WHAT??? They must mean OHIO

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Rita

It has been a very long Sunday . My little roommate went home, Danny came overband spent the day. We ordered pizza and they delivered. He went and got some xray and labs turns out he has bronchitis and he started him on breathing treatments too. Our pastor came by today and I think that was it. Hopefully I will go home tomorrow if they can get everything worked out

Trish, how is your Sunday going? Are you still feeling a little better each day? Have you had many visitors today? We had a nice little rain and the temp feels like 70 outside. It was so pretty for church this morning. We have missionaries from Europe visiting us today. They were telling us how God is working in the coffee houses over there. It sounds like they are kinda ditching the traditional churches. As long as we gather and worship somewhere! Yes!
Trish, I found some cups and saucers for our bird feeders. Should I try to find the lightest ones and stay away from the heavy ones? I think I will try to find some bold colors to0.

I hope everyone is making your plans to meet Easter Saturday! Don't forget our picnic!!! I just love a "dinner on the ground!" Potato salad, macaroni salad, fried chicken....... Rita's banana pudding? Marsha's bread? I can hardly wait! Did I hear someone say "Just back the truck up!!!!!!!!" Are you guys from far out making your plans! Let us know if you need someone to pick you'uns up at the airport Michelle :) Or not :)

Oh and I forgot, my face is healed but it left a nice scar. I have 3 gashes that were pretty deep and if I'm wearing make-up it looks ok, but without it the scar is still pretty red around the whole area. I think the redness will go away and I got some Mederma last week. I have to put it on 3-4 times a day and it said it could take 3-6 months.

Hey Everybody!

I've been reading, just haven't had much time to post. So I'm going to try to get caught up now!

Trish, I hate to hear that you're in the hospital but I'm so glad you're feeling better! And I also hate to hear that Danny and Jacob have the crud, we have several at school that have it also, and 1 with pink eye!

Michelle, it was so good to hear that you and the girls had such a wonderful time with Joe! He will be back before you know it. You're on the home stretch now!

Eimly, I think it's pretty awesome that you are considering the military. Just make sure you talk to a lot of people about it and don't make any rash decisions. There are so many different choices you have when it comes to medicine, it can be overwhelming. I'm glad it's your decision and not mine!

Mark & Monica, I love the pictures of Marleigh! She is absolutely gorgeous! Don't get excited Mark, she gets it from her mother!

Vonda, I'm glad to hear David is doing better as well.

This past Thursday Bandit and Ladybird graduated obedience school! I'm so proud of my little babies. The got a certificate and everything! They still have a good way to go but they've made incredible improvements on the leash. I would like to put Fozzie through Canine Good Citizen training once he gets a little better at obedience. Then he could be like a therapy dog in hospitals and nursing homes, etc. We're still working on their behavior when we have company though.

I've been looking at jobs lately online. I've applied for some jobs in the park service, just seasonal stuff. But last night when I looked Fayette County had posted several jobs for next year. One job is for Meadow Bridge and it fits my teaching certificate perfectly! So I'm hand-delivering my application Tuesday! Y'all say a prayer for me. It's so much closer, but I still have some doubts about the administration and leaving Raleigh County. I love the people I work with but the parents have really given me a hard time this year due to added responsibilities that I didn't ask for. And middle school is definitely not where I want to be for the rest of my life. So just keep me in mind.

I promise I will post more often! Love!

Trish, I'm glad to hear that you may get to come home Monday. That is wonderful news that I am believing in!! I hope Danny and Jacob get to feeling better and that Tanner doesn't catch it :P

Where is everyone? Addy, Janet, Teresa, mom, Rita, Ruth????? Are you out there?

So this evening we went out with some friends to Barnes & Noble. I was excited for Marleigh to see the section of the children's books. She seemed to have a blast. I let her walk around at first and she was going from stand to stand and shelf to shelf. I came across a book that I must get her when she gets a little older......"Who pooped in the Park?" I had to look at it and it was quite interesting. As I glanced through it, it appeared to me to analyze poo and depending on what is in the poo lets you know what animal pooed it :) I would have never thought it. We made it to the other side of the children's section and I walked through an odor not my own. I turned around and looked at Mark, it wasn't him. I checked Marleigh's diaper, it wasn't her. There were two children sitting in the vicinity who may have been the culprits, who knows though. Anyway, as we turned around to leave I saw a book titled "Stink".....how appropriate. I didn't have time to look at that one LOL. Maybe it had a motion sensor on it and sprayed an aroma of its own :P

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Love you all :)

Hi Trish, Sorry to hear you are in the hospital, we have been praying for you ever since we knew you were there. Danny and Jacob, we are praying that you guys will feel better also. Keep us posted Trish on how you are getting along.

Emily, I think the service would be a wonderful chance and experience for you and Zach. The experience you get in the service you just can't get in the civilian counterpart. I think the camo would look good on you :). As far being deployed, grandma said and we both know for a fact that nothing will happen to you that God does not allow. Myself and David are a testament to that.

Prayer Request I received via e-mail

Greg Comer has battled cancer for almost 7 yrs. The doctors are giving him only days to live. Greg is 41, married & has 2 children, Jacob 11 & Alyssa 7. Jacob has asked his Mom for a special request, for everyone to pray for a miracle for his daddy. He wants a prayer chain across the world. Please pray for Greg and help start this prayer chain across the world for Jacob. Copy & re-post to keep prayer chain going.

