A Perfect Day for a Reunion

Saturday was a fun day for everyone. After enjoying delicious hamburgers, hot dogs, and a huge variety of desserts, time was spent mingling (Photo Top Left); Teaching the younger ones to throw Nerff footballs, etc. after making sure the lids on "Sippy cups" were tight enough (Photo Top Right); providing seconds for the hungry toddlers (Middle Left); nieces teasing the aunts (Middle Right); and, just relaxing and waiting for the elders to leave so they can get inside to the pool table!!
We had about 43 in attendance this year; I was so sorry that another 15 were unable to attend. (If everyone could be present, there were be 65 , and that's just brothers, sisters, their children and grandchildren and in-laws). With 4 in another part of the country and one overseas, getting everyone together has been impossible from the start. We really have a great time with those who do attend, and it's the only time that many of us get to see some of the nieces and nephews.
This was my year to be responsible for our reunion, and next year, the honor falls to my younger brother. I won't be responsible again until 2012. I really don't mind having it, especially when the weather is so cooperative: it was, A perfect Day for a Reunion.

Good Genes

I am now back home after a visit to my family physician and an appointment with my beautician. One of the two made me look and feel better; the other made me look and feel tired. Can you guess which one did which? Doc said I need to now visit the vascular laboratory at the local hospital. He thinks I need another doppler exam on my arteries. Actually, he made me feel pretty bad when he said that if I lived 100 years ago that I would already be in the grave (hmm, I guess that's an accurate statement). I think he meant that without the help of medication my heart would not be doing so well. He was also calling me a diabetic (for the first time) when my sugar level was only 119 and my A1C only 6.3, slightly higher than before, but, considering the fact that we had the huge reunion at my house with lots of hamburgers, hot dogs, and a variety of desserts, I'm not surprised. I really wonder if I am as bad as he seems to imply. I feel fine though sleepy after such a busy 6 days (I think I deserve to feel sleepy, don't you?). Are there any experts out there? Am I in such bad shape with those previous numbers and total cholesterol of less that 200, tricylcerides less than 95? I told him that I would be like my mom who also took lots of medication and lived to be 6 weeks shy of 90 and my dad, who took nothing, lived to be 91. Those are good genes, wouldn't you say?

Is "Spry" Contagious?

I cannot believe I arose so early this morning when I am about to go to sleep just blogging! Actually, my brother-in-law and niece indicated that they would be stopping by this morning for a brief visit as they head south to research some land records. I assumed they would be here by 8:00AM since they will have another hour and a half to their destination. It is not almost 9:00 and there has been no sign of them.
I have to tell you about my brother-in-law who recently lost his wife. He has decided that he will not remain in a rest home where he resided with his departed wife; instead, he will continue to be very active, even more so than before (he started out with us on our trip to Alaska in 2001, but since we were in an RV and he was tent camping, he decided that our traveling habits were far from compatible; therefore, he continued on his way, stopping to pitch a tent when he was too tired to continue his journey. It took us 2 weeks to hit the Alaska border; Jim made it in a lot less! In fact, we met him leaving the state as we were entering! We stopped and spent a couple of hours visiting with him before he continued his merry way South!). Now, he has decided to buy an airplane. In fact, it is on order right now! I cannot believe his enthusiasm over such youthful hobbies! Oh, and did I fail to mention his age? Sorry... he is now 81 years young!! Do I want to fly with him?...I don't think so but my daughter says she will.
Where was I going with this blog? Ah yes, I'm still tired from a busy week full of regrets and tonight, I go meet with the reunion planning committee. Before that, however, I have a routine follow-up appointment with my family doctor. I believe my spry bro-in-law is driving up now. I wonder, is "spry" contagious?

Surprising Myself!

I actually surprised myself when I noted the date of my last blog: April 18! I cannot believe that I have been so remiss! I will try to do better from now on.
All my news for this week has been sad; we have lost 2 of our church members, 2 very wonderful, loving ladies whom everyone absolutely adored. One was the very greatest cook in the whole church; she was famous for her wonderful apple cobblers! When we had meals at church, we would get our main foods but then rush to the dessert table to make sure we had some of this favorite. If you waited until after you ate the main course, you learned there would be none left.
The other lady was an invalid who was in an accident when she was only 4 years old. She couldn't communicate with words very clearly; however her mom and sister were always present to interpret for her. She always asked about others. For me, she would want to know how Don, my boy, was doing. She always had a smile on her face and a song in her heart which was evident in the light shining in her eyes. We will miss both of these ladies. Both had their special place to sit during worship. Now, as we gaze in those 2 direstions, we will remember the special brightness they gave through their loving smiles to our little congregation.

