Treats in my Trunk

Tonight was so much fun! I had 15 trick or treaters, the most ever; since we don't live in a neighborhood, we only get family members usually. Seeing the kids dressed out in their Halloween finest was a real thrill! Clay was the cutest little firefighter with all the necessary protective garb and Livvy had on an adorable girl pirate outfit, with boots, hat and the works. Check out Kendra's blog tomorrow for I'm sure you will find their pictures there. I had several other great nieces and nephews to stop by too. 5 of them were pirates and the baby was the parrot...cute! Then I had a little doctor, a princess, a witch, and the cutest little Elmo! Five of them didn't dress out but that was fine too. They were all so cute. I had found several items which I brought out and set up for them to enjoy. I had a scarecrow, a neon-lighted ghots, 2 lighted pumpkins and a third pumpkin which had the laser lights in it which changed colors. The little ones were especially carried away with that one. I also had a pumpkin head that, when you opened his mouth it was full of mini Hershey Kisses. Clay and Livvy discovered it first and enjoyed opening and closing the mouth. Clay was interested in finding out what made the neon ghost light blink; it only took him a minute to figure that one out! I believe the parents were having as much fun as the children. Two of them were dressed up like their children, in pirate outfits...cute!

I am as bad as the kids. In fact, I probably over-do it with their gift bags but I love to see their eyes light up when they take their treats. I do have some treats left over but I will try not to eat them myself. Perhaps some kids will be ready for a treat next Sunday. You see, I keep treats in my trunk at all times and many of the children know this. They come running up to me and ask if they can have a treat, so I pop the trunk and they treat themselves to some little delight. This is available to any child who will ask me and their parents don't mind. I love it! So, stop by my car and I'll pop the trunk for you!

Fun with the Little Ones

I have to tell you a little about my evening with the kiddiepoos. They are so cute! The day was so gorgeous that we played outside until almost dark. I put out the lighted pumpkin which they spotted very quickly and Clay had to go back outside several times to look at it. I have this little candle waterfall which he wanted me to turn on so he could watch the water flow. In a few minutes he came over and said, "I need a chair". He was tired of standing there watching the water so he needed a chair. In no time, Livvy had to have her chair which they then arranged like a theatre (and of course, they had to have some jelly beans while they sat in their "movie"). Later, PaPa went outside for something and they had to check on him; however, they left the door open and every moth outside had to come in. When PaPa returned, he got the swatter and began swinging at all the moths. As he knocked them to the floor, Clay and Livvy would take a shoe and finish them off. Now, we don't endorse killing but moths do a lot of damage to clothes, upholstery, etc., so we just let them enjoy being helpful with this one.

When Mark came in and said they needed to go to the house, both of them said, "we don't want to go to the house". Now, you know that made MaBoo and PaPa happy to know they were so content. We had just been talking about how fast they grow up. I was saying that it seemed like yesterday when they couldn't even walk and Don said,"I don't remember when Livvy couldn't run!" That's true. I believe her first step was like a hundred yard dash! She is one quick girl! Thanks, Kittens, for making my day a very happy one!

Still Forgetful BUT No Longer Lost!

Today turned out to be a very good day for me and for Hubby (He says it was even better for him because things took a turn for the better for me!). This afternoon, I was to pick up my grandchildren from the sitter's and keep them until tonight when Mom and Dad got through with their parent-teacher conferences. When we arrived at the house, I went around to get Clay out of his booster seat. I looked down and saw a strap sticking out from under the driver's seat. I knew immediately that it was my digital camera! That's right. When I had been running my hand beneath the seat I must have pushed the camera far enough toward the back for the strap to be partially visible! Talk about excited!! Don told Kendra when she came to pick up the kids that nothing anyone to say or do today would upset me. And, I suppose he was right! That camera is full of memories that I must get out of there before something else happens. What a day! I even had one of my best friends down searching with me! This is good, good, good! I'm still forgetful though, yet, I hope I will stay this fortunate.