-Rita

Emily,
You should be skeptical. Yes that is at least a 4-year commitment on your part whether it is Army, Air Force or Navy (if they even offer such). The Marines are out because they don't offer that field. The Navy supplies our medical needs since the Marines fall under the department of the Navy. I will let Daniel and Joe Roberts weigh in on what it may be like in the Army but the commitment is for 4 years of your time and once you are in uniform, all bets are off, they own you and can deploy you whenever and wherever they need you, regardless of what the recruiter "promised" you up front. Yes you would have your education paid for, if and when you fulfilled your 4 years of army duty. If for any reason, medical or otherwise (injury to you in training, etc.) that you failed to complete the 4 years of active duty, then the Army would be released from their commitment. Daniel and Joe, what do you all think?
David

I went to school this morning for class and the power went off right after I got there...so no class for me today! It's cold, rainy and windy here too.

I went to a presentation by a medical recruiter last night and they make you feel like you'd be crazy not to do their program. They pay 100% tuition for whatever medical school you want to go to, plus a sign on bonus, plus a stipend every month. In exchange, you work at an army hospital on one of their bases for 4 years, with 1 90 day deployment. It's sounding like a good deal...I would appreciate any input on it though! David, Michelle, Daniel?

I guess since it is rainy and my classes are cancelled I am going to curl up with a book that I have to read for my medicinal plants class-- "Poisons: A History from Hemock to Botox". It's really interesting...seems like most things are poisonous. Lillies, foxgloves, apple seeds, peach pits...they can all kill a person. Good things to know! Have a good weekend everybody!

Good morning,
I don't seem to be healing or clearing my lungs as fast as most so looks like I am staying the weekend. All of my veins are used up so I am waiting to get another PICC line. During the night the glands in my neck started swelling and they feel like I am getting the mumps. I have never had the mumps but it sure feels and looks like it. I am waiting on the ENT to come up and tell me what he thinks about the situation. I also have the auto immune disease called sjogrens disease and it has to deal with your mucous membranes so I guess if the rest of me is screwed up stands to reason that is too.
Jacob and Danny are both sick with fevers and cough. Emily announced last night that she is checking into military life for her medical degree! Any feedback on that. I can see her now suited up in camo all of 4'10" looking like a little girl scout! My doctor, who is military also, said she should check into the air force as she thought it would be safer. Emily is looking at army. David do you know anything about the commitment you have through the marines?

I got the sweetest little roommate last night. I think she is a frequent flyer here cause everyone seems to know her. She is hard of hearing and reminds me a lot of mommy. I am going to see if she will let me get a picture later.

It is pouring the rain with high winds and the temps are dropping. Power is blinking on and off

Love to all,
Trish

Johnny Dickens

Johnny Dickens, of Arnett, went home to be with the Lord, February 24, 2011, at his home after a long illness.

He was born February 28, 1948, at Flat Branch, W.Va., a son of the late Dempsey and Bernice Thompson Dickens.

He was a retired electrician in the coal mines with 19 years of service.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded by brothers: Kenneth, Bobby, Iona, and a baby boy.

He is survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Rebecca “Becky” Dickens; daughter and granddaughter, Alexandrea; sons, Bryan and wife, Jeannie, Bobby and wife, Brooke, Johnny Dean and wife, Peggy; godson, Michael Paul and wife, Courtney; sisters, Margaret and husband, Wayne Clay, Letha and husband, Darrell Linksweiler, Donna and husband, John Ferris, Freda and husband, Lewis Boggess; brothers, Jimmy and wife, Kay Dickens, and Tim Wills; seven grandchildren, Alexandrea, James, Franklin, Andrea, Paige, Brayce, and Nate.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Saturday, February 26, 2011, in the Bolt Church of God, Bolt, with Pastor Randall Pugh officiating. Burial will follow in the Cook Cemetery, Arnett.

Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church.

Armstrong Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Got these from lonnie and marcia today! They are beautiful...makes the dreary rainy day better

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Good Morning to All,

Just came from the nursing home and , Trish , you and David are on the same page. He got 2 breathing treatments yesterday and was getting one this morning, and was complaining about being used for a pin cushion , yesterday I guess it was lab day at the home so he had to have blood drawn, and he was not happy about that.and the Dr. that came in was telling him he has congestive heart failure, don't know how they , found that out. But they also did a chest x-ray too. so that's where we are at the present.Sure hope you get to feeling better Trish.We'll be praying for you .Love you All.

Good morning from the pokey,
Nothing new here. I actually feel the same. Nothing seems to be helping except steroids and of course I am decreasing those every few hours. On the home front though Jacob woke up with a fever of 101 and symptoms much like mine. Being a sick mom in the hospital when you have kids sick is no fun:(

On a bright note, you would not believe all the nice comments I have received on my flowers? First, all of the staff offered to help me smoke them when they dried. Boy did it bust their bubble when they found out they were artificial! HA

My nurse came in last night and commented on how beautiful they were. I had my iPad on with the isaacs playing and pictures scrolling. She asked me where I lived and told me she remembered my mom from being in here. She told me that we took such good care of her. Turns out she lives in meadow bridge her name is Leeann Modley. Rita, I think she knew you and blain.

