hunting, but he got called yesterday and asked why he was not there. so he had to go today. I was glad to get them back home. I think they are planning to go to somewhere in MS sometime in May or June for about 6 - 8 weeks, not sure about that yet.

Mom, dad, Larry and I have got to get together and plan our trip this summer. now that we know pretty much we are going to get to do it, I am getting excited about it. Now we just have to decide where and when... We know we are going to Fly.. so the how is taken care of, then we will rent a car when we get there..
Larry and I are going to Branson again this year on July 4th. We like to go junk shopping there, it is alot of fun. sometimes we find some neat stuff and sometimes not. But we like to look.. Then we just walk and look in the craft stores and sit and watch people. I love to do that. It is amazing what all you see, when you just sit and look.

Well gotta go and get some sleep. I will try to post more often than I have been.

Nite all..

~Catching Up~

Well, I have the Pavilion at the REC center reserved all day on Saturday, May 30th for the Family Reunion. Now to get addresses and get notices out. The pool will be open, there is handball, tennis courts, basketball courts (inside and outside), walking track, skateboard park, pool tables, playground and other sports available. Kevin and his brothers are trying to keep this date open so they can bring their stuff and we can have an old fashioned singing. As for food, I am thinking bring grills and grill hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, what ever you want, then have chips dips, potato salads, cookie puddin and other side items and desserts, Any suggestions???

Well, now for what has been going on. Larry and I are hard at it again in the yard, we have put out 600 lbs of lime and 550 lbs of fertilizer (3 weeks apart). The grass is greening up more and more every day. I promise we thought we could hear it growing last weekend. It is supposed to storm here today, Thanks Sheri for sending it our way, We need some rain to soak the fertilize into the ground, just not the severe weather. We also set out 3 red buds that we dug up at mom and dad's, thanks, then we dug up 2 dogwoods in the woods and set them in the yard. Everytime the dogwoods bloom I think of my Grandma McLemore. She always wanted to come to Arkansas to see the dogwoods in bloom, kinda ironic, that when she passed away, the dogwoods were in full bloom. I remember that morning mom and dad left for CA, then that night I got a call they had an accident in Tucumcary NM and mom and Pam were in the hospital. That was scary, I felt so helpless, but I stayed home as dad had asked me to, he had all he could handle there and did not need the worry of me being on my way there. Then again, I had 3 little ones. That was a bad year all the way around, that Dec., Mike and I separated, but I won't go into all that..

The woods in AR are so pretty in the spring, with all the dogwoods and red buds in bloom. I just love to drive down all the back roads and look at all the blooms. Larry and I did that some on Saturday, only we were also looking for small dogwoods that we could dig up and plant in the yard. I was supposed to see about getting top soil hauled this week, but with the rain, that would be a waste of time and money, so I will wait on that.. We did get out the roses, actually Rocky and I did that on Wednesday, then Larry and I put the landscape blocks around them on Friday evening, then the weed barrier and the mulch. Then Saturday up early and put out fertilize and trees. It was a full day and we hurt that evening. We kept making the mistake of stopping and sitting for a little bit, then the getting up part was murder. It will get better, just in time to do it all over again this weekend..

Well all for now. I have a cake in the oven. Gotta go check that then work on mom and dad's taxes..
Later ALL.

Mark your calender for the Reunion..

~I'm Late for an Important Date~

I just cannot find time these days to keep up with my stuff... A VERY LATE HAPPY BIRTHDAY to My Dad and My Middle Son, Rocky.. They were both born on March 10th, 41 years apart.. A Very Happy Birthday to you both.

The weather here is so crazy right now. Over the weekend, it was in the upper 70's and even low 80's, today it is 34 and raining. Larry is coming home from Kansas City and he is almost in Fort Smith and it is sleeting and snowing on him. Mandy went to Batesville yesterday to take Buck some warmer clothes, and now she is trying to get home and it is snowing on her. Then by Sunday it is back in the upper 60's and by mid next week into the upper 70's. Maybe this will be our last cold snap (at least last one this cold), The low tonite is 32 and the high tomorrow is 45.. I want WARM weather.

In my last post Bruce was expecting on heading for Batesville on Sunday or Monday, hopefully with a day to rest in between. Well,,,,, He did get laid off Monday at 4:00 and instructed to report to the job site in Batesville on Tuesday morning at 7.. No rest in between. So I hurried home and helped him gather up all his stuff, I had kept it washed up just in case this happened. And it is a good thing we did. He left around 6:30 headed to Batesville. I got a text at 9:15 "I'm here, good nite". I guess he and Buck will be there for the next 5-10 weeks. So I am HOME ALONE!!!! Larry will be in Tonite sometime and back out on Monday. SO during the week for awhile, it will be just me.. But that is OK. I like it out here. I'm NOt Skerd... I have "Watch Deer"...

