Weekend

On Friday, we ate dinner with friends at Copper River Grill.  Good food, BIG portions.  I will post Cheryl's hamburger, that she ate half of.  The atmosphere is fun and the food is reasonable and as I mentioned, big portions. 

The pattie is under the onion strings...

Saturday was a laid back day.  I made a lasagna for J. Cook & family in the morning, to be delivered later in the day.  Then CB and I ran a few errands and ate at Qudoba.  Then home for the UK game.  After the game, we ran out to the dollar theater (Lex. Green) to watch Jack & Jill.  Adam Sandler was both J & J....funny, but way too stupid.

Sunday has been good.  For the first time in many years, we joined another ABF class (Sunday School).  Our CPA class has separated and since then, Fred W. was the teacher on Sundays (when we attended).  Since he and Michelle (our GREAT friends) are leaving Southland, we needed another leader.  No one was able (willing) to step up and teach, so it was decided by all of us, to try the class taught by Larry Wells, Guy Colson, and Sam Sternberg.  The entire class made us feel SO welcomed.  They asked if any of us wanted to go into the rotation to teach that would be fine (no).  They mentioned how they give to a couple of mission projects, and if we had anyone in mind, we could talk about including them next year in the giving.  They had us introduce ourselves.  Over and again, they pulled us into the conversation/discussion, etc.  I liked it a lot and hope the others did as well.  This is something time will tell.

After church, we took the red car and drove to Harrodsburg, heading for Eddie Montgomery's.  As it turned out, we stopped at Shaker Village and ate at the Winter Kitchen.  Pics to follow.

Chella

This is Chella.  Not sure of the spelling of her name, but she is living with Becky & Jason's family.  Yesterday, Tuesday, January 24th, they were called and asked to take her to live with them.  When they went through the system to get Matthew, they are certified foster parents.  Although Matthew was never meant to live with them as a foster child, he was in the system for awhile, until they were able to get all the classes in, he lived with Tina.  Becky went to get him most every night and kept him a lot.  Then all the papers were in order, and he went with them full time.  Fast forward almost three years, and in September his adoption was final.  This will not be the case for this little girl.

She has a dad that loves her and cared for her but for now he is unable to keep her.  Maggie loves having "a sister" and they are playing as fast friends.  Becky took half day off yesterday and took her to the doctor and  to try and get her in a school...either Wellington or Rosa Parks, but they weren't able to take her.  She has no medical records or other necessary papers to get in school.  As far as Becky knows, she has not been in any daycare or school of any type.  Today, I stayed home with them, as MJ has a cough and needed a day away from her daycare. 

They think she is five and that her birthday is in March. She is a very sweet little girl.  She doesn't seem to know her letters very well, but seemed to know some sounds they make.  Same with her numbers.  MJ knew all the letters by site and could say them quickly.  I found out today she likes apples and marshmallow treats.  She likes playing with play dough!  We had a good day.

She made lots of shapes and wanted to bring them to me to show them off.

MJ loves using the tiny cookie cutters to make lots of fun shapes.

This was taken before they left to go check out a daycare.  They were being silly.

Love you sweet girls!

Austin's 1st Award

This is Austin's first official award at Wellington. 

I think it is for greatest "Academic Growth" in this past semester for Ms. Poer's class.  The family of each student receiving an award was invited to attend, so Becky & I went. 

We were pleased when we heard Anna's name being called for a "Good Character Award" for her class in Kindergarten.  Yeah Anna!

The teacher on the left is Austin's, Ms. Poer.  Matthew's teacher, Mrs. Tipton, is on the right.  She is expecting a baby boy in May.  Austin also has a reading teacher, Ms. Sagan.  They all seem to care for the boys and Becky likes them a lot.  The boys do as well!  For that we are thankful!

Mother-in-law

Clyde's mom turns 85 today, Jan 14th. He and his siblings like taking her out for birthdays rather than a party like moms at her church. I know it was tons easier on the family. Mom (Helen) likes the buffet at Country Cooking by George on Alexandria. The food is good if you like a big variety buffet. We called ahead and reserved a private room and filled it up perfectly. There were 36 in all with granny's two sisters (the third spends winters in Florida) and her brother as well as some of their children. We had a great time. So relaxing and she was able to open gifts, thank everyone, read funny cards, and sing Happy Birthday all while dining privately. Martha  (SIL) makes a great yellow cake with caramel icing that is a standard. I will try to post some pics from my iPad. Last week didn't work so we'll see. Still couldn't "browse" for pics, so, again, here they are from the laptop.

Jean, Helen, & Joyce

Katie, Sue & Vernon's 1st, granny, and Sarah....married lady!