I sat my bowl of candy on my over the bed table and my nurses, aides, and respiratory therapists enjoyed a treat, thought it might be a good way to get them back fast if I needed too:)

My night nursing assistant came in and we talked about my flowers. I told him they were from my sisters (yes Teresa that includes youn2). And the first thing he said was they love you. Apparently he comes from a large family with 5 brothers and only one sister. Originally from flint Michigan. He followed his sister here when she moved his parents are deceased. He talks to one other brother on a semi regular basis but the others can go for years and not here from them. Sad scenario.

I have had steady company and phone calls and in between I have facebook and the blog. Infer pretty short of breath if I get out and walk much so here I sit.

Blog later it's starting to get busy here.
Luv y'all Trish

Trish wanted everyone to know that Lacy Osborne is also in the hospital . He is on the same floor but across the hall. She said if anyone comes to see her, to stop and see him also. She was doing a breathing treatment when I spoke to her. She said she is breathing easier but she still doesn't feel well. She said she will be in the hospital until Friday.

These flowers are from rita, ruth, bobbie, vonda and teresa. Really pretty. They are beautiful poppies!

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Trish, we hope you get to feeling better and doing better very quickly :) Teresa, I love the Easter tree :p Emily, we will be praying for Zac's job and for you too Trish. Love you all.

Teresas Easter tree.

Steve Treadway

Just a quick note to ask for prayer again. Seems like that's all I get done. I have been sick off and on since my chemo. It really hit hard this past Monday with the polymyositis And I had to go back up on the prednisone. Well by Saturday I couldnt breathe very good and Sunday not at all. I thought I could make it til the clinic opened but I ended up in the ER at 5am and admitted by 9. They seem to think I have bilateral pneumonia according to the CT scan and are giving me Iv steroids iv antibiotics and breathing treatments. The steroids have really helped but I imagine my sugar will be through the room. Danny told Vonda that David and I could hook up then he and Vonda could fly the coop! Lol
I am in room 314b. Greenbrier valley but I am not planning on being here very long if I have anything to do with it. There are way too many germs here, they have stuck a swab up my nose 2x already!

Hey everyone, I have a prayer request. We really need for Zac to find a better job. With school, I'm not going to be able to get a job until May and well, you know how money goes. Thanks...have a good week! =)

Rita, I have loved all of the blood stuff. I've tried to give twice before, once they got into my veins and it just wouldn't come out and the other time they couldn't get in a vein. But I guess I should keep trying since it seems I am a universal donor too.

Love the pictures of Marleigh! She is sooo cute.

It's so nice here today. It's already about 40 degrees and really sunny. Unfortunately I will be stuck in the library all day studying. =(

Have a good Saturday everyone!

Bobbie~ Daddy was O-NEG and I am A-POS..what are you? I remember Mommy talking about times when they (medical providers at the time) would call Daddy in the middle of the night to come and give blood b/c he was a Universal donor. I've seen alot of blood but none that looked like that Emily. Are you finding that interesting?

Yes, Marleigh, you are one beautiful baby girl, course I know your Nana isn't partial or anything. Olivia and I had a girls day out yesterday and I took her to (what else), get her nails done. She picked the color, (hot pink) and she got her toes and nails done. They painted a design on her toenails and fingernails and the girl had to do her toes 3X because she kept messing them up! Olivia had to tip her pretty good. I think Olivia has the potential to become a little Thrift store shopper! I was looking on a rack and Olivia was just going down the rack ahead of me, looking at every piece and they were size 14 - 18, women's. I thought that was so funny. We shopped til we dropped, she was asleep and snoring before we made it home.

Julie, Milk it for all it's worth! LOL

Good Evening All,
I don't know about the blood Emily. I don't even know what I am. (interesting picture tho) Are you and your father the same blood type always? No exceptions?
Vonda, your flowers are very pretty, very valentinish! Your vase is going to look pretty with your brown-eyed susans too. You will have those in your backyard right?
I don't think it got up to seventy today. It was windy city at the park! We took our peanuts and sat in the little train and ate them anyway.
Julie, sorry about your foot! If you have to give all your high heels away, don't forget me! Size 6 and a half :)
Addy, how is your face healing?
Marleigh, you are beautiful in your photo shots dear!

This is a picture of the blood smear (with a Wright stain--it's what makes it look purple) that we made in my anatomy lab today. It's my friend Channing's blood. The bigger purple blob in the middle is a white blood cell...all the others are the RBCs. We also did blood typing...if it worked right, I found out that I am O-. I learned today that B (or AB) blood is not very common unless you are of Asian or Native American descent. I know some of Grandma and Grandpa's family was part indian, right? Do any of ya'll have B in your blood?

My flower arangement

Bobbie gave me the flower vase , and I made the flower arangement , I think they are pretty ,and remind me of spring.

Julie had surgery on her left foot today to remove a bunyon. She is in a lot of pain and will be wearing a special boot for a while. I'll be attending to her through the weekend and maybe Monday too. She gets the bandage redressed next Thursday. Pray for her.
Thanks Love you all

Here's Marleigh playing with her little tent. She likes to walk around it more than play in it. I tried to post a video of her walking but it was taking 3 hours and still hadn't uploaded all the way :( Not sure what's up with that.

We went to the park this morning :) It was Marleigh's first time since she's been crawling and walking. I think she enjoyed it. She wanted to pick up the leaves and sticks everywhere lol.