I wanted to work on a Rose Garden this weekend, but I guess that will have to wait. Larry and I are taking mom and dad out for dinner on Saturday for Dad's Birthday. Not sure yet where we will be going. I told him it was his choice.

Well better get off and get some more things done. WIll post more later.

~Run, Run, Run~

That seems to be all I do these days. How did I have time to help mom and dad all those years, it seems I have NO Time to do things now. I want to spend more time with mom and dad, but where am I going to find the time... I did go over on "President's Day" and spend most of the day with them. We had Lunch, Soup with Chicken and Stir fry" It was REALLY Good, and a pain of PLAIN cornbread, (all I get to make at home is Mexican). I loved it, MOm and I worked on some quilts, I showed her a few things and she showed me a few. I am going to have to take a day off and do that again... No more holidays until Memorial Day.
Last week, Buck & Bruce were told they would be going to Batesville soon, so, I have been trying to keep Bruce's clothes washed up (I do this anyway, but I am paying particularly close attention to it now). Well, Buck got told at 1 yesterday they needed him in Batesville today at 7 am. He said he could not make that, but he could be there Saturday am. So, last nite, we were busy (after I ran my errands in town, went to Kelsey's gymnastics, and did water aerobics) , gathering up last minute things I had at the house for the camper. Buck, Mandy and the girls are taking that up today and get it set up, Mandy and the girls are staying for the weekend. Bruce was told he should be shipping out Sunday or Monday for batesville.
Yesterday was Bruce's 26th Birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON!!! Boy did that time pass fast. They all came over for dinner on Wednesday nite. I made a statement about Bruce's age and Rocky, said "Yes, that means I am going to be "28" on Tuesday, Deanna and I could not remember how old I was and I knew someone would mention Bruce's age and then we would know" He is so silly. Then he went on to say "that means Buck will be" and BUCK Stopped him, "Don't even go there brother". I am so glad they are close again. I can remember a day when they were not and it ripped my heart out. I get along with my brothers and sister, but sometimes I really DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!!!! and I am sure they feel the same about me...
I laughed at Buck and Rocky, they went to look at the tractors and could not figure out how to start mine. I had to show them, but then the battery was down on it. So, Larry will have to charge it for me and show me how to hook up the charger (it is a negative charge system).

I had a really good Valentines Day, if you ever want to hide something from me, just leave it in plain sight. Larry had bought me this HUGE teddy bear to sit on the bed. He put it on the bed Friday afternoon before I got home. Did I see it??? NO!!!!!! I went in there several times to get to the bathroom, of course, I did not turn on the bedroom light. He kept saying how tired he was, and I told him to go to bed. I had things I wanted to finish up, but he could go to bed, he kept saying in a bit.. Well, now I know why he was saying that. SILLY ME>> well Saturday morning when I got up (for a change, after Larry did) I started making the bed, when I went to put all the pillows on it is when I found the TEDDY BEAR sitting in the corner by the pillows.. I was shocked.. I will have to add pics of the girls with him for you to see how large he is. I love it. Kelsey was trying to drag it into the living room the other nite to show everyone, it was more than she could drag..

Well gotta go help someone, will add to or post again later.

~lots of catching up~

The last couple of weeks have really been crazy.. Larry and I finished my tractor and I drove it this past Sunday... It really will scoot. I loved it.

Here is the before and the after... quite a difference... We have new neighbors, just moved in 3 weeks ago. They are really young, just married 10 months, when they came over to introduce themselves, she wanted to know "Does it run", (we were outside in the pout house working on it). I drove it for quite awhile on Sunday, thinking they would get back home and she could see it run, but they came in about 20 minutes after I put it up, it was really getting cold out there. Maybe this weekend she can see it. I know we should have gone over and welcomed them and introduced ourselves, but they had alot of company and they were busy unloading and we did not want to intrude. I was planning to bake something and take over later in the week, no I still have not gotten that done, It is supposed to rain here most all day Saturday, sounds like a good day for baking to me..

