One day at a time...

Autumn surprised the family with a weekend visit!  Frankie sure was happy to see her and so were we:)  She'll be heading back to College on Monday!  Hurry back Autumn, we love having you home!

Autumn requested a cookout and swim at my house!  It was actually too hot to be outside for very long!  Avery cooled off with a little time on the swing:)

And as always, I gathered the crew for a pic!  Bradley and Tiffany are moving to Kentucky today!  We will miss them terribly but pray for safe travels and happy days ahead!

I spent the evening at the rehab visiting my Brother!  He enjoyed one of our grilled hamburgers:)  I pray that he gets stronger as each day goes by!  God please give him strength and patience!  One day at a time!  

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Busy Friday...

We planned a family lunch for my Sister Barbara's Birthday!  We had a great time together AS ALWAYS:)

Me and my Big Sister:)  I love you Nanny!

My Mama's Sister and me on my Mama's Birthday!  Mama would love it that we do things with her baby Sister:)

My Sister Brenda got a new car!  Isn't it pretty!  I am SO proud for you Brenda!

Friday night at the football game!  It was a great game and we won BIG!  I love you Austin and I am SO proud of you for the game you are playing!

There is something about the Friday night lights!  I love being there with the family!

Busy day today!  My Brother is in the rehab facility, healing!  God has really been good to us and we are SO thankful!  We are having a lunch by the pool today to let the kids swim:)  Bradley and Tiffany are moving to be near her family!  While we are sad that they are going, we are happy for their bright future ahead!

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way this morning!  I hope you enjoy each moment of this weekend!

My Mama would be 89...

My Mama's Birthday is today!  She was born on August 29, 1925 and passed away September 27, 1988, at YOUNG age of 63!  That is just a few years older than me:(  Today she would have been 89!  I miss her terribly ALL the time and SO wish she was here to see what a fine and HUGE family we have become!  She would be SO proud of all of her Children, the many Grandchildren and OH SO many Great Grandchildren AND even a few GREAT-Great Grandchildren!  This picture is from my Wedding to Marc in 1985!  They were both so happy and healthy!

Happy Birthday Mama!  Stroll those streets of Gold and Celebrate with Jesus!  I love you forever and always!

We ALL miss you Mama and wish you a Happy Birthday in Heaven!

Hope you all enjoy your day!  BIG HUGS and tons of prayers coming your way!

Happy Birthday to my Sister...

Happy Birthday to my Sister Barbara, AKA Nanny!  I love you and hope you have an awesome day!

She is the lead duck:)  I always check the ducks to see how old my Siblings are:)  

She is 72 today!

She is and always has been so precious to me!  You can feel her hug even when you aren't with her!  Happy Happy Birthday SIS!

Last night she gave me a big surprise!  It brought back memories of my Mama!  When I was working and Tracy was little, my Mama would have my dinner ready for me and my little family!  When I stopped to pick Tracy up after work, she would have me lots of good food all packaged up!  My SISTER did this for me last night!  It gave me a flashback of how my Mama did it for me SO many years ago!

And was it EVER DELICIOUS!  Marc and I sat down to this yummy dinner!  
Thank you SIS for being YOU!  

This is my favorite picture of us together!  LOVE this pic and I love her!

Enjoy your day SIS, I love you!  I am so lucky to have you as my Sister and my Friend!

Sweet hugs from old friends...

My Childhood friend lost her Mama after a massive stroke!  I went on a long drive thru the country last night to the visitation!  I walked in the funeral home, stood in line to see my friend Cheryl and she hugged me for the longest time!  She said it was the sweetest surprise to see me!  It was quite a distance from my house but I am so happy that I made that drive!  I got to visit with her, another friend from School and Cheryl's Dad and Sister!  It was good to see them and see their children all grown up!  This is Thelma with the smile I remember!  She was 85! 

Cheryl's husband asked me how old their flower girl was now:)  You see, my Tracy was their flower girl 35 years ago!  I showed them a picture of Tracy's family and they said Avery looks like they remember Tracy!  I will be going on a search for a picture from that day and will share it with you all when I find it!

Cheryl said she remembered me saying how much it meant to have people come when you lose a loved one!  She said now she knows how good that feels!  We hugged and cried and reminisced!  I will not be going to the funeral today but will be praying for this family as they celebrate the life of their sweet Mama and Wife! 

My Brother is still in the hospital!  Still waiting on the OK to move him to rehab!  He needs to get out of that room that he has been in for 2 and 1/2 weeks!  Perhaps today we will get the word and plan his move!

  

Have a blessed day dear friends, 

sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Patience...