In Need Of Prayer

A young boy called the pastor of a local "corner" church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been very ill with the flu.  The pastor knew the family and was aware they had been attending another church down the road.  So the pastor asked, "Shouldn't you be asking Brother Simon down the road to come by to pray with your mom?"  The young boy replied, "Yeah, but we didn't want to take the chance that he might catch whatever this is that Mom has!
Rita

West Virginia - This Is My Home

West Virginia, I was born a West Virginian song by eddy bailes

Woo hoo you all better watch out for the thrift stores, that is a new one on me.

Blue Roo Consignment Shop

Ladies, Can you believe it? 

A Crab Orchard woman pleaded guilty Monday to embezzling money and forging checks while she was employed with the Blue Roo Consignment Shop. 
Rebecca Barnett and three other employees are alleged to have taken about $25,000 in store funds over a one-year period. The three allegedly created false consignments and generated checks in the names of family members and friends. 
Hutchison granted the motion for probation for a period of five years and suspended her underlying sentence of one to 10 years. During her time on probation, she is also ordered to pay restitution in the amount taken from the store.

Rita

Bobbie, I envy you! Cleaning out flower beds! How awesome is that. We are supposed to have 50 degrees today. I am sure I will sink into depression the next time it snows, which I think is going to be next week. I mentioned to Dan over the weekend that I couldn't wait until we can set up the playset outside that the employees gave us Christmas for Clara and Brooks.

We are having the most wonderful weather down here in Virginia! My kids played out on the swingset yesterday and we then cleaned out the flower beds. It was so nice to see them playing together and laughing! Marleigh we missed you! Hope you are having a good time at mommy's today! Love you! Little green sprouts are coming out already. I'm like you Ruth, I can't wait for spring either.

You guys pray for Vena and the family.  Vena is a lot like Mommy was after Daddy died.  She is wandering around wondering where Homer is and then she remembers.  She will eventually go home with her granddaughter Allison but for now she will remain at her home.

Optomist's Hunting Dog

Friends, one an optimist and the other a pessimist could never quite agree on any topic of discussion. One day the optimist decided he had found a good way to pull his friend out of his continually pessimistic way of thinking - the optimist owned a huntin' dog that could walk on water. His plan? Take the pessimist and the dog out duck hunting in a boat. They got out into the middle of the lake, and the optimist shot down a duck. The dog immediately walked out across the water, retrieved the duck, and walked back to the boat. The optimist looked at his pessimistic friend and said, "What do you think about that?"  The pessimist replied, "That dog can't swim, can he?
 
Rita

Obituary

Homer Greene Cadle

SMOOT — Homer Greene Cadle, 90, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011.

Services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, in the Meadow Grove Baptist Church, Dawson.

Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at Smathers Funeral Chapel.

Arrangements by Smathers Funeral Chapel, Rainelle

Rita

Dear God,
I hope you are enjoying our valentines in Heaven as much as we are enjoying the one you sent us:)

Happy Valentines Day!!!! :) I liked the little history lessons about Valentinus. We were just discussing at work this morning about this. One of the guys kept saying "Valentimes" and I kept telling him that was wrong lol.

Hope all the valentines are having a good day! If not, the day is not over yet! My walmart flowers are beautiful in my princess house vase. All four of my valentines were down for their nap at the same time today for 1 and 1/2 hours and man was it nice! The wind is whipping around here and they are sleeping like little logs. They have played hard today.
Rita, loved that reminder of what just what love is.

May God's Peace and Love be with each one of you, on this Valentine Day.

Poor Sam

This is Valentine's Day. And Sam forgot it.

Sam's wife had a card addressed to him, hidden in her top dresser drawer. Her gift to him was under her dresses in the closet. She waited for him to make the first move, to end this little dodge of his. There he was, sitting down to watch television at 7:30 at night as if he might be camped out there till bedtime... as if he'd actually forgotten what day this is!
Finally, at 10 P.M., when Sam had stumbled upstairs to brush his teeth, he found his wife sitting bolt upright in bed. Somehow the temperature felt noticeably cooler in that room than in the other parts of the house.

"What's the matter? What'd I do?" He did a super-quick scan of his usual offenses. Everything checked out.

"Tomorrow morning," she said through clenched teeth, "I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from zero to two hundred in less than six seconds. And it had better be there!"

With that, she snatched her pillow and blanket and trudged off, presumably to the downstairs sofa, leaving Sam standing there looking very unmanly, totally exposed as a Valentine forgetter. But his pride wasn't about to be threatened so easily.

The next morning his wife found a gift box in the driveway. She tore it open and looked inside.

It was a bathroom scale.

Sam has been missing since Friday

In Honor Of "The Love" Day

Paul gives us some good advice on how to love one another in Romans 12:9-18.
Love must be sincere.
Cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another.
Honor one another above yourself.
Never be lacking in zeal.
Be joyful in hope.
Be patient in affliction.
Be faithful in prayer.
Share with God's people who are in need.
Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you.
Rejoice with those who rejoice.
Mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud.
Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil.
Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody.
If it is possible, a far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

The legend of St. Valentine

The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius II Gothicus. The Christian was Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship state religion's idols, and he had made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentinus was dedicated to the ideals of Christ, and not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his beliefs.

During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing happened. One day a jailer for the Emperor of Rome knocked at Valentinus's door clutching his blind daughter in his arms. He had learned of Valentinus's medical and spiritual healing abilities, and appealed to Valentinus to treat his daughter's blindness. She had been blind since birth. Valentinus knew that her condition would be difficult to treat but he gave the man his word he would do his best. The little girl was examined, given an ointment for her eyes and a series of re-visits were scheduled.

Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might also be brought to Valentinus for lessons. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic and told her about GOD. She saw the world through his eyes, trusted in his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does GOD really hear our prayers?" Julia said one day. "Yes, my child, He hears each one, "he replied.

"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"

"GOD does what is best for us if we will believe in HIM," Valentinus said.

"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe," Julia said intensely. "I do." She knelt and grasped his hand. They sat quietly together, each praying.

Several weeks passed and the girl's sight was not restored. Yet the man and his daughter never wavered in their faith and returned each week.

Then one day, Valentinus received a visit from Roman soldiers who arrested him, destroyed his medicines and admonished him for his religious beliefs. When the little girl's father learned of his arrest and imprisonment, he wanted to intervene but there was nothing he could do.

On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia - knowing his execution was imminent. Valentinus asked the jailer for a paper, pen and ink. He quickly jotted a farewell note and handed it to the jailer to give to his blind daughter. He urged her to stay close to GOD, and he signed it "From Your Valentine." His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory.

When the jailer went home, he was greeted by his little girl. The little girl opened the note and discovered a yellow crocus inside. The message said, "From your Valentine." As the little girl looked down upon the crocus that spilled into her palm she saw brilliant colors for the first time in her life! The girl's eyesight was restored! A miracle!

He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. In 496 Pope Gelasius I named February 14 as Saint Valentine's Day. On each Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love and devotion are still exchanged around the world.

http://www.naturalstonesign.com/rocks.htm

This is the website for the stone bench.  It is in Pickaway, we pick it up.

Mornin' All
Michelle, it is so nice that you're keeping in touch via the blog. It's almost like we're just getting to know you. I wish more of the grandkids would get on. Communication is what's going to keep us all close. When that stops, we will drift apart, just like in any relationship. Tell your girls that, I, for one, envy them so much. They are getting to do things and go places most of us will only read about. How exciting.
I read something today that made me think of Mommy. "Prayers outlive the lives of those who uttered them."
It is sunny and cold here but it is a beautiful day. I was watching the birds this morning and it seems that there is always a pair of doves...just one pair. I noticed this in the fall before Daddy died when me and Mommy were watching the birds. This morning they flew in together and sat on the wire...Just sat there, and I thought of Mommy and Daddy being together.

That is a cute picture of Clara. It makes you think how many of us played in Grandma's aprons....
About the bench: how long do they gaurantee the picture on the rock? Is it weather-proofed so it doesn't fade from sun/rain, etc? Or would it have to be re-done every few years? And then does that require shipping it back to them? Just wondered.
The girls go to DoDea schools on the bases, Trish. The same as ambassadors' children, or those who work in NATO positions over here. They are really good. And yes, Tarin will graduate in K-town (Kaiserslautern), which is good. She has only been diagnosed with ADHD for about a year. She is on a low dose of medication once a day. She made A's and B's this last semester, and aced her semester exams. She didn't even have to take some because she aced the class all year. She took her PSAT's and scored higher than about 70% of the sophomores. They are handling her IEP very well, so we want to keep her in the same school system instead of coming back to the states because every state has their own IEP evaluation system, their own plan for people with learning disabilities, etc. It is very frustrating to re-start the process, which was one of our main reasons for Joe getting this job. It took so long to get this diagnosis; it is fairly new to acknowledge ADHD in females. The other main reason was that it is non-deployable and he is awesome at dealing with all the regulations. He is up for Major in about a year to a year and a half, after the deployment. And yes, we will take pictures of everywhere we go! We are planning to go to Italy this summer when he returns. They give those returning from deployment 30 days to take any leave they have saved up. When we are in K-town, we are going to go to England. I want a picture by the "Treadway Street" sign!!! When we purchased our family sword and coat of arms from an English company, they knew the family name and the man at the bazaar had been on Treadway Street. It has one of his favorite little restaurants.
More later! I hope all of you are well. Have a great Sunday. Michelle and gang

Clara pulled grandma's apron out of the drawer and has been wearing it!

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Here's another bench idea. I am sure you have all seen the stone at mom and dads that says treadways. We got that for them for Christmas one year. They also do benches out of the rocks. You can also get photos on them in color. I think that would be awesome. The concrete benches do crumble eventually but I don't think the rocks would. The Cadle company got Ruth and Dan a bench with the state wv on it. Some of you may have seen it. Just another thought.

Michelle it sounds like the next three years will be ones that you can break out that camera for. Looks like tarin will be graduating from Germany high school or I guess she goes on base?

Hey, Everyone! Cool about the rock, Dad. The girls blew up the picture and were studying the shine on the egg/rock, the surface texture, the reflection....they really got into it.
That sounds really nice about the bench.
Yes, Rita, Joe would be with us. His deployment is over in less than 100 days. Then we will move to Kaiserslautern between August 24-September 7, it looks like. This job is non-deployable, thank God, because it is at the Headquarters for his career field. He will be overseeing all troop movement in and out of Europe for those moving in/out as well as those deploying to various places. So I will have him home for 3 years. I am glad. We paid our dues, now a little normalcy would be nice :) Not everyone has these kind of positions, only Staff service members, so we do count ourselves lucky.
Hope you are all great and have a good day, the oven just beeped and the pizza is ready and the kids are charging down the stairs...... :)
Michelle and gang

Evenin'~
Mark, if you gotta lose, at least you're in good company =)

I like Monica's idea for the bench and I like Ruth's as well. We may need to put that to a vote. And what kind are we going to place there, wood or stone? It would be nice to place it facing the house, you know, so you would have that beautiful view.