I have managed to finish Kelsey's quilt top and do another one out of the Blues and purples in Cember and Gabby's, boy did that turn out pretty. This and Kelsey's is more a lapquilt size, Since Kelsey is only 28 lbs, she would get lost in even a twin size. Then last Saturday, the weather was yucky and I really got bored so I cleaned out the sewing machine drawer, I found a jumpsuit I had cut out many many many years ago, along with the fabric for a blouse to go with it, decided I was apparently not going to sew it up and if I did, I was not going to wear it, so I cut it and the blouse fabric into squares and I am doing a 9 patch quilt top out of it. I will probably finish that one this weekend as well.

If the weather is just semi-yucky on Saturday, I think Larry and I are going junk shopping. We have gotten to where we like to just go dig and look in old flea market type stores, you never know what you will find.. That is where I found a churn and then a jar for it.. Then my SIL does victorian style lamp shades, so we are always finding odd shaped lampshades/frames that she can use for those that we get for a dollar or two for her. Who knows what we may decide to do. Buck and Bruce are getting ready to go to Batesville (about 2 1/2 hours from home) to work for about 6 weeks. They are taking a camper, to save on the living expenses while they are there. Mandy and the girls will go up just about every weekend to clean the camper and do laundry for them. They work 7 12 hour days when they are on these power plant shut down maintenance jobs. They may have 1 or 2 days between jobs. They are currently at White Bluff (30 minutes from home), Bruce is working in the coal yard, so every nite (8 PM) when he gets home, he practically strips outside to keep from tracking the coal dust through the house. That saves alot. He comes home and all you can see on his face is his lips and his eyeballs. Picture the look on Kelsey's face when he came in last nite and spoke to her, she did not know who he was and it upset him because she was scared of him. She knew he sounded like uncle Boo, but he sure did not look like him.

Well gotta go, close out the month at work and get home. Will update more later.

LOVE and GODS BLESSING to ALL!!!

~You Nana~

Yesterday I picked up Kelsey at DayCare and took her home to change her clothes for Gymnastics. Rocky had not left for work yet, so she got to see him. After I got her undressed I sent her to Potty before we put her gym suit on. I went to check on her and Rocky came in there to tell her bye. As he was leaving he said, "bye mom, thanks for taking Kelsey" After he left Kelsey looked at me and said, "you not mom, you nana". So I tried to explain I am your Nana, but I am your Dad's Mom, again, "you not mom, mom at Sonic". Don't guess she is quite old enough to understand all that yet, But the look of puzzlement on her face was just priceless. Wish I had had a camera.

THen off to Gymnastics. She is doing really well, She loves it.. They had her hanging on a bar and putting her feet on it between her hands and swinging. She loved it, but my heart was in my throat for fear of her falling, (of course her coach was right there and there were soft mats under her, but still, she is ONLY 3... Deanna met us there when she got off work at 5:00.. Kelsey in her "Jumpin Suit"

I am so glad this is the last day of work this week and Monday is a Holiday, then no more holidays until Memorial Day in May. I hate that long stretch, but I am thankful we get as many holidays as we do working for the state. I still have my birthday I can take as a floating holiday. Then, I have 7 1/2 weeks of vacation and sick leave I have saved. Never know when I will mess up my neck completely and have to have surgery again (I have avoided it now for 3 1/2 years). So I need to save as much as I can so I don't miss a paycheck. Heaven knows we all need everyone of those we can get and then some... I am going to Mom's when Larry leaves on Monday and we are going to quilt all day or at least most of it. Yesterday mom took Cember and Gabby's quilts to the quilter. This is Gab's quilt top. I can't wait to get them back..

This weekend, Larry and I are going to work on the yard and try to play with the blocks out front and decide how we want to do that.. Then I have some Mimosa trees I want to move, now seems like the time to do that.. The weather is supposed to be good, and the temp in the mid to upper 50's. that will be good.. Bruce is back to work and is working 7 days a week and 12 hours a day, so I do not see him much. He will be at Redfield (about 30 miles from home) for about 4 weeks, then he and Buck will go to Batesville (about 2 1/2 hours from home, they will take a camper and stay up there) for about 4-6 weeks, then back to Redfield, Then I am not sure from there. I think they will have about a week between each of these jobs, not sure.

Well gotta go and get some more cleaning done, We are having Spring Cleaning at work. I have sent so much to be shred out of this office it is not even funny. We are having 3 more offices constructed (permanent walls) where we had cubes. We are moving our payroll dept. back down on this floor with the rest of us and get rid of that lease every month. So I am having to clear out some storage cubes to be able to put people in them.

So until next time, God Bless and Keep You ALL!!!

