Taking Advantage..

Mike is here on his scooter taking advantage of the last few warm days. He loves to ride to the store or to Paxton's games or practice. He finally has a scooter that has enough power.

Palin, Palin......

They just announced on our news that good ole' Palin is going to speak at S of O. Sure hope they don't go out to Inspiration Point...I think Mom might rise up ans spit in her face. Politics always embarrassed my Dad.

We're back home...

We got in yesterday after spending several days down at the camper winterizing. The trees in southern MO were not all that great this year.....but my beautiful Japanese Maple waited for me to get home and see it. It is just fantastic again this year. I think Mike and I have taken a picture from every possible angle. I will post a few...the one with Samuel, of course, will be first.

Where did fall go?

We barely finished up the trim and then all of a sudden it is winter!!!! Yuck!!!

Sprucing up

..Mike and I have been painting the trim of our house...we are worn out

Paul's cake

This was Paul's cake for the party last night. Paul really enjoys Jimmy Buffett...thus the tropical theme. I talked to Dawn a little while ago and I ask what time the party broke up....she said they got home at 2 AM.

Meet Gretchen

This is Gretchen. She is Sam's puppy and she is a Shi-Su and she is just 4 months old. She has been visiting since Thursday night and she goes home tomorrow....she misses Sam and Sam misses her. They get up at 5 AM at their house, so Gretchen thinks she needs to get up at 5 AM at my house.
Now I love dogs, but I can assure you....I'm not ready to have another dog. The last dog we had lived for 18 years.

Surprise...Surprise

We really surprised Paul this evening for his 40th! His birthday was actually on the 9th and we had a really special family birthday party....crab legs and shrimp. We knew he was really bummed that he didn't have a big 40th party...but we got him tonight. Yeah!
Everyone probably is still there enjoying the keg....but, that's not my thing and I was the oldest one there. I took plenty of party pics. Mike was not able to go because he is down with a horrible cough and Cindy's family is down in Branson. They are celebrating her 37th...which is tomorrow. We are keeping the puppy for them...the little dog is so cute, but it got me up at 5 AM this morning. She had better be a sleepyhead in the morning.

Off to Chouteau..

I accomplished delivering the very full back packs this morning.....glad we had sunshine!

Back Packs ready..

Our church are partners with a nearby elementary school. Every year our Guild gets together and we donate 12 complete back packs complete with required supplies for each grade level.
I'm getting ready to take them down to the school this morning.

Our Govenor and Family...

Here is a picture of our Govenor, his wife Georganne and their sons Jer and Will Nixon. This was their Christmas card for 2008.

Proof is in the pudding..

I was really delighted to recieve this note from our Govenor today. I just wish we had had the camera along for a good picture. I surely do appreciate this man.....he has truly been a man of his word. We have liked him ever since he started in politics in Missouri.

Heading Out

Anna Mae is doing better and her son and daughter-in-law are home now. We will head to the camper for awhile...much needed break!

My friend fell...

Nancy's mom, Anna Mae, fell and I have been helping all I can. She doesn't want to go into the hospital, but it may be what needs to be done. It's not much fun growing old.

Eunice Shriver...

We certainly did loose a very special lady this week. I had the pleasure of working with her when I was teaching. Not only did she champion special need children, but she worked in so many different educational projects. I was fortunate enough to work with her in a program called Community of Caring. She was all about helping and working with all children. She was about training people to help people and giving of your time and talents.

Autism Walk

Today we walked with Samuel for Autism Awareness to raise money for Autism. Sam named his team "Samuel's Super Soles."
In a week's time, Samuel raised $840 which I think is fantastic.
This sign was located about 3/4 of the way around the 2 mile walk and we thought it was a great sign.
It rained on us the entire walk, but we had a great time.

Grandma and Sam

This was before we started our two mile hike in the pouring rain

Sam in the Rain

Sam walked the entire 2 miles with his umbrella and he didn't complain once!

I'll Catch you up.......

On April 1st we went down to Bennett to open the camper.....all went well, not critters had been inside during the winter. We were really happy about our ability to ward off all the little four legged critters.
We came back home and worked most of the weekend at church on our fund raiser...Palm Sunday Brunch. Mike and I are both cooks and when we finished on Sunday, we were dog tired!
Sunday evening, the owner of the camp grounds called and said that Bennett Spring was in for 3 days of really hard freezes and we were going to be in a real mess if we did not rewinterized....so what is another $150.
Today was court day and a tour of the Juvenile Justice System....yeah, it's over for today!
I read each of your blogs every day and I just love hearing what is going on with all of you.
I wish I could say Happy Spring....but, this cold weather will not go away!

Urban Legend.....