Blain and I went to see the Isaacs and it was awesome, as usual. SONYA IS 4 MONTHS PREGNANT and she is due on my birthday!! I got the chance to talk to her and she remembered doing the flat Grandma and Grandpa pics. I told her they had both gone on to Heaven in the past year. She said she was so sorry. It wasn't like a concert. Becky's husband sang and the Holy Spirit showed up. You can tell they have a Pentecostal background. Their grandpa was a Pentecostal preacher from Kentucky. Did you know that Becky's husband is a preacher as well? I didn't know that. Blain really enjoyed it and I'm going to get us tickets to see Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver. He really likes them too.

Michelle, Sorry to hear you are going to be in Germany longer. Is Joe going to be with you or is he going to be away? I could not do Military. I can't be that mobile. God Love ya!

Blain has a rare 3 day weekend, (employee appreciation day) so we are going to work around here. Waiting for the big thaw next week!!

The bench Idea sounds good to me and , I Love the song Go Rest High Up On The Mountain, that would be fitting, since they are on the mountain top , Looking down in the Valley.

The final score on voting for the rock versus egg was 13 correct and 2 incorrect. The rock is the one on the right. Thanks for voting and that was fun. I continue to marvel at how perfect the stone is, especially relative to the size of the egg.
Ruth, I agree with you, "Resting High On the Mountain" would be the perfect message for the bench, it would apply to Mom and Dad and all who have a chance to visit, rest and reflect.
Trish, you are right too. In my trips up there to help Daddy mow the graveyard he wondered aloud if anyone would be around to take care of it after he was gone. Thank you Tanner and Jacob for mowing it with him from time to time and thank you for doing it now when you can.

Hey everyone, I had a few minutes today to check the blog. I didn't have time to read everything but Lonnie and I have been to the babies graves down at the river a long time ago. I think he could tell you or show you if he would go. Someone needs to call him ! Trish! Alright I have to get back to work.

For the bench: Resting High on the Mountain

Those sleeping in their graves and those sitting on the bench would be Resting High on the Mountain.

I had never heard the song "Go Rest High on that Mountain" but I LOVED it!

Tarin says right=rock

Toria says right=rock

Aleya says right=rock

Food For Thought

I have come to the conclusion that many of our problems stem from the fact that we are not prepared to run the race of life. Some people are not even sure what kind of race they are in and wonder where the finish line is or if there really is a finish line. It seems that we are busier than we have ever been but accomplishing less and experiencing fewer successes than ever before. Stephen Wright says, "I think God is going to come down and pull civilization over for speeding." Can you relate? 

Rita

The bench up here has been made by the monument company...out of stone and has engraving on it. It would stand the test of time better. Of course, we would have to have it made and pay for it but I think Daddy would've liked the idea since he had the headstones already made. Course, he probably did that to assure Mommy didn't put him out at the End Of The Trail.
Not that Danny wouldn't do a great job on a bench. I was just thinking that it would last a looooong time.
So would we plan to do this on Saturday? Trish, would you clue Lonnie in and don't forget to tell Marcia. He might forget. LOL

Hello, Everyone! It's been a while since I got on, other than voting on the rock/egg. Your Easter plans sound so nice. Better not wait up, Monica! It will be a while before we are stateside again. We just got orders to Kaiserslautern, a larger city on the western border of Germany. That will be for 2 or 3 years. At least it is only 4 hours to Paris :) The kids are already casting votes to go there for Christmas and I didn't even know there was poll.....LOL
Take pictures of the Easter picnic. Maybe add some deviled eggs....yum, one of the kids' favorites.
They are all doing well. We are now in the double digits until Joe is home for good. Time seems to be passing a little faster now.
Take care! I hope you are all well and blessed.
Michelle and gang.

Bench:

"Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me"

The Waltons picnic wasn't your ordinary PB and J!  It was fried chicken, potato salad, definately no chips!  lemonade, homemade bread!  Basically it was their sunday meal in a basket!  I LOVE fried chicken!  I will put Danny on the bench making.  I think he could put something on the front of the bench like Amazing Grace or in Memory of Mom and DAd!  What do you think should be on it to honor them both.  Give me your thoughts.  Of course it can't be too many letters unless you want a really really really long bench!  LOL  or it could say Treadway? Live, Laugh, Love? Family?  Home Sweet Home?  Depending on when everyone is coming in maybe we could do this on Saturday before Monica has to leave.  If the spring thaw has hit we may have to walk up from the pond.

Monica I really like your idea of going down on the river.  Maybe since Goldie knows where she is going we could take her along.  Goldie what do you think?
Daddy used to tell me very often that I didn't have the sense God Gave a Goose!  apparently if I had that sense I would've been very very smart.  But now that I know what they had, he was right!

I am pretty sure the tomb stone is complete.  Bill Wallace had the same people that finished Daddys to do Mommys.  All they had to put was the date of death.

Monday I am going to start babysitting the twins, Aaron and Andrew, with Emmas help!  Right now just one day a week until I see if I can handle them!  LOL  So remember me when you are praying!

Prayer request

Hey guys I got this from Goldie and am sharing!

 

 

Trish,

I was reading the blog and felt an urge to ask you to post this request.