~Weeks Events~

Had Girls nite out last nite, What a fun time. I only had my 3 girls, but we played, watched some of American Idol and laughed at some of them and really enjoyed others. We had reading time (30 minutes) and then played till bath time and bedtime.. Then up this morning, got all delivered, Kelsey to her mom and dad, Cem and Gab to mamaw and papaw (dad takes them to school for me when they spend the nite, Thanks a MILLION).

Last weekend, we got to work on the tractor all weekend. I got up early Sunday morning and went to Walmart to get what groceries and other items we needed, then home and changed into work clothes and got to sanding and painting. I have a problem, my paint on spots on the tank and fenders keeps bubbling up like little blisters. Not sure what is going on there. I may have to sand back to the metal and start over, I hope not, but what ever I have to do. Hope to finish it up and get it all back together this weekend. Weather is supposed to be just beautiful here this weekend, like 68 on Saturday and 62 on Sunday with scattered showers, oh well, we could use a little rain.

Last Friday/Saturday, we had new neighbors move in next door to us.. It is a young couple, with no children. They moved from a Condo in Little Rock to the country, We have decided they are scared of the dark, they keep all their outside lights (front porch, Garage (that one they really cannot tell is on if they are in the house), and 2 sets of flood lights out back) on all night. He seems like a good ole country boy, he was born and raised in Sparkman. She is from Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have not met her, she had gone to Walmart and he came over and introduced himself. Maybe I will bake something this weekend and take over to them. Depends on how involved we get into the tractor. I am ready to put that project to bed and move on. I have flower beds to work on and get ready for planting early next month.. But, first I have to decide what to do. I have a 35 foor diameter circle in my front yard (drive way all the way around it), that I need to do something with, Any SUGGESTIONS?? No water garden, That would be beautiful, but it would also bring FROGS and I am deathly afraid of them, I know SILLY, but that is just how it is.. So no water nothing out there.. That is the first thing anyone suggests, but that will not happen.. I already have 2 tree frogs that live on the front porch.. I hate that, but have found nothing to get rid of them. Believe me I have searched high and low for something.. I am open to suggestions there as well..

Well, gotta go and get work done.
LOVE TO ALL!!!!!

~Happy Birthday Lil Bit~

Happy Birthday, Little Kelsey. Today you are "3". You went from being Uncle Bruce's Lil Wild Haired Baby, to his Lil Bit... When you were a baby, your hair was just wild, but your mom always did it so cute when she would take you somewhere. Then all of a sudden one day it was halfway down your back. The darkest color of brown to match your beautiful dark eyes.. The newest addition to our growing Family. My 3rd Little Grand Daughter. You are so petite, yet a little live wire. You are never still, always moving. I remember the minute you were born. Your mom and dad let me be part of your birth. You are so beautiful. You were born with a head full of hair, we knew you would be, your mom had heartburn the entire time she carried you. But as she says, you were so worth it. You are so petite, yet think you can do anything the other girls can do and most of the time you do exactly as they do.. Not always a good thing, but most of the time it all works out OK.. Just know that we will always LOVE YOU, wheither you are called: Lil Bit, Kelsey Bug, Kelsey Bell, or any of the other names that we sometimes call you. You are a joy to our family. Happy 3rd Birthday, Sweetheart...

~Birds and Quilts and Lazy Days~

Sunday, as I was sewing Larry called me to come look at something out side, Our yard was covered in hundreds of these birds, they were shaped kinda like a quail, but not the right color. Their chests were a vibrant yellow with a black "v". I looked them up on the internet and they are a Western MeadowLark. They were so pretty and so many of them. I told him that was probably a sign of weather to come. and Monday afternoon it started. So when I got in from work, Larry and I went out to the storage

building to dig out some yarn, in case the roads were really bad and I could not go to work on Tuesday, Well, not thinking, I started down the steps and down I went, not on my feet, and then Larry tried to help me and he went down right behind me, kicking me in the back with his boot. Boy did that hurt. We were both concerned about my neck, luckily it has not hurt me at all, but have a huge bruise on my back and my back side. I can hardly sit down, I have to sit to one cheek or the other, I think I cracked my tailbone, and no need to go to the doc, since they cannot do anything for that anyway. I will be OK. So I was not going to work on Tuesday even if the weather did permit, which it did not anyway. So I was home all day.

Then today, we were on inclement weather schedule, so we did not have to be there until 10. SO I left here about 8:30 and stopped to top off the gas tank, just for the extra weight. There I was told there was a fatality accident at Ico and the road would be closed until about 11 for clean up. An 18 year old girl lost her life, there was black ice on the bridge, the same bridge I slid on a couple of week ago. So I went back home and decided it was not worth it again today. Besides, it hurt really bad to sit..

