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.

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!