Katrina in Gulfport

I have to tell you that I was truly shocked at the amount of destruction we witnessed in Gulfport and Biloxi, MS, during our recent trip South. We were there 3 years ago and it was such a thriving area, but today...nothing! Nothing but debris, destroyed homes and shattered lives. The highlight of our trip was our visit with hometown friends who have committed to working with the Baptist Men's Association for restoring some of the homes. We toured some of the homes they are building or rebuilding; we met some of the volunteers who spend time working at the shelter or in the homes; and, we met one of the ladies who is awaiting the day when she and her handicapped son will be moving out of a small trailer into her new home. She was so anxious to show us inside of her new house and I must admit that the volunteers are doing a wonderful service.

I was disappointed when I saw Jefferson Davis's historical home almost totally destroyed. I think there are plans being made to restore it to its original state, however. The restaurants were gone; the beautiful huge homes were destroyed; the motels were either gone or left in shambles. In their places were FEMA trailers here and there. Clean-up is taking place but the whole area looks like it has just been hit, not like something that was hit over a year ago. There is still need for additional help in that area. I am very proud of all those volunteers who are giving so freely of their time and talents to bring a little sunshine into the lives of the victims.

Frustrated in my Forgetfulness!

I am so frustrated today! I have spent much of this entire weekend searching for my digital camera, to no avail, I hate to admit! Yes, I do have a birthday coming up soon and, Yes, I'm getting to that forgetful stage in my life. Actually, I have been looking for this camera for about a month thinking that I would remember the last place I had it. All I can remember is having it at our family reunion in late September. I must have had it since then though but I couldn't locate it to take it on my trip down the Trace (I had to buy those one-time users). If any of you have any hints for me I would gladly appreciate it; otherwise, I will have to just give up, "fess" up to laying it down somewhere to my hubby, and choke up some extra greens and purchase a new one. When I told Hubby about my inability to remember, he informed me that this memory thing will get worse...much worse, he says! Oh No!

Traveling the Natchez Trace:Getting Spooked

This trip was a really neat one, filled with history from the day we got on the Trace in Nashville, TN, until we departed the route in Natchez. Along the Trace, there are many campgrounds with sites large enough to handle the largest motor coaches. If you want to have power though, you better carry your own generator (Most larger RV's do have their own). We built a campfire and roasted hotdogs and marshmallows like most of the other campers there did. Many folks were on their bikes and carrying only the bare necessities of life with them. It was amazing to watch them unload these little saddlebags and see just how much they were able to pack, from tents to books to food to extra shoes and even to pots! I could tell that they were enjoying nature living. We also stayed in modern RV parks along the way too, which provided cable TV, coffee, continental breakfasts, and WiFi. The best part of camping is being able to fit into both worlds and choosing the way you want to live each night. Don likes to "rough" it, as he calls it when we don't have water, electricity and sewer (like we don't have it by using the converter or the generator).

We were very fortunate in that we had now accidents, no big delays. We were a little nervous in Natchez, when we heard there were many, many tornadoes sighted nearby. Actually, we felt little wind but lots of rain (10+ inches in one night!). We pulled in the slide-in's on the motor coach to prevent too much area for the winds to attack. We went to a play about Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer during much of that storm (we already had tickets) and were able to forget our worries for awhile.

While in Natchez, we toured some of the antebellum homes. There were about 20 to choose from that were absolutely beautiful! (Thank goodness, General Sherman didn't play as much havoc on Natchez as he did on Savannah, GA or even Vicksburg, which was nothing like Savannah! Boy, was he mean!!).

One day I had to get spooked while touring outside Natchez, MS. We rode out to an old plantation which just off the Trace one day when it was raining. We walked up to the door and there were 3 different doorbells/knockers with a sign saying to touch them all and so we did. In a few minutes we peeked inside and saw this old, bent-over man (dressed in navy I might add) coming to the door. He had a long nose, long very white, slender fingers, and not knowing what other adjectives to use, an appropriate Halloween-appearing physique. He was the owner and single occupant of this old, mote-filled house. It turned out to be a very interesting tour because the man was an international historian who was absolutely full of facts that most people never have even heard. I'm glad that we went but I would prepare myself better for the greeting next time I go, if I should go again. (I did buy a book that he had written and had him sign it. You should see the signature...exactly like the days of yore!!)

