More to share.....

A Very Happy Christmas.....

We start with the youngest......

Visiting Friends.....

Mike and I went over to see Anna Mae and Dr. Bob this afternoon. These are Nancy's parents and they are so very special to us.
Anna Mae said that she really needed to laugh this afternoon and she just knew I could make her take her mind off of Nancy for
a little while.
Nancy is still in Intensive Care battling so very hard. They say that her young age and a healthy heart are working for her....but the
breathing is so difficult. Thank you so much for you continued prayers....I do believe people all over the U.S. are praying for Nancy
to recover.
We are heading to church this evening for Chrismas Eve service.....God Bless each and everyone of you and have a very Merry
Christmas celebrating the birth of our Lord.

Jimmy and Katie

This card came in the mail today and I thought you all would enjoy seeing Skip's kids. They are growing up so fast. It is a joy to see these two very happy young people.

Nancy made it to the meeting.....

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What a joyous day we had this morning. Nancy was able to make it to our Guild meeting and you can tell by the smiles on all our faces, we were a very happy group of women. The tumor has now shrunk 70% and they may operate and put in a stint so she can start eating and swallowing. This ole' cancer is just the pits....but God is an awesome, healing God.

My Tree for Helen...

I don't know what I would do without Cindy coming over to help decorate....she is my joy! We had to go out and buy a new tree because the one Mom bought us in the early 90's just would not go together this year. I really went into sticker shock when I went shopping for a tree. However, I finally found this one at KMart and it is a Martha Stewart tree. It is probably the fullest tree we have ever had and I got it on sale.
We are going through a period that everything we touch seems to break this last week. My little yellow car even got an "owie" this week. I came out from grocery shopping and someone had backed into "Betsy". Of course, they did not leave a note and since it was on what they call private property, I could not turn in a Police report. Sooooo.....it wasn't much damage, but it sure comes out of our pocket.
It was really cold and bitter this last week, with a little snow on the ground. I hate to think what is coming out of the North the beginning of next week......I may just have to stay inside for awhile.
The blessing this week is that my friend that I ask you all to pray for got some good news.....the tumor has reduced about 40%. She still can't swallow, but slow progress is being made. I think I will get to see her tomorrow because she is going to come to our Christmas party for our guild. I told her it would be the best Christmas gift ever! Of course my Mike said, "You mean I didn't have to shop this year!"

Our Daughters' Family...

Thought you might enjoy seeing Cindy's family card. They let Sam write the message...the lady at the store really cracked up. I think is is darling, of course.
Mike and I have been keeping really busy doing a lot of volunteering through our church for some families in great need...it feels good to help a little. We all have to do what we can and I do believe things in this country will turn around.
I'm not sure that Laura B. hasn't fallen into the Pat Nixon mode,she just stares into space....they just can't wait to get out of the White House and turn the mess over to Obama.

Remembering Mom....

Yesterday I was with Sam all day on a field trip to Science City and then we took all 3 boys to Chucke Cheese last night.
Tomorrow I will have 13 for dinner and I have worked all day on food preparations. You all would crack up if you would see the old letter I pull out every year and read. It is now in a small zip baggie and it resides in my recipe box. My Mom wrote it over 35 years ago, and it is how to prepare a Thanksgiving dinner. It is about 4 pages long, and she wrote it just like she talked. At the end, she tells me not to let Mike read it....he would never let her live it down.
It is my treasure....especially the part about making Grandma's cornbread dressing. When she lived with us, she taught me how you taste it before you cook it in the bird, and my family loves it. Cindy ask me to triple the recipe this year so we could have left overs.
I hope all of you have a fantastic Thanksgiving.

OFFICIAL....

Well.... they just declared MO for McCain. The final out come is: McCain 49.4% and Obama 49.3% We came sooooo close, maybe if we had just knocked on a few more doors and carried my county we could have helped Obama carry MO. My county went 49% McCain and 48% Obama.

They said on the news tonight that there may be as many as 3 million people in Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration. Charlie Gibson said that would be 33 people per hotel room available-I wonder if each one has to pay full price?

At least the national out come is correct.....he will have so much to do to straighten out "Bushie's"last 8 years!!!!!

White Egret taking flight...and Golden Eagle

Fantastic Day Trip...

It was in the 60's yesterday, so Mike and I went on a day trip up North to Squaw Creek Reservation. We are trying to use our new camera with a telephoto lens. I thought this one was kind of cool. This is a picture of 3 Gadwalls taking flight. We also saw 5 Golden Eagles, 1 Bald Eagle, pelicans and even 3 Trumpeter Swans. It was a great relaxing day.

School Pictures...

Finally got the school pictures of my boys last evening. The two on the left are Paul's two boys, Paxton and Tanner. The one on the far right is Cindy's son, Sam. They are the light of my world.....there is nothing better than grandkids!