My Brother has been in the hospital for TWO weeks today!  He has been a really good patient and we have all had to be patient as the wheels turn slowly!  He needs continued wound care and IV antibiotics!  The insurance company is trying our patience as we wait patiently for them to approve the next place for Marshall to heal!  I am praying for answers today for what is best for my Brother!

I didn't go to Church yesterday but spent the day at the Hospital!  My Niece Suzanne and my Sister Brenda were there and I enjoyed spending time with them visiting with my brother!

The weather looks really nice today!  I can't wait to get out and see what this day has in store for us!  Enjoy your day dear friends!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Our family is growing...

My Niece, Britani was asked if she would be Adam's wife and SHE SAID YES!  WE are so excited for these two precious lives to be joined as one!  What a blessing they are to me and all who know them!  Adam is a Pastor of a Church in Jonesboro and was an answer to prayer!  I am sure he prayed that God would send him a Christian woman to share his life with and his prayer was answered too!  I am not sure when the big event will be but I can tell you this, I will be there to enjoy every single moment:)  

Congratulations Britani and Adam 

on your engagement!

What a beautiful ring:)

My Sweet Sister just so happened to have a cake ready to celebrate this occasion:)

Our Family is growing!  More to LOVE:)

Have a blessed Sunday dear friends!  HUGS!

Makes my heart happy...

This is the picture that comes up on my phone when Autumn calls me!  It is a picture from many years ago, we were shopping at Walmart and she was looking too cute:)  WELL... while I was waiting for my car yesterday morning, this picture popped up!  Be still my heart!  We talked about SO many things, she asked about her Uncle Marshall and I asked her as many questions about College as I could fit in:)  Thank you Autumn for making your Ganky's day!  I told her I missed her, she said she missed me AND she told me to tell Pa that she missed him too!  OH MY!

Yesterday morning before I left to go get my oil changed, I took a walk around to check out my blooms!  This hibiscus was a birthday gift from my Niece Sonia and it continues to give me joy!

My "Aunt Louise" plant is beginning to bloom!  

Dwarf gardenias are blooming and smell heavenly!

The roses are still pretty, I love this rose:)

The sun was peeking thru the trees:)

And... the yuccas are blooming!

The more I walked, the more I found...  RED...

AND blue...  The extremely cold winter has kept these beauties from blooming as much as they have in the past!

But the ones who toughed it out, sure are pretty:)

I loved seeing all of these blooms yesterday morning:)  I am enjoying my morning coffee, watching the News and slowly getting my day going!  I hope you all have a REALLY nice weekend, doing something you enjoy!  My Brother is still in the hospital and he is getting a little tired of being there!  He needs some fresh air or a different view!  Thank you for your continued prayers!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

It is hot, hot, hot...

When I left the hospital yesterday afternoon, this is how hot my car said it was outside!  MY GOODNESS, it is really hot these days!  I can close my eyes and remember the cool breeze and low humidity in California:)  It really doesn't help too much but I can do it!

Tracy sent me a couple of pictures of the girls taking a dip in the cement pond:)  I thought it might cool us off to dream of a cool swim!

My Brother is still in the hospital, receiving antibiotics and longing to get out of there!  He will be going to a rehab facility in the next few days for some more healing time and medical care!  The wounds are healing and for that we are very thankful!  He sure has been a good patient:)  Prayers appreciated for complete healing!

I am heading out to get an oil change this morning, do some banking etc. before going to the hospital!  Enjoy your day dear friends!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

Birdie, Brother, Missing my Girl...

I opened the blinds in my back window to find the fattest red bird sitting in the garden!  I tried really hard to get a better picture but this was all I could get!  I believe that was the fattest red bird I have ever seen and yes I made a big 'ole fat wish on that bird and looked away:)  Do you do that?  I always wish on a red bird and then look away so that I don't see it again:)

I spent my Wednesday with my Brother Marshall!  We chat, we snooze, we choose his next few meals, we giggle, we chat some more, we giggle some more:)  I cherish these times with him and no matter how long I have been there... when I get ready to leave, he always says "don't go"!  I continue to pray that he will heal nicely and be able to use his foot again before too long!  He will be moving on to a rehab facility for possibly 3 weeks!  He said "I can rehab at home" but they won't let him go home just yet!  He needs wound care and IV antibiotics!  So we are working together to pick the best place for the next step in his healing process, prayers appreciated!

Missing my Autumn!  She is busy at College and I know that she is having a great time with her new friends!  She left one week ago and I am itching to pay her a visit before too long:)

We are getting a lot of rain just about every day!  It is really hot and very humid around these parts!  I am getting my day going and will be heading to spend the day with my sweet Brother!  

Sending hugs and prayers your way this morning!

Never give up...