Sue, granny, & girls
Sue has her own pharmacy in Stamping Ground, Baker's Pharmacy.  Sarah graduated from UK with a degree in economics and is now getting a degree in architech (4 years) and Katie has her doctorate in PT.  She lives in Louisville (loves it) and is able to travel to great places in her job.

Martha makes her a yellow cake with caramel icing for every birthday.  Granny still has great hearing, thinking, and is still sharp as a tack!  This is the only photo of Clyde, and none of Jason Allen or me, but we were there!  Becky & Jason and family are in Louisville staying overnight for a little mini vacation.

This is the only child of granny's brother, Sonny and his wife Eula,  Mary Elizabeth.

Olivia, Jean's (one of the twins) grand-daughter, granny & her siblings. Sonny's wife, Eula, on the far right.

I enjoyed getting to know this sweet family so much.  Mary Elizabeth's boyfriend & his girls, Jocelynn, Kindergarten, & Elizabeth, 7,  second grade.  Elizabeth just chatted about her school, taking the MAP test and even knew her scores and goal.  She surpassed her goal!  Good:) 

Mother

Mom turned 85 on Dec. 9th. As most of you know, she lost her partner of 65 years 1 1/2 yrs ago. She misses him everyday. I don't think for a minute she is depressed. She gets out (each week my sister picks her up for breakfast), goes to her beloved church weekly, plays rummy with Kent and I several times a week on and on. She still attends monthly WCG meetings (her women's group) and takes a dish. She eats out with Kent more than they used to but she cooks a lot as well.

She also is beginning to think more and more of Heaven. She says on occasion she looks forward to seeing dad again. After dad passed, she started giving monetary gifts away. Also she started giving away her collection of Precious Moments. She has two full cabinets of her treasures. She loves them. Many were gifts from dad and she recalls times he had to hunt one down that was special to her.

At Christmas she gave each of her children and grown girl grandchildren one. I wish we had gotten a picture of us holding them. I will insert a photo of a few she has given me lately. Although these never grew valuable in today's market, they were valuable to mom. This is the first I've used my iPad to blog and I can't browse for the picture:(.

Second one from the left, "Many Moons in the Same Canoe, Blessum You". A gift for their anniversary one year.

New Year 2012

Happy New Year's Eve at Chris & Susan's house.  Fred & Michelle being good sports with their party hats!  For many years, since the children were small, we have met together to play Rook.  We start around 7 and play using tally cards for three tables.  At times we have four tables.  This year was the smallest group maybe ever, but that was fine.  We are a close "small group" that supports each other while "doing life".  These are the friends I call on when we want to have fun....movies, dinner, at times vacations!  We do mostly "couples" things, but we girls find ourselves having lunch from time to time.

Oh, aren't we such a wild crew:)  We saw the New Year in with peppermint punch and noise makers.  The girls played a new game (not new to Vickie) using dominoes and it was called "goobers".  We have played "chicken foot" for many years.  It was a game using dominoes that Tricia's mom & dad taught her, then she passed it on to us.  We like it, and "goobers" was a variation similar to it.  Fun learning new games. 

This is our small group of girls, minus Tricia.  So we remember for next year, she went to a wedding then the reception first, then came to the party.  She missed dominoes but was there in plenty of time for the ball to drop.  This tree was beautiful and SO big.   Part of our conversation earlier was about the pain due to illness some friends and acquaintances are experiencing.  Wondering about what the new year will bring.  Come what may, I pray we will be there for each other.  I hope my friends know they can call on me at any time of the day or night for prayer support.  My prayer is that God will show me how to help, when to go, when to stay, and what my friend needs from Him, through me.  Already in our small group we have experienced divorce, all our kids growing up, marriages, and the death of one or more of our parents.  We always said we would grow old together.  So far so good.  So, in the new year, I want to be available. I want to be wise and show God's love in my words & actions.  I want to listen and know what to say and what not to say.  I pray for my friends and their families.  For relationships to be healed, for closure to come where needed and for us to find joy in our lives. 

New Year's day found us at 10:00 service then out to Outback for lunch.  Yum those BIG lettuce wedges.  We both had great steaks with potatoes & bread.  Clyde and I ate alone and enjoyed every moment.  We then shopped at Dillards, came home to get ready for the munchkins.  We picked them back up today from Jason's parents and have them in bed now.  I fed them, read to them, gave Maggie a bath, had prayers and now sit here finishing up this first blog of 2012.  I know very few actually read it, but to me it is my journal.  I always like to journal in a book, so this is something that takes it's place.  Hopefully, I will be able to look back, read, and remember "the days".