They say that the last snow fall has not hit until all the leaves are off the oak trees. Well....our pin oak and our white oak still have some stubborn leaves hanging on. Now they say we will have 4 to 8 inches of snow tomorrow!!!! Just this week all the other trees have budded out and the daffodils are blooming......as the saying goes, just stick around in MO and the weather will change.
I have been well.......but sooooo busy. This Grand Jury thing is really messing up my schedule.

I'm trying!!!!!

Some how I have lost my ability to scan or import pictures. Frustration is a mild term for how I feel about all this. Eventually, I will get my son-in-law over here to the house to straighten it all out. I just think the more I fiddle.....the worse it gets. Arrrrrrrgh!

Guess who was chosen???

Yesterday I had to be over in Liberty to report for Grand Jury duty. I have lived in Clay County for 45 years and have never been called.
Out of 100 people, 12 are chosen to be on the Grand Jury----well, I only thought we would have to get through the day. But oh no, I will be on the Grand Jury until June the 2nd. I have to report every-other Tuesday and listen to cases. Our job is to decided if there is enough evidence to go to trail.
It should be interesting, but it sure is a big commitment. The other folks just have to be ready to answer their phone in case one of use doesn't make it to the Jury.
Hoooray for Me!

I'm worn out....

We had all three grandkids all weekend and I am worn slick. They are so good and so much fun, but both Mike and I just looked at each other when they left today around five and said, "we're really glad we are retired and don't have to teach tomorrow!"

Does History Repeat?????

I don't know the answer, but I do believe Americans should wake up and speak out against Rush. He is making 100 million a year and people are forgetting he is an entertainer. He has taken up the mantel of the Republican party and literally screaming ..."the only way America will survive is if President Obama fails." "I want him to Fail!" Where was Rush when Bush destroyed the American way of life and sent us into this Depression?
This man is the Hitler of this century and people are actually being brain washed by him. We knew that bigotry existed, but this man is being paid a fortune to express his bigotry and people are almost worshipping him.
The latest picture I saw of him, he was dressed in all black, shirt part way open and standing in front of a huge American flag. If he starts to grow a small black mustache.....maybe people will realize that this man is close to using his American right of free speech to yell...."the theatre is on fire!" when it is not......thus causing complete panic! I wonder how much Karl Rove and Newt are paying him to be the mouth piece?
It has only been 31 days and they are certainly not out to help our country survive this horrible down turn.....I don't feel that our country is in the shape it was for our parents, but each day the news is more bleek.

Pretend....

Pretend that you are looking at all the beautiful pictures I took of our "4 snow this morning. No one can figure out why all the computers in the area are having difficulty...maybe some satellites collided again. But.....I can not download my pictures to computer, let alone to the blog.
I'm hoping that today is just an Easter Squall, but we will just have to wait and see.
For all those that have written...I'm finally feeling well and now ready to get out and get going.

The Robins are here....

The robins arrived today and I haven't gotten a good picture yet. It should be interesting with 3" of snow tomorrow......maybe it's the last hit!

It is called ups and downs...

I was released by the Dr. and he told me I had no restrictions.......I'm thinking he has not had this operation. It seems that different foods bother me now and make me feel really "lousy". I guess I will just have to live and learn.
Patsy.......I'm still searching for that first robin here in KC. Hasn't shown up yet!!!!

Made it to the Computer....

Only get to come down the stairs once and awhile.....I am healing fine. Really watching the "no fat" thing for now, but I have really not had any pain. I have turned into a coach potato, but I am getting alot of knitting done. I really have to keep my mind off of how beautiful it is outside right now. I love blue skies and sunshine.....I'm sure old man winter will be back for another "roaring" time before spring actually gets here. So glad to hear you all are doing so well.

Hello from KC!!!!

Well the worst of this is over and I finally am allowed to walk the stairs. My computer is downstairs and I'm kinda like Patsy - I sure miss hearing about all of you
My surgery went well Tues. and if you Powell's are all like me.....we grow these stones very big. Without it being an emergency, I was able to have my gall bladder and stone remove laproscopically. The surgeon told Mike that we had really made the right call...because if the stone had rolled into a blockage of the duct I sure would have been in terrible shape.
I really only took 4 pain pills Tuesday, went to Tylenol yesterday and so far today I haven't needed any pain medication. Modern medicine is something else! Also, being able to shower today and get ride of those horrible leg nylons has really lifted my spirits.
Thanks for all your love, prayers and concerns. I really have appreciated your support!

Tests and more Tests.....

I have been having pain in my lower back.....so of course, when you go to the Dr. they run tests. It seems I have followed in the footsteps of Mom and Aunt Winnie. I have a gall stone the size of a pecan......so, I'm going to have my gallbladder taken out on Tuesday. It is my intention to get out today since it is in the 60's and have some fun.

Very Happy Saturday...

As you can see, Sam is one happy cub scout. We all had a fantastic time at the Pinewood Derby today. It was fun to laugh and smile today. God has a way of letting us enjoy life through our grandchildren. Sam is one of the joys of my life.

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.