Still no answer....

The local news now says that it may be Nov. 18th before we have an answer......I'm sure glad that the election results do not depend on MO.
Some good news yesterday.....my good friend battling cancer has now seen about a 1/3 reduction in the main tumor and the attachment on her lungs has disappeared! The dr. said that maybe in two weeks she will be able to swallow and maybe try some food. Please keep up the prayers for our miracle!!!!!

Can you believe it.....

It is now 8 PM on Friday night and MO has still not called the winner of the Presidential race. Originally, I had planned to stay at headquarters until MO was called.....well, headquarters is now packed and stored until the next election and MO is standing 49% to 49% with every US map showing us right in the middle of the states - neither blue or red. This one should really go down in the record books. They say that the winner of the election usually takes MO....at this point, I wonder what Obama thinks of us. I hope he knows we fought the good fight.
Skip called yesterday....and said, "Isn't this a bummer" and I said, "No, I really turned around and worked hard for him."
To say he was shocked probably was an understatement.......I told him, Sarah put me over the top and scared me to death! I was actually thinking of getting a passport for the first time in my life if they won....I don't know where I was heading, but just the thought of leaving let me sleep better.

This is the day......

It is now 12:30 in the afternoon and MO still isn't called ! We did not carry my county, but we did elect a new Democratic Governor and Lieutenant Governor. Can't quite figure this all out in my altered state of no sleep. Thank you so much for all your support.

This is what was going on this afternoon.....

Soooooo close...

We are working so hard for Obama - I believe he will take the election, but dog gone it.....Iwant him to take Missouri. Right now it stands, 48% - 48%. We are knocking on doors and phoning to get out the vote right now. Still lots of work to do!

I'm a huge fan..

Lots of my friends know that I an a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars.......so this email came from several friends. They are calling these two next year's stars. I thought this was a hoot and I probably do need to lighten up and laugh a little.

Really Working Hard....

I'm spending almost every spare minute on the campaign. We went to the camper this last weekend and will go next weekend to close out for the winter. I got this button this morning at headquarters...it was for the volunteers. We are really working hard to make Missouri blue once again.

Just returned...

Just returned from a 4 day weekend in St.Louis. This poster was on my email and I absolutely love the words.
St.Louis Post-Dispatch endorsed Obama while I was there in the middle of Mike's Republican family. It was just fantastic.!
Also had several emails from former Democrats that say we much watch Fox News and learn the real truth about Barack
before it is too late. I don't know about the rest of you, but my TV never is on Fox....*I think this station is one of the ruination
of our values in this country. I'm thinking Patsy has the best solution yet!

Look at the Angry Bull Dog...

McCain is such a hostile, angry person.......why would any foreign leaders want to sit down with this rude and arrogant individual? He was so cocky last night that I almost threw a shoe at the TV.
This look that was captured is just one of so many.....he tried to be so mean spirited and he just lied the old Republican rhetoric. It could have been so meaningful if he would have aloud the format to answer, instead of lying about Obama, therefore, Obama had to counter attack the lies.

To Quote Joe.....

"I will not question your motives.....but I sure can question your judgement."
A friend and I were talking this morning, and I think the hardest thing for us to understand is all our Republican friends that actually think McCain and Palin are the answers to this countries problems.
I just can't sleep......sometimes have to remind myself to breath.
Have my Republican friends and family just lost their minds.......I do question their judgement!!!!

I Worked the Democratic booth.....

Last night at our Fall Festival, I worked the Democratic table. It was one of the more rewarding things that I have done lately. I worked from 6:00 until 10 PM. We registered 23 new voters during that time. I will be happy if we get Obama to carry our county .... we are working hard.
I hosted a watch party for the Thursday debate and we played PALIN bingo. If I had had the word 'maverick" on my sheet - I would have won earlier. As it was "gosh, darn it" put me over the top.
Wake up America....This woman is not ready to lead our troubled country!!!!!

My Goodness..

This is just one picture from the largest rally ever held in Alaska. The people of her state are really upset she is running for VP. One sign even said ...."If Palin is Veep, the United States should not sleep!"

I guess I am glad that at least part of Canada speaks English ~ I might give a great deal of thought to moving there if McCain wins. I absolutely can not stand him ~let alone if something happens to him and we have a beauty contestant as our President. OH MY GOSH, I am really worried for our country!!!!!
Have any of you heard that she has put into law in Alaska that if a woman is raped in her state, they are to be charged for the rape kit? She is absolutely intolerable!!!
I can't wait to hear her debate Biden. (She might have to have a fist full of 3x5 cards).
As you all can tell~ I am more than a little upset about this whole "Election Thingie"!!!

Who's fault????