In God We Trust

It seems that I have nothing but watch Fox News channel all day yesterday and some of today. Their coverage of the VT massacre provided by them was more complete I thought. The other channels just went ahead with their soapies, etc, which I don't watch anyway. I am still in shock over this traumatic event and know that the students there are really having a tough time dealing with the details as they unfold. I hope that all of America will bow their heads and pray for each student, professor, staff member, family member, friend, and neighbor. This is one of the many times that all we can do is turn to God for peace and understanding. I pray that we will indeed, put our trust in Him. May we never remove this from our money, but most of all, may we live by this ideal, our Provider of Lasting Peace.

A Day Filled with Sorrow

What a windy day this has been! Such velocity is unusual for our area of the country. We have had lots of rain over the weekend, too, almost enough to bring us up to our average rainfall (we have been below for so long). The cold weather has destroyed our azaleas this Spring: they are now very dead. Alas, some of them never got the chance to come to full bloom but at least we did have a couple of weeks of enjoying and appreciating the beauty of some of the flowers and the dogwoods. I am so glad that I posted some photos on the blog; I can go to that and enjoy them vicariously.

Wasn't the shooting at Virginia Tech just horrible! This has been a day filled with sorrow. I cannot believe that someone would want to end the lives of so many young people. My thoughts and prayers are with those students, their family and friends. May God give them the strength to endure this tragedy. What makes some people so angry that they would do such a horrible act of injustice? What is going on in our world that would cause someone to punish the innocent? I am in shock.

Always a Reason for our Actions

I know that I have been away for several days; why? You know, sometimes we just get out of the mood of doing what we often do on a regular basis. I don't really know why I havent' felt like blogging. As a matter of fact, I haven't even felt like getting on the computer. I turned it on this afternoon for the first time since the 10th of this month. I guess I have been preoccupied with other things which are right now requiring my attention. As I mentioned earlier, I have to prepare for Children's Church next Sunday (which I have done nothing so far) and I am responsible for our family reunion next weekend. It looks like we will have between 50 and 60 to come. Right now, I'm planning to have it at my house provided the weather cooperates. I have the church fellowship hall reserved just in case we need to move inside. I really am looking forward to seeing the family and I will not allow my frustrations of planning interfere with my joy over the occasion. This is just my brothers, sisters, our children and their spouses, and their children. So far, we have no in-laws among the great nieces and great nephews but we do have one engagement now: my oldest granddaughter who is planning a fall wedding at the beach.

Another reason that I have probably stayed away from the blogging is that I might have to think too much. I have been dealing with a sore throat for several days now and just haven't felt like taxing my little brain too much.

The final reason that I haven't been blogging is that I have been working on an article for our local newsletter of which I am assistant editor. That required spending a lot of time on the internet with our editor just to get the article right. Today, we actually spent several hours putting the newsletter together, adding address labels and stamps, and preparing them for mailing tomorrow. I think this is one of our best newsletter thus far, but, thank goodness, there won't be another one until September. So, now you know my reasons for my actions, flimsy as they may seem. We humans can always come up with reasons/excuses for our actions. Expect this week to be slow with the blogs too unless I put everything into high gear.

Am I Tired Yet?

Sometimes I wonder how I get caught up in so many other projects. I have been working on an article for the next high school newsletter and it has taken me days to get the thing right. I had to include photographs of John's dad and that has been a real chore for me, especially the one taken from the annual; they just don't copy well at all. I also had to stop and spend some time on my 50th high school class reunion of which I am chairperson. Then, another friend called who is working on an article for the newsletter and wants my help; when does she want my help? at dawn before she goes to work tomorrow! And, I had a friend to pass away with cancer and the wake was tonight; I went to Curves for relaxation (??); I'm working on minutes for our Baptist women; I'm trying to prepare something for Children's Church in 2 week; I'm responsible for my family reunion a week from Saturday; I'm co-chair of our Relay for Life team and my sister and I have been working on the program for Mothers Day; my daughter will be here this weekend from out-of-town; am I tired yet? Well, actually, I'm still going strong; I do need to start planning our church vacation trip soon too because Don is ready to go on an extended vacation, a really extended one: 6 weeks or more.

I really do like to be involved. I'm having fun most of the time and that's the truth.

My Photos are Improving

I was going through my saved pictures that I have saved in my iphoto when I received a big chuckle out of some of the first pictures I took with my digital. This one of the Washington Monument was taken from a fast moving van as my sisters, my brother, and I were traveling to the Amish country. I'm glad I improved in my picture-taking! I barely got the monument! Some of the others were better and I think I am improving some. The Amish landscape is a bit fuzzy and the Hatteras Lighthouse (taken when we were on a different trip )may be too dark but I like that one.







Don't you agree that I am getting much better? Never a professional like my daughter, but much improved! This is one of my favorites!