The Deep South...What a trip!!

This has been a great trip so far! With only an exception or two, the weather has been great! We did have a serious thunderstorm while in Natchez, MS. In fact, it rained so hard, we had a small leak in the front of our rig. Don says he will have to hunt for it when we get home. I have WiFi for the first time today but we will be leaving here in a couple of hours and I will have to make this quick.

Some of the place we visited are: Tupelo, MS where we visited Elvis's home, etc; Vicksburg, MS, where we toured the town by carriage. This is a very neat place, full of Civil War history; Natchez, MS, a town full of beautiful antebellum homes and plantations surrounding the area; Gulfport, MS which has very little there now other than the hard-working, heart-warming Baptist Men Association workers; Biloxi, MS which looks exactly like Gulfport, no buildings left, FEMA trailers everywhere; New Orleans, LA, which looks a little better and cleaner around the French Quarter but still full of crime they say (it looks a mess on the outskirts of town); Gulf Shores, Alabama, especially Foley, is really a prosperous location and draws the snowbirds in a few months; and, Pensacola, FL, where we are now is congested with tourists, but beautiful beaches!

I will try to write more about these places when I get home which will be soon. If I have WiFi later I will write more then.

Traveling to the Deep South

Tomorrow, My brother and his wife, Don and I will be leaving in our motorcoaches and heading down the Natchez Trace. Don has been checking the weather to see which way is best to travel. I think he has decided that we will be going to Nashville, TN., and traveling South from there. We expect to be gone for about 2 weeks I believe. This is a trip that Don has been looking forward to for several years so I'm glad that we can finally make the journey. I, too, am looking forward to this route since it will be a new adventure for me as well. I understand there are many beautiful plantations along the Trace so that will be a very nice variation to most trips we have taken in the past.

I plan to take my computer with me and hope that WIFI will be available at the different RV parks. If so, I plan to journal as we travel. I hope that you will check in to see if I am able to blog and I will tell you of the beautiful sights we find in the deep south of our country.

A Visit with Sisters!

An hour ago, I picked up my granddaughter from her daycare and took her to her mom's school where they will be leaving shortly on their trip to the place of their reunion. I asked Livvy where she was going and she said to see her sisters. She said she didn't know their names and she would probably be shy when they arrived. I told her that was okay but I knew she would be okay very quickly. She said,"well, it may take me awhile because I know I'm going to be a little bit shy." She was very excited about going off with her mom and getting to sleep in the room with her. (I could tell that this made her more comfortable knowing that Mommy would be by her side at all times.

When we came within sight of the school, Livvy said, "I can't go inside the school now." I told her she could and asked her why she thought she couldn't and her response was, "Because I don't have a book. The boy and girl on the sign have books and I don't have one." I told her that maybe her mommy would give her a book to carry and she said "okay." She is so funny!

I hope she will have a wonderful time visiting with her little "sisters" from China and that the mommies enjoy their time for sharing memories. I pray that all of them will stay healthy and safe.

To the Best of Sons

Today is my youngest son's thirty-sixth birthday so I want to say a few things about him. He is a very special young man, not only to me (and I'm prejudice) but to others as well. If you asked other people about him, young or old, you would get basically the same answers. T.A. is a handsome, gentle, generous, friendly, happy, caring, and considerate young man (and single). He is always there when you need him and willing to help anyone in need. He's kind to others and likes to think the best of everyone unless they prove to be otherwise. He is generous, almost to a fault, since he will do without to make others happy. He does like to have nice things and will take responsibility for whatever belongs to him. He loves to work and he expects everyone else to give 110%, too. He's still single because he does work all the time and doesn't make time for himself enough; however, he does love his college alma mater and will not miss a home football game if at all possible. Most of the time, when you see him, he will be wearing a smile and will always have a kind word for his fellowman.

As you can tell, I am a very proud mom; proud to call T.A. my son; proud to know that others are glad to call him friend; and, proud that he loves the Lord. Happy Birthday, Son, may you enjoy many many more. And, may God continue to bless you real good.