Somehow the collapse of the economy is Clinton's fault......have you all heard this one today? It seems it all stems from when Clinton was President.
Folks - if you do not wake up and get this party out of office, we all deserve whatever happens!!!!!

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight......
*If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're exotic, different!
*If you grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, your is a quintessential American story.
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*If your name is Barack, you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.
*Name your kids Willow, Trig and Track....you're a maverick.
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*Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable.
*Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.
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*If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the
Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Service committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Verteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
*If you total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less that 7,000 people, 20 months as a govenor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're ualified to become the country's second-highest-ranking executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.
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*If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you are not a real Christian.
*If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and then left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you are a true Christian.
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*If you teach responsible, age-appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.
*If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, whith no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you are a very responsible person.
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*If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner-city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's.
*If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, we didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable.
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SEE WHY I AM CONFUSED?

Prayer Request....

In the above picture you see three very dear friends of mine. Nancy is standing behind her parents Anna Mae and Bob.
This last summer, Nancy found out that she has cancer. She has now had 4 Chemo treatments and 6 radiation treatments....
but the tumor around her esophagus is not shrinking.
They tried to put in a feeding tube today during out patient....but, they were not successful. So...on Friday she will have
surgery to implant the feeding tube.
Nancy is in the battle of her life and if you read my blog....please lift up a prayer for Nancy. We believe in Miracles and we
are sure praying for God's Grace to grant this healing miracle.

McCain jumping ahead...

This evenings polls showed McCain with a 23% advantage over Obama. They are keeping Sarah at arms length away from the media....and it is working! She was in KC yesterday and she was a resounding strength for McCain. I laughed about her at first...now, I think if she continues to be managed correctly....it could be a really sad Nov. 4th.
What are your thoughts???

More Fun Than Politics.....

I wanted to share what Mike bought me for my birthday on the 27th......this is a lot more fun than politics. I was just waiting for a good picture to share. We traded in our SUV that we had only had a year, which is a real departure from usually keeping our cars for about 10 years. We just told our Obama friends that this is the money we would have given to Hillary. TeeHee

Some True Facts.....

This tax grid was put together by CNN Money...not by either candidate. It is pretty clear to me that Barack is the one to help my family. Also, it you listened to McCain last night and you are a Public School Teacher - there is no way you should vote for McCain. He will destroy the Public School System with his defined "Voucher" system. I sent a letter to most of you that talkes about the new candidate for VP. She is a Pit Bull.....no doubt about it.

A Long 60 Days to Come.....

The "maverick" has his running mate. She is 1/2 heart beat away...if they are elected.
We know she is a mother and has been a Mayor and a Governor.
I have been told she is the champion of "Kill the Wolf" game which is slaughter of wolves from the airplanes in the sky. She believes Polar Bears don't merit being on the Endangered Species and she refuses legislation to protect Beluga Whales and Grizzly Bears.
"Bushie II" has already be labeled the worst environmental leader our Nation has ever known - but if elected, this horrific new team could even beat his horrible record.
The thing is....she can speak. I hope everyone heard the commentators tell us that the speech was written by the Bush team at the last minute....since he chose a woman.
I did listen, was impressed with her relaxed speaking style, but she absolutely lost me when she started in on where Barack stands - she repeated the "lies" the McCain continues to broadcast.
I feel in my heart, that the Democrats still have a chance if Barack will continue to tie McCain to the failures of Bush!

Good Convention....

I've cried many tears....but I do think things are going to be all right! Joe Biden is a big relief. Also, I don't ever think I have seen two people be more gracious or supportive as the Clinton's. I still very proud of both of them - Their speeches spoke volumns --I hope the right people were listening.
We can not have Same - we need Change or this time is going to worse that what our grandparents lived through in the Depression.

Lions, Tigers and Bears ...Oh My!

It is surprising to me that I am so numb about politics.
I went to a neighborhood meeting last night to hear about Obama.
I really, really respect all the people at this meeting that are Obama supporters.

The best I can say right now is that I will be pulling a lever against
McCain......I am certainly not impressed with the stands, or lack of
stands that Obama has.

The first thing this Obama worker asked in the discussion..."How would you feel if he has to change his mind on the pull out"?
Most said, he better wait until he is elected....then I want my vote back!

I will be very, very surprised if Obama is our next president.My final words were that I was anxious to listen to the convention....the young girl said, "why?... it is nothing but fluff".. With that, we just about all walked out.

He had better send out better than her to represent him...she answered her cell phone three times while she was leading the discussion with about 25 present.. it did not go over well.

Obama's plan for education is absolutely horrible and his health plan is so wordy...you can't even follow it.

Happy Birthday Helen...

This is the best I could do for a pink rose. Hope you have a fantastic birthday.....around here the weather is so beautiful that you could ride with the top down!!!