 

I got a call an hour ago that my second brother had a heart attack and is in the hospital in Okla.City. Have everyone to pray he will make peace with God for his soul then if it's God's will healing.

Please pray for me as well. I'm going for Kidney tests on Tuesday.

 

Also.your info on the babies graves is correct.the cementary is about a mile

up the road from the log church.up on the hill behind uncle Fraiser's house.

 

Love You All,    Goldie

---

I like the idea of going to the cemetery too. Maybe once we get it cleaned up and flowers planted we could do some family pics? I can't remember if anyone has talked about this but is the headstone complete? Mom, Dad and Corey came over for supper this evening and we were talking about the babies graves. I never knew they were on the river. I just assumed they were at the Puckett cemetery with the rest of the family. I've never been "on the river" but I can remember a lot of times when us grand kids would stay a week with Grandma in the summer, Grandpa would be "on the river". I always wondered where exactly that was. I think it would be nice to go there sometime to see where Grandma and Grandpa started out. Is the house they lived in still standing? We are scheduled to go back to work on Easter Sunday. We've put in to get that Sunday and Monday off but I won't know for a few weeks if we got it. If we don't I hope that we can still come up maybe that Thursday and come home Saturday afternoon. We woke up to snow again this morning but most of it was melted by noon. Rita I'm with you, I want to know about the egg and the stone lol!!! Oh Michelle, we're waiting on you guys haha :P

Hey, I guess that's where the saying comes from..."Ain't got sense God gave a goose." I'm reasonably certain that I've never read it in the bible. LOL I believe I heard Daddy say that a time or two. Yes, I remember where the cemetery is down on the river. It was right across the road from where Frazier lived. I believe his son, Greg lives there and I'm sure someone down there could help us find it. Beulah Leslie lives right up that road and she's still living and sharp as a tac. Still drives too! She is 92? I think. I like the idea about the picnic at the cemetery too. What did the Waltons make for the picnic. I think fried chicken would be good. We could plant some spring flowers and I'd like to put some kind of bench up there so if you wanted to go up there, you could have a place to sit. There's one at the cemetery up here on the mountain and I have gone there and sat and It is quite peaceful, actually.
David, is the stone on the left or right? You're killin' us.

Food For Thought

When God closes one door, He opens another, Even though it might be Hell in the Hallway!

Rita

Bobbie , That is some Good lessons about the geese, It would pay us all to have the sense of a goose!!!!!!!!! Don't you think? Yes, the cemetery where the babies are buried is up the road from the old log church, and it's on the left side of the road . And I think there is a little creek to cross, I'm not sure but seems to me there is.And one of the head stones has a little lamb on it I think also.Wow, didn't know i could remember that far back.But I can picture it in my mind, going there with Mommy and Daddy to decorate the graves. But I don't remember the name of the cemetery.The Idea of the picnic at the Puckett , cemetery sounds like a good plan. I like it.Cant let the Walton's get one on us.

When we were up Vonda's way we noticed flocks of geese and I remembered something I read about them. Did you know
A Flock of Lessons
Fact: As geese flap their wings, they create an "uplift" for the birds that follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson: People who share a common direction and sense of community get where they are going quicker and easier when they lift each other up along the way.

Fact: If a goose falls out of formation, it feels the drag and resistance fo flying alone. So it quickly moves back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front of it.
Lesson: If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those headed where we want to go.

Fact: When the head goose tires, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson: It pays to share leadership and take turns doing the hard work.

Fact: Geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up front to keep up the pace.
Lesson: It is important that our honking be encouraging. Otherwise it's just --well honking!

Fact: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation to follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it dies or is able to fly again.
Lesson: When one of us is down, it's up to the others to stand by us in our time of trouble.

I remember going to the babies' graves years ago. Daddy and Mommy would cut peonias out of the front yard and take them. It seems that the cemetery was up from the old log church, but it has been so long ago.

I am not usually one that likes to visit grave sites, but the idea of a celebration like Grandpa Walton's sounds good. I could go for that!

I will look for teacups and saucers also. I do not think I have any broom handles though.

Yes Trish that sounds like a good idea! I will gather what I can from down here. Maybe Steve can find broom handles out in the buildings. I doubt Dad threw any of the broom handles away. And always cleaning off the graves at Easter time is a good idea too. I had talked to Rita about going down on the river to find the babies graves, she said she thought she could find them. I would like to see them also.

Bobbie you look for cups and saucers and I will gather some handles. I have a hot glue gun and tons of glue! That would be a great project for us to do over Easter at Mommy's. Every time we filled that tea cup I can imagine mommy smiling down on us;) daddy will smile too if we plant some flowers around it! I am sure the most of you have seen the waltons after grandpa died. The waltons would always get together in the spring and clean off his grave from the rough winter. I would like to do that for mommy and daddy's grave. I know they aren't really there but it was always so important for daddy to keep his mom and dads graves clean and pretty and I know that he worried, I say that loosely cause I don't imagine he lost sleep over it, that none of us would keep it up. Tanner and Jacob had taken over helping him the last few years and they grew to enjoy that time with grandpa and sometimes grandma. I don't want the grandkids and great grandkids to forget about where they are buried and some of them may want to carry on the tradition as we get older. On the waltons it wasn't a sad time but more of a reunion with grandpa. Picnic lunch and everything! Mommy told me when I was younger,when steve and I helped daddy, that if he died before her she was taking him out to Wallace and Wallace so none of us had to take care of their graves. It was soon after that, daddy got the headstone and put it where he wanted it AND planted flowers LOL. Have any of you been to the cemetery where the babies are buried? It's been years since I have been there but I would like to go back now. Me and the kids had planned a road trip on the river with daddy to be taken over their Christmas break before he died but that didn't pan out. But anyway if no one else would like to do this in the spring me and my family are going to plan on it.
Love to all,

I passed on the bird feeder idea to the lady in charge of the company Cancer Relay for Life Team. She is quite the crafter!