When the day started out yesterday, we were expecting different words from the doctor's mouth!  We had listened to the diagnosis, we had seen the signs and didn't think there was any hope of saving my Brother's limb!  The doctor came in and everything he had said the last time had changed!  We are praising God for this Miracle!  He still has a long way to go and if he starts running a fever, they will have to take another look at the situation!  But today?  We are not planning surgery but picking out his lunch and dinner:)  I am praising God for answered prayers for my Brother and all of us!  Thank you for your prayers!  Prayers work!

Today is my Niece Suzanne's Birthday!  Happy Birthday Suz!  I hope you do something fun today, celebrate!  Love you!

I am up but not yet at 'em:)  I have got to get my motor running!  Enjoy your day dear friends!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

A new baby to love...

We are adding to our family!  Thanks to Bradley and Tiffany for this special news!  We have had lots of sadness lately and needed something to smile about!  They are expecting a baby in April of next year!  I haven't seen either of them since they shared their news, but I will give them a big 'ole Ganky sized hug when I see them:)

This is how they made the announcement on Facebook!  SWEET:)

I am up and heading to the hospital to be there when the doctor comes this morning!  My Brother and ALL of us have been patiently waiting to hear what they are going to do even though deep down we all know what they are going to do!  The infection is in his bone and there is pretty much only one option!  Prayers so deeply appreciated for Marshall, June, Kelly, Crystal and Suzanne along with all of the Grandchildren, my Siblings and me!  Love you all and I appreciate your prayers to carry us thru what lies ahead!

Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!

First day, sweetness and a b'day...

Today is the first day of college for Autumn!  I hope she has the best day ever, that she makes lots of new friends and enjoys every moment of it!

While I couldn't be with her to see her new room, Tracy made sure I saw it from afar:)  

When Autumn was getting ready to leave, I gave her a box full of anything and everything I could pack in that box that I thought she might ever need:)  She sent me this message yesterday!  I could just squeeze her to pieces for being SO DARN sweet!

And this is on Autumn's wall!  I would say it is great advice:)

My weekend was busy!  Going back and forth to the hospital, to the funeral home and funeral for my Niece Kelly's Father-in-law and some much needed Church time!  The funeral for Mr. Ed Kelly was perfect!  From the speakers, Kelly reading a poem, the military touches at the burial and the release of 3 white doves!  It was a funeral to remember and one I will surely never forget!  We should all strive to be remembered like this sweet man who would have been 93 today!  He is celebrating with the angels!  Rest in peace Ed Kelly!

Sending love and prayers to all who are in need of love and prayers!  Please continue to pray for my Brother!  He is wanting to know what they are going to do!  Sometimes waiting is really tough!  Thank you all and I pray you have a REALLY blessed day!

Whew...

Sunrise at my temporary home:)  I would get up early just to see this every day!  

I spent a few days at Tracy's with these three while the parents were out of town!  I enjoyed my time with them and appreciate all she does to keep the family going:)  Love these kiddos so much!

Austin's first football game was Friday night!  We stopped for dinner at the place they chose:)  Taco Bell!  We shared a bunch of giggles!

Here they come!  The football season has begun!

My Grandson got lots of playing time and did an awesome job!  He played several positions and ran with the ball twice!  They called his name over the loud speaker, he made me proud!

AND they won!!!!  I hope this will be a great season for this team and for my Grandson!

MY GIRL!  All settled in at College!  Tracy and Derek enjoyed time with her over the weekend and bought this picture for her dorm!  I will miss her tremendously but will plan a trip to Savannah soon:)  I pray that God protect her and bring her home safely!

Mr. Ed Kelly, what a wonderful man!  He is my Niece Kelly's Father-in-law and passed away on Thursday morning!  I went to the visitation last night and was touched by the number of people and love in that family!  He could hypnotize you with his stories of his life!  And his sweetest wife Jean, precious lady who will miss her husband in the days and weeks and years ahead!  Prayers appreciated for this family as they say goodbye to this precious man today!

My brother Marshall is still in the hospital, receiving antibiotics and waiting on what the next step in his recovery is going to be!  I say this often because it is true "he is a tough ole bird" and is proving that once again!  I sat with him last night while June went to the funeral home!  Even on his hospital bed, he makes me laugh:)  Please keep him in your prayers!  Thanks!

It has been a tremendously busy week!  You all know when I am too busy to blog, I am BUSY:)  I have been running back and forth to the hospital, staying with the kids at Tracy's and have lots of chores piling up!  That's OK, I will catch up some day soon:)  I walked out to take Frankie for a walk and this was the sunset!  What a gorgeous view in the sky!

Thank you all for your continued prayers for my family!  I feel them in my heart!  Sending HUGS and PRAYERS your way!