FINALLY

After years and years of playing, with many "close" but "not quite" David made a hole in one.

On Tuesday April 17 on hole #10 he hit the ball and it fell directly into the cup. He was playing by himself. When he walked up to the hole and saw his ball in the cup he looked all around hoping that someone was watching. No one to the left or right, or in front or back. He even looked up at all the nearby condos for someone to witness this lifelong dream. The rule is that if it isn't witnessed it isn't real. (Golfers are like fisherman they sometimes embellish the facts.)

He couldn't help himself, he had to tell the story anyway. Last week when he got home from work he found a package on the porch. On the outside it was addressed to Dave and a note that said "I believe you Dave" signed Brad. It was a blueberry shortcake and it was delicious. Yesterday this trophy was in a box on the porch when he got home. The note said:
Congratulations on your Hole in One. While we didn't witness it, your word is as good as gold! HA.
Your golfing Buddies,
Connie - Phil - Brad
They also wanted to know if his new clubs contributed to this achievement.
Now he knows he made one but it would only have been better if his buddies were with him.

OUT WITH THE OLD

My new dinning room table chairs and barstools are being delivered Thursday so tomorrow we have to get the old ones out.

Mom and Dad bought this table, used, when I was 7 years old and we brought it with us when we moved to Florida. It has been refinished and our cats scratched it up again. We have had lots of friends and family gather around this table over the years but when we had friends over one night in February and noticed that the chair one big fellow was sitting in was about to come apart we decided it was time for a new smaller table with STRONGER chairs.

A LOVER OF QUILTS

My mother's mother made beautiful quilts.
My fathers sister, my Aunt Rea, helped me make my first quilt when I was 6 years old.
She and her daughter made Todd a quilt before he was ever born.
My Maid of Honor's mother made Dave and I 2 quilts before we got married.
Ona gave me instructions on hand piecing quilts via the mail 1000 miles away.
I use to have very good friends come to my home on Monday nights to quilt.
I helped my friend, Sarah, finish a Christmas quilt while she cooked Indian food for me.
I taught a quilting class at my last church (with students from teens to 7o's).
All through my life quilts have been connected to people I love.
I AM A LOVER OF QUILTS.

This is the quilt that Beulah made that I just got in the mail this week. It is old, well loved and worn thin in many spots. This one I won't use but I will cherish.

DAVID'S GRANNY JOHNSON

I have heard stories about David's Granny Johnson for 38 years but she died before I met David so I didn't know her personally.

Her husband, Papaw Jessie as I knew him, remarried. His second wife, Beulah, was a lady he knew from church. She was quite a bit younger than him but due to her health seemed much older than she was.

Beulah passed away earlier this year but I will always remember her delicious pickles and fudge. I am sure she could cook anything well but these two items were exceptional.

David's cousin is trying to settle the estate and contacted us to see if there was any of her things that we would like to have.

We asked for photos (or copies of photos) and one of Beulah's quilts or quilt tops.

Behind the photo of Dave when he was 4 or 5 years old was this photo of his Granny.

My next post will be a photo of the quilt.

NOT MUCH TO REPORT

This is just a catch up for the last week. I worked and did the normal things.

Last Thursday Tara took Robin to the Radiologist to discuss treatments.

On Friday David took Robin to the Neurosurgeon. They pretty much told us everything we already knew. They did schedule her to see the Oncologist.
Friday night Andy, Natalie's dad, took Robin, Natalie and I to Bahama Breeze for dinner then Robin and I went to Walmart to look for classy hats and scarfs. (She bought a hat.)

Saturday was a normal Saturday - go to the grocery and spend an hour at the pool. Saturday night Dave and I took Natalie and Andy to Cantina Loredo. Natalie has become quite pleasent to take out now. She is very well behaved and we are greatful that "Rochelle" has become a funny story from Natalies past. With all of Robin's bruises and scars it keeps Natalie busy kissing all of her boo boos.

Dana and Emiley are in Kentucky with Mom and Carol and Dana will be coming to Florida next.

So long until I get a chance to write again.

ROBIN IS HOME

Robin is home and "nurse Tara" is in charge and doing a good job. Dana and Emiley are going on to KY to visit Mom and Carol as planned and then she is coming to Florida for an extended period of time. She said that she had been away from her Mom too long and just needed to be with her as much as she could now.

The horrible events at Virginia Tech are just another reminder that things in this life can change at any moment. Thank goodness God does not change.

FEELING BETTER AFTER SURGERY

I just couldn't resist dressing her up and taking her picture while she was in bed and connected to all that equiptment. She is still smiling and enjoying her company. They did take her out of ICU and put her in a step down neuroprogresive unit. It is a 6 bed ward. She should get to go to a regular room today or tomorrow and she will start physical therapy to get her strenght back. Keep praying.

APRIL CELEBRATIONS

Troy celebrated his birthday this past week.

Happy Belated Birthday, Troy!

Christa will be this week.

Happy Birthday, Christa!

Hunter will be one week after Christa. Happy Birthday to you too, Hunter!

Sorry we couldn't be with each of you to celebrate but we wish each of you the best year ever and we want you to know we love you!

Robin's Surgery is Over

When she woke up last night she could see, no paralysis on either side and she knew everyone in the room. (Not to mention she is sporting a new hairstyle very similar to the one Brittney Spears had a few weeks ago.)