What a precious thought .

I am sure we will all have more traits of Mom and Dad , in us as the years go by, and it's wonderful , that we can see them in one another, that is their legacy to us , and every thing that they taught us . Love it when it all comes to gather, and you can see it don't you ???????????What a wonderful Blessing.

Trish what a neat idea. You will have to make some to see just how cheap you can do it for. It would make a nice church fundraiser for the kids. I love the whole idea. Don't forget my birthday!!! If you get it to me three months late(like I did yours) all the birds will be back, yeah! I'll look around for some tea cups down here.

I'm reminded of the story of the three kinds of givers: the flint, the sponge, and the honeycomb. If you want something from the flint, you have to strike it--hard. If you want something from the sponge, you have to squeeze it. But the honeycomb just overflows with its own sweetness! I don't have to tell you which one our momma was! And since their "crossing over" I find myself looking at you guys for snatches of them. And as the years go by, I am expecting to see more and more of them in you. I just know all their "good" is going to win out! Just wanted to share that!

I love the little tea cup bird feeders, you could go to the thrift store and get all kinds of tea cups and make your self a bunch!!!!!

Trish, I love the bird feeders I also saw them but knew that I could make my own. Steve bought me a bouquet of flowers that were in a tea cup and I am going to use it to make mine. By the way Thymeworn is one of my favorite antique stores, I visit it frequently.

Continue to pray for Kelsey also, she had her exam today and found out it is endometriosis and she has to go back on the 2nd of next month. They are going to try a birth control implant that goes in your arm and is good for 3 years, if that does not work, she will have to have surgery. Hopefully this implant will also take care of the cysts.

Love the bird feeders!

Gracie taking a nap with her stuffed turtle on my bed!

I saw these at a little primitive store in Lewisburg.
They reminded me of Mommy. Tea cups AND bird feeders
all in one. I thought it was a great idea for those old tea cups
and saucers that you are ready to throw out or the ones
that get chipped. They are hot glued together and then
you hot glue them to old broom handles or anything you
have laying around. These three are then inserted to an
old bucket filled with sand.
Isn't this a neat idea. I can imagine Mommy having her
morning cup of tea with the birdies!
Incidently these sell for 14$ a piece. If you want to buy
one instead of make your own, they are at Thymeworn.

Well, so far the score is 10 - 2 for the rock on the right side of the picture. I will wait for a few more to come in and then I'll tell you who is right. Want to give Tarin, Toria and Aleya a chance to vote when they are home from school.

Hey gang, I hope this finds everyone doing well. We woke up this morning to a light dusting of snow, the wind is what makes it seem really cold. My cats were very excited about coming in this morning. I'm excited for spring to be here, I hate cold weather, I was going to go see my mom today but I'll probably try another day. My kids came in this weekend and we had a good time and Addy and Paul came up with a friend to shoot guns and Steve fixed steaks on the grill and me and mom fixed potatoes, green beans, and corn. It was all good, the food and the company.

Tell Colin I'm sorry about the loss. Are we going to be buying Green Bay Packers "stuff" for his Birthday this year?

The one on the right is the stone

I think it's interesting that David asked which one is the rock? And then some of you answered with, which one was the egg.

Egg is left.

My vote is egg on the left.

EGG ON THE LEFT

Egg is on the left

Right=Rock

I will have to say left is rock.

I think the one on the right is the stone :)

Left is the egg

Blain votes for the Right. (Of course) :]

Right=rock.

My vote is for the left.

Hey Gang, I've got a quiz for all of you. Julie had me to put gravel around the front of our porch and to line the sidewalk and that gravel was fashioned by the movement of water along a brook. Well you find stones shaped in a number of ways. One day I found a stone that looked amazingly like an egg, even down to the color. Your job is to pick which one in the picture is the stone. Right or left, that's all you have to say and I'll tally up the score and let everyone know. I'll even give you a running score, just respond on the blog or send me an email. God can fahsion some amazing 'stuff', hey, just look at all of us!!!

Sorry Colin!!!!!! Is Mom taking all of your Steelers stuff to the Goodwill today?
Marleigh is walking all over the place! Honestly she acts like she is double jointed like Monica.
Amy Lambert spoke twice at our church yesterday. I didn't think many would come out being it was Superbowl Sunday night, but they did. She is a little thing and she doesn't have to search for words to say. She is filled with scripture and as fast as she can get it out, she does. I really enjoyed it. Marleigh listened and didn't even seem to mind. We got out at about 12:45. We didn't do a nursery so everyone could be in the sanctuary. She must live in Virginia, she came by herself and got lost with her GPS in the morning service. She got there just as we started. If she is in your area, you would benefit from going to hear her. She was a drug addict when God saved her.

We may need to send condolences to Colin. I imagine he is taking it pretty hard!

GO GREEN BAY PACKERS!!!!!!!!!! :P