I did get some yarn out Monday evening, but did not touch it yesterday, but I have been working on caps this morning. I almost have a garbage bag full to be sent to AR Children's Hospital for their KNittin for Noggins program. I try to contribute to that each year. Last year I had a little over 200 caps to donate.. I have not counted this years.

I decided this year I was going to make each of the girls a quilt for Christmas. I have Cember's top finished. Mom is going to take it to her quilter the next time she goes down there, no hurry. I asked them what were their 2 favorite colors, Cember said Pink and purple, well I found what I think is some really pretty fabric and did hers. Gabby said Pink and Blue, I have enough of the pink left from Cember's to do Gabby's if I can find some Blue like it. Kelsey, just said Blue, Not sure what I will do on her's. Here is a pic of Cem's. I made a full size to be used as a spread. I think it turned out really pretty. I love bright colored quilts.. If only I had the fabric for the others I could get them done as well. I may get energetic enough to make the boys and Mandy and Deanna one as well. We will have to see about that.. I couple of years ago I did Buck and Mandy one with Dale Earnheart Cheater Blocks. They are Big Nascar fans and he was their driver. It turned out really pretty. Just forgot to get a pic of it before I gave it to them. I will have to get them to take one for me. Well, my backside is hurting so I have got to get out of this chair for a bit.

Hope you all are safe and warm...

God Bless and Keep each one of you.

Love Ya

Nan

~Busy Fun Filled Exhausting Weekend~

Yes it was all that and MORE!!!! I took 4 little girls, Cember, Gabby, Maranda, and Kelsey to the lake house for the weekend. We left at 3 PM on Friday, Drove to the lake house (1 hr 15 min) and got it all turned on and heating up. I put the girls in the lower bedroom where I could heat that part real fast and they played, while I unloaded and got the rest of the house warm. That only took about an hour, then we ate and played Sorry and other board game, since it was dark and cold outside. That was a late nite, not going to bed until aroun 1:30 AM.

Saturday after breakfast and a quick straighten up, they were out to play, met some new neighbor girls and they all played together, I kept Kelsey inside with me until it warmed up a little more.

Then outside we went, I raked the back yard and burned the leaves. then moved to the front and side, too windy there to burn, so we raked and jumped and raked and jumped for about 3 hours (cheap entertainment, except for the blisters). There were showers to be had that night and boy was that water dirty.. But what fun we had.

Sunday after breakfast we went to a nursing rehab center to visit an elder lady that used to live beside us at the lake house. She is an awesome person. She is one of those people that I could sit and listen to all day, only she has a lung disease and cannot hold out to talk. Her and her husband built the log house that she just moved out of. It took them 7 years to build it. They cut down all the trees and debarked them and built the house. She was 49 when they started it, that just happens to be the age I am now and I could not begin to build a house especially like that one. She just loves the girls and they love her, everytime we go to the lake house, they have to go see Ms Norma. Cember and Gabby found the note on her door Oct. 07, that she had been taken to the ER early that morning. So they were immediately scared. I found someone that knew what was going on and tried to reassure them she would be OK. She was not able to come back to the log house after that, so now everytime we are there, we have to go see her. We always take her a little goody bag, this time we framed a picture I had taken of her with them in Oct. She loved it.

Then back to the leaf pile for about an hour, till it was too cool, then in for supper, baths and some more games of Sorry and other board games. Mostly Sorry..

Monday morning, UP, breakfast, clean the lakehouse, and load up. Then we came to Little Rock to Build a Bear. every Christmas they get me a gift card to Build a Bear and I take the girls and let them build me a bear. That is always alot of fun, only I did not think about all the Little Rock schools being out and there being a Girl Scout party at Build a Bear. that turned out to be a 3 hour ordeal,, but still fun.. Then to Wendy's for some food and then to their perspective homes. What a fun time was had, Making Memories.... The one on the Left is Valentine my 2008 bear, the one in the middle is Angel my 2006 Bear and the one on the Right is Merry my 2007 bear.

~My Birthday~

Well, I am almost at the "50" mark, Not quite, but close.. Here is what my kids got me for my birthday...

This is a blanket 30" x 60" with a picture of the 3 of my girls and the fall arrangement we had just put together on my front porch. I absolutely LOVE IT!! I have never seen anything like that. I have it hanging on my wall in my office for right now, until everyone gets a chance to see it, Then it is coming to my house. IT is so soft and so warm. It is just AWESOME!