The doctors are waiting to give her the report of what they found but we know that God's decision is the important one and we are all continuing to pray!

This was her previous hairdo with Emilie (2nd granddaughter) in January this year.

Remembering

As I face tomorrow and Robin's surgery I am reminded of my father's battle with cancer. God is good and no matter what lies ahead I know he is with me but I weep at what may be ahead for those I love.

We all get so wrapped up in our own lives that we fail to do our part in the lives of others.

Robin is confident that she is in God's hands and that he will be with her in whatever she has to face. I praise God for his faithfulness and cherish the prayers of those of you...

PLEASE PRAY FOR ROBIN

EMS took Robin to Southwest Regional Medical Center yesterday because of severe nausea and stomach cramps and she was admitted last night. They gave her medicine for that and put her on a liquid diet. Now they will be doing more test to find out why she is having such bad headaches.

THE KIND OF PERSON I WANT TO BE

I SEE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE "ALL ABOUT ME" AND THIS STORY REMINDED ME THAT I REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM.

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

"Your son is here," she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

He refused.

Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients. Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.

Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.

"Who was that man?" he asked. The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.

"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."

"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here. When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."

The next time someone needs you ... just be there. Stay.

WE ARE NOT HUMAN BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.

WE ARE SPIRITUAL BEINGS GOING THROUGH A TEMPORARY HUMAN EXPERIENCE.

ANGELS IN MY LIFE

I have been so blessed with a wonderful husband but I got this email from a girlfriend in
Canada today and I thought of so many others in my life that this would fit.

Time passes.  Life happens.  Distance separates. Children grow up.  Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.  People don't do what they're supposed to do.  Hearts break.
Parents die. Colleagues forget favors.  Careers end.
BUT - Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you.
A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself,
the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering
you on, praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on your behalf,  and waiting with open
arms at the valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you, or come in and carry you
out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters,  sisters-in-law, mothers,
grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins and extended family all bless our life.
When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the  incredible joys
or sorrows that lay ahead, nor did we know how much we would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

ANOTHER CHILD LEAVES HOME

Well I just wanted to update you all on Doby the Lanai Lizard. Dave finally convinced me that he was getting skinny so last night I got Dave to capture Doby and take him to the shrubs and give him his freedom.

This morning I walked out to check his spot where he suns every morning and he ofcouse wasn't there but there were a few tiny little bugs crawling around. It's too late now but, I think he did have a food source inside the screen after all. Oh well, they all have to grow up and move on sometime. :-)

As you can tell not much is happening to report on. We did go to a dinner at church last night and learned some interesting stories about when our preacher was a kid.

Have a nice weekend...

Happy St. Patricks Day!

FUN AT DISNEY

I enjoyed a cup of coffee with Micky, it was the beginning of a very long day. We started our day at MGM when the parks opened and ended at The Magic Kingdom at midnight. That's a long day for a Granny but we did have FUN!

BACK TO ORLANDO

When we got back to Orland there were many reminders of our first visit. We didn't eat at Barber King, as Anna renamed it but we did think of her everytime we drove by this business. Anna, I still think it is orange but I don't think I can convince you. It made us laugh just thinking about that conversation.

PETTING THE TIGERS

I was looking over the the Thailand 2007 pictures while I had some down time at work and found this one. I really am not sure why I didn't see it before but I just had to put it on my desktop. My first thought was that it must not be a live animal. Then I thought, it looks real.
If it is I wondered WHAT WERE THEY THINKING LETTING HER IN THERE!!!

Look at that happy little face...real or not she's loving it.

LAST WEEK / THIS COMING WEEK

To recap last week...two of my very dear (younger than me) friends had birthdays. Sarah Chadha, who just got back from India so I talked to her but haven't seen her yet and Cheryl Zager, who I went to dinner with last night. We went to Alexander's in Naples. It was wonderful. Her sister Lori, Lori's husband Dave, Michelle, David and I all had a very good time and a delicious dinner.

Today after church we went up to our pool for a cookout/garage sale. They had raffles (which I didn't win), bake sale (where I bought baklava, strudel, and pastries) and the garage sale (I purchased a few books, tapes, rugs, and a silk tree).

Friends from Canada got in this afternoon and then Dave and I took our neighbors car to airport for them so when they arrive at midnight we don't have to pick them up.

Next week seems to be just as busy. Work: Mon - Wed. Leave for Orlando after work on Wed, spend two days at the Disney parks and come back Saturday in time to have a little get together with neighbors that we haven't been able to get together with all winter.

A NEW FONDNESS FOR OREGON

I have never thought much about Oregon. A couple that lives in my building are from Portland and they spend about six months a year there but until last month that was about my only connection.

Last month Tom went out to Portland with an address Matt used when he got an ID card and found him. He is well, working and this was a wonderful answer to our prayers. He caught him up on family news (Sue is remarried, Helen died, Rob moved to TX, Elizabeth is expecting) and told him that we all loved him and were very concerned.

Last week I got a copy of a story and a picture of a family that was published Sept. 25, 1975. The family was part of the first group of Cambodian refuges. My friend Mimi was the youngest of the six children and she was only six years old.

Mimi had told me her story and about the article. She said that they had a copy of it for years but it had been lost during one of their many moves. I decided to try to get a copy for her and after about a month it came in the mail. She was so happy!

This is Mimi and her husband Bruce.