Happy Easter

I hope all of you had a wonderful Easter. Mine was very, very good despite the cold weather I experienced while hiding almost 400 eggs! At least, this year I had help. Last year I hid over 500 eggs alone. It didn't take long to run out of hiding places so I just littered the yard with those colorful eggs. The children enjoyed picking those up as well as searching a bit harder for the hidden ones. Afterwards, we had a very nice hot dog supper with all the fixings (those extras were for the adults; you know, most children only want the hot dog and the bun and some might add a bit of catsup. Potato salad was the best I have ever eaten. In fact, everything was delicious. I can't even complain about the weather because, as you may recall my saying from time to time, I love the cooler weather, even the rainy days. I'm not overly fond of temperatures above 82 degrees though. So, today was just an enjoyable, windy 51-degree Easter Sunday (colder than Christmas Day, it was).

I was not the Easter Bunny for the children; instead, I guess I was the Easter Granny Chick. I just had to give my son and daughter their usual chocolate bunny, their malt balls, their Cadbury eggs, and some money. I wonder how they would react if I ever failed to do this. Of course, I had to get something for Clay and Livvy; so for them, I gave a very small amount of candy, animal crackers, a Tom and Jerry DVD, and a toy. Clay immediately gave the toy a name which was a perfect descriptor of what the toy actually does: "Blaster". I made sure that I picked a toy that used no batteries (aren't you glad about that, Mommy?)

Happy Easter to all of you and a happy day that it is because it marks the day our Savior rose from the grave. Isn't it great that we are free because of His sacrifice for us? Thank you, Jesus.

A Funny Conversation

I have to share with our visit from Livvy the other day. The conversation went something like this:

Livvy: "I can't smell."
Me: " You can't? Can you breathe?"
Livvy: "Yes, I just can't smell." ...PAUSE... "Now I can smell. "
Me: "What does it smell like?"
Livvy: "Well...it smells like,uh, cinnamom. But I wish it smelled like candy!
Me: "Why do you wish it smelled like candy?"
Livvy: "I need some candy now."

Eating outside on a Cold Evening

This afternoon, Kendra and Mark stopped by with the children after visiting with their Uncle and letting the kiddies experience their first fishing trip. Don had built a fire in the back yard away from the grass and the house. He had taken chairs out and was planning to roast hot dogs over the fire. Now, you have to know that the kids love this action so Mark rushed to the store for more hot dogs and buns. We gathered around and enjoyed the food, the fellowship and especially the fun. Later, when we were roasting our marshmallows, my niece, her husband and 3 children drove up laughing at us because our campers were nowhere in sight. We were advised not to try to sleep outside tonight due to the extreme cold front that is expected. Our son, Thom, also arrived and fortunately was able to find at least one hot dog left. It's always a surprise what might happen here. Few people would believe that we were actually eating outside on such a cold evening. Oh well, what shall we try tomorrow?

Spring's Beauty

Yesterday, when my daughter was out taking photos, I, too decided to take a few to post on my blog. This is a picture of our front circle drive. Azaleas are beginning to bloom and the dogwoods are beautiful! The children were out playing and enjoying the sunshine while we were taking these photos. Once, when our daughter was hidden by some of the trees, Livvy asked where her mom was. Then, she picked up a stick, held it to her ear and mouth and began this humorous conversation:
"Mayday...mayday...mayday...mom, can you read me? Can you read me?...Mayday...mayday!" I don't know what she has been watching on tv but she is a hoot. Her dad, granddad, and brother were all fascinated at what she might decide to do later. What a character!



This is another view of the circle drive which includes more azaleas and dogwoods.












At this time, this is the most gorgeous azalea in our yard; however, all of them don't bloom at the same time. The purple ones are just beginning to bloom and the peach ones are full of tiny blooms. The red bud trees are also in full bloom. Hasn't God blessed us with a wonderful world of beauty?










This is a picture of the driveway leading up to our home. I'm afraid it doesn't do justice to all the glorious dogwoods that are in bloom. The only problem is that their blooming season is so short.
The pollen here is awful right now but for this beauty, we can tolerate it. Our porches are green with the stuff. We had company yesterday from Canada and they were shocked to see so much pollen; in fact, they didn't know what it was. They said they never have the stuff that we have. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Barefootin'

I know that it has been some time since I blogged but there has been a lot going on around this place, mostly meetings. Since our return from Florida, I have had choir practices, church, Relay for Life, and school reunion meetings. My calendar has been full and is continuing to fill up. Today, we are expecting friends from Prince Edward Island to arrive for the evening before heading back North. That's a wonderful part of camping: you meet and make new friends from all over the country. This is a very nice couple that we met 3 years ago and we still stay in contact regularly via email. I enjoy hearing from my friends from Pennsylvania and other places that way too.

The biggest news that happened recently to us is the news that our oldest granddaughter has received an engagement ring. She is planning to be married in October, perhaps at the beach. I look forward to that. That would be a first for us and I'm anxious to see how it's done on the sand. I understand barefootin' it may be the way to go! That's sounds like fun to me; I hate heels anyway, especially since I broke my ankle and leg; it's impossible for me to wear those hazardous things!