Now what is going on here, Not much. I spent most of Friday nite and Saturday nursing a sick headache (From my neck I am sure). Late Saturday it got alot better, Then Sunday, It was gone, Thank the Good Lord. I had done so well for the last couple of weeks, no headache and no burning pain from my head down to the middle of my back. Then Saturday it flared, but Sunday it was gone again, and has not been back. Larry asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, He would take me to eat or go where ever I wanted to go, Guess what I wanted to do?? You got it, We sanded and primed on MY tractor. I cannot wait to get it finished. We only like 9 more parts being ready to put it back together. Don't get me wrong, I love to go out to dinner with him, but I really want to get this finished and move on to other things, It is getting close to Spring and we have more landscaping to do, I want the tractor finished so I can use it. Then, too, I am trying to get that credit card paid off and I can't do that if we keep using it. But since we moved, I really like to just stay home and do things around here. After we got through with what we could get done yesterday, we came in and I took a shower to get all the rust dust and paint off me, then I put on my warm jammies and sat on the couch working on hats for Children's Hospital under the Down blanket mom and dad got us for Christmas, I love that thing, It is so warm... I keep it on the couch to cover up with, I am the most cold natured person you could ever know. I always have a blanket handy. Even in the summer time, I have a blanket over me on the couch.

I am thinking it is going to be a lake house weekend with the girls. Not sure yet, Buck is going up tomorrow to make sure we have no busted pipes and to leave the faucets open, so they do not freeze in these next few nights fridged temps, One night it is supposed to get down to 16, that is COLD.. This is a long weekend for me and for them. They are out of school on Monday and that would be a good time to go to Build a Bear and let them build my bear.. I may have to work on Monday, since the legislature is in session. Not sure, Hopefully will know by Wednesday. Sometimes we have to have a skeleton crew there and since I am the only one in Purchasing, I usually have to be there. Oh well.. May have to do the Build a Bear on Sunday afternoon before coming home. We will see..

OH, I almost forgot, The builder finally got the electrician over here to wire up the door bell at the back door, normally they do not do that, but we requested it (did not realize it was not wired in until after we moved in), since everyone that knows us comes to the back door (closest one to the driveway), and with it being in the Laundry room and that door stays shut, we cannot hear them knock.. So now I have a doorbell there and the first one to use it was the Fed Ex guy..

Well for now I will sign off, Got Laundry to get folded and another load to get in the washer. Good Nite all and May God Richly Bless YOU!!!!

~Way Behind~

I usually do this at work. I get there real early and our system there is much faster and I cannot start working until 7, but they changed the security on our system and it will not allow me into this. By the time I get into town, go to physical therapy, do water aerobics and get home, it is bed time and I do not feel like getting on here then. But, on Wednesday's I do not have therapy or aerobics, I usually have the girls, but Larry's week got cancelled yesterday after he had driven to Springdale on Monday. So, let's see if I can get caught up.


HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Daughter-in-Law, Deanna on Monday, Jan. 5th. She turned "26", awe, to be 26 again and know then what I know now, boy would I have done alot of things differently. At 26 I was divorced with 3 little ones... Deanna is married to my middle son, Rocky and they have a beautiful daughter Kelsey that will be "3" later this month.

Rocky met Deanna while she was here from Perris, CA visiting her dad, who lives close to James. They began long distance dating, then Rocky went to Bosnia with the National Guard, upon his return from that tour in Oct. 2001 she moved to Arkansas. They married Sept. 28, 2002, at the home of Roy & Audrey Harrington (Audrey is her Great Aunt), then Oct. 2003, Rocky was deployed to Iraq. What a stressful time to be so far apart only a year after being married, but they survived. Now they have this Beautiful little girl. Happy Birthday, Deanna. Thank you for being my grand-daughters mother. You are wonderful..




Then on Tuesday, January 6th, Happy Birthday, Briauna... Briauna hit the "DOUBLE DIGITS" yesterday. She is now "10". I was there when she was born, in fact I have been there when all the kids (grand and great-grand, not the step) were born. She was so tiny and what a surprise when we found out she was coming. Pam had made the statement on Mother's Day, there was not way she was Pregnant(you have to be "exposed"), then guess what "she was"(told off on herself). Briauna is the first Grand daughter of my parents. there is a great-granddaughter just 9 months older than her. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Bri. May this year bring you a better year than last. I still like your hair better SHORT!!!!!!

~A BRAND NEW YEAR~ *UPDATED*

A new Beginning, a time to start over. A time to learn from the mistakes of last year and not to repeat them in this new year. A time of new resolutions, how many will be kept and how many forgotten in a few short days, weeks,,, a time to reflect on the resolutions made last year, how many kept, how many forgotten... I cannot remember any I made,, showing my age here a little bit..

How did I bring in the new year:: Quietly at home watching "The Christmas Shoes", crying my eyes out all alone. Larry went to bed around 8:30 and was probably asleep by 9. Bruce had gone on a competetion Coon Hunt with his buddy. Bruce has a registered coon dog: Mac.. He is huge and a beautiful dog. I am just not a dog person, but Mac is pretty. I will have to get a pic and post it (a new resolution)..

Reflections of last year:
January: Celebrated JR, Deanna (Rocky's Wife), Briauna, Rochelle, Kelsey, Gabriel (Kevin's baby), Caylum and my birthdays. James and Amie's Anniversary

February: Celebrated Kiefer, Brent H, Leila and Roy's Birthdays, Tony and Rochelle's Anniversary. Thought of Vanessa on what would have been her birthday.

January and February: Watching the completion of our new home..

March: Larry, Bruce and I moved into a new home on March 26th, Larry on the 27th (his ??th Birthday).. Celebrated Bruce, Raymond, Damon, Sue, Rocky, Daddy, Frances, Austin, Joanne/Rochelle, Madi and Larry's Birthdays, Thought of David and Leonard on what would have been their birthdays.

April: Celebrated Cember, Kelly (Kevin's wife), Kiara and Lindsay Alfords Birthdays.

May: Celebrated Mandy (Buck's wife), James, Jarod and Maranda's Birthdays, Buck and Mandy's Anniversary

June: Celebrated Buck , Mother, Josh and Uncle David's Birthdays. Sue and David's Anniversary

July: Celebrated Harold, Chris H and Ollie (Brandi Alford) birthdays, Thought of Grandma and Grandpa Brown on what would have been their birthday's.

August: Celebrated Brandi, Ken, Gavin, Evan, Nic and Rosie's Birthdays. Got my porch swing that was built for me by my Uncle Roy out of Cypress wood. 3rd Annual Family (my kids and I) weekend at the cabin on Lake DeGray

September: Celebrated Gabby, Chris G (Rochelle/Tony), Jeanette, Tina, Joseph and Missy's Birthdays, Rocky and Deanna's Anniversary. Mourned the lost of Jeffrey.

October: Celebrated Kevin, Kyle, Cole, Aleigha (Raymond), Joey (Charles), Shawn and Pam's Birthdays.

November: Celebrated Justin, Rodney, Dylan, Ethan and Charles Birthdays

December: Celebrated Keela, Tony, Sheri, Amie and Randi (Rochelle/Tony) Birthdays, Mom and dad, and Larry and My Anniversaries. Mom and Dad had their 50th Anniversary,,, CONGRATULATIONS.

Sorry, I did not list every family members birthdays or Anniversary, This is the only ones I have on my calendar. I would love to have them all. Please send me the ones you your family, so I can add them to my calendar. I would like to recognize everyones Birthday/Anniversary this year (a resolution, Can I accomplish it???)

A TOAST to EVERYONE;; May this year bring you happiness, health, and wealth (not necessarily monitarily). HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

~Christmas Pins~

When Mike and I first separated and divorced. I did not have alot of money to give the boys to buy me Christmas (mom and dad always chipped in to help them and take them shopping)( THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE), so they started buying me a Christmas Pin each Year. I could never decide which one to wear, so I began wearing them all on one shirt, I have continued that tradition now for many years, Some of them have had to be retired (put away for safe keeping), because they began to wear out. The reindeer lost his horns and his red nose, the sleigh lost its sleds, the wreath lost all its greenery, the pin back broke off an angel and I could not get hot glue or super glue to hold another one one. I love them each and every one. Even in their adult years, they have continued that tradition. I get a Christmas Pin each year.

I have some that have special meaning to me, they all do but these really stand out to me. The double bells on the dress of the angel pin were given to me by Grandma Brown when I was about 7 or 8, it was inside a wallet that she sent me for Christmas. The Bells just below it is the pin she always wore on her coat at Christmas Time, thanks mom for giving that to me.

Then there is the candle, that one was when my dad had his wreck in Dec 14, 1991(Tony's 21st Birthday). We were at the hospital and James and Amie took the boys to get my pin. When they returned they had gotten the candle and told me "this is our light at the end of the tunnel", you see dad was in a coma and the doctors had told us earlier that they were going to have to drill a hole in his head to releave the pressure on his brain. Just minutes after they gave me that , the doctor came in and told us Dad was awake (no drilling, Thank you Jesus). We got to take him home on Christmas Eve and all he wanted for Christmas Dinner was some Black Olives and he got them. They are all different, there are Angels, Snowmen, Teddy Bears, Santa, Santa Bears, Candy Canes, but they are all very special to me. Bruce just walked through and told me I was going to have to get a bigger shirt, that one was kinda full.

This years pin is a jointed Showman, sorry mom, I know how much you like snowmen, but you can't have this one... Everyone at work waits to see what pin I get each year. I always wear my shirt once right after Christmas so they can see the new addition. So that is our little Christmas tradition in my family. Now the girls join in picking out the pin for each year.

SO MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

~Christmas at Nana's~

On Monday night all my kids came over for Christmas. Buck, Mandy and the girls came over around 2 and started cooking dinner, That was nice... Bruce ended up cooking the deer steak, because he did not like the way Mandy was doing it, so he offered to do it. Mandy told Bruce she liked his way much better, it tasted better, so she would be doing it that way from now on. I had put rolls in the oven that morning to rise all day, while I was at work. Mandy finished baking them. We had Deer steak, rolls, corn casserole, mashed taters, and Macaroni and Cheese, It was really good. I had baked on Saturday/Sunday so we also had 4 kinds of bread, Banana Nut, Coconut Pecan, Pumpkin Spice, and Cinnamon Nut, Then I had made Chocolate and Vanilla Fudge, Skillet Cookies and puppy chow. We ate and then had presents. I now have 2 Build a Bear gift cards. The girls and I will have a ball building bears. The deal is I take the 3 girls and they build me a bear. I let them do it however they want to. It is alot of fun..

We had a really good Christmas. I had gotten Kelsey twin baby dolls and Bunk beds for them. She loves to play with mine that I have had since I was little, so I thought I would get her some. When we brought out the bunk beds, I had forgotten to make the blankets for the babies, so she grabbed some Tissue paper from the gifts and covered up the babies with it. It was so cute.

I had gotten Cember and Gabby art stuff, Blendy Pens, Color Splitz Pens, Glitter Pens and some other stuff like that, and so it was not strowed all over the house, I got them a wooden storage cabinet with 6 drawers, so they have a drawer for each different kind of pen. Then there were clothes for everyone.

When everyone got through with their take home goodies, there was little left, so I am baking again today (after I brave the craziness I know is going on at Walmart for some more baking supplies) for Mom and Dad's tomorrow evening. That's OK I love to bake.

EVERYONE HAVE A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and REMEMBER JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON>..

Love ya ALL!!!!!!

~JESUS TOOK THE WHEEL~

You got it. As I was traveling to work this morning, we noticed a car up ahead of us was sliding on a bridge, I took my foot off the gas a good ways prior to getting to the bridge and lightly tapped my brakes to slow us down, There were 2 tanker rigs several car lengths ahead of us. I had told Betty (the lady that swaps rides with me) shortly after leaving Sheridan, " I don't want to be beside them on slick roads", as they were hauling flammable materials. Well as we hit the bridge, the long one over Hurricane Creek at Ico (just north of Sheridan) we began to slide, zig zagging across the bridge, at times it felt as if we were only on 2 wheels and we were about to roll over. We went back and forth across the bridge, and then we went into a spin. I was scared to death, I just prayed and all of a sudden it was like the steering wheel was ripped from my hand and we came to a COMPLETE STOP, headed back toward Sheridan. We had gone the entire length of the bridge, in what seemed like extremely slow motion, sliding from one side to the other and spun around and did not hit a thing,, That is the hand of GOD that prevented us from hitting anything. As we began crossing the bridge, there was on coming traffic, one of the vehicles that was in front of us, went into the ditch. The Tankers were sliding, we were all sliding, That bridge was a solid sheet of ICE. When we finally stopped, I just said, 'Thank you Jesus", it was his hand that stopped that vehicle, I could not do it.
I tried to call 911 to let them know about the car that went off, but I kept getting Jefferson Co. I could not get Grant Co. So, I dialed the Sheriff's Department and let them know, Someone had already gotten them, so Help was on it's way. Betty and I decided to just go back home and maybe try again later. As we were driving back to Sheridan, we listened to the radio and heard of alot of wrecks in and around Pine Bluff and also several on I 530, which is where we were headed. I am still shaking so bad, I am not sure I can drive that again today.. Although, it is the end of the year and I do have a Contract that needs completed to go into effect on the 31st. Just not sure what we will do from here, But I just know that had it not been for the hand of God, I would probably be in the hospital or worse right now. I give him all the praise for his extra strong protecting hand this morning.