New Year Update

In late December, my mother-in-law who was already suffering late stage liver disease and awaiting a transplant, fell and broke her hip as she walked up the steps to her doctor's office. This was follwed by much pain as she already had a couple of broken ribs and vertebra from previous falls. This trauma likely caused the liver to fail and it was downhill, very slowly, from there. Eventually Mary won a bed in UAB's ICU and we had great hope that they could help her but finally the family was called into that room where the doctors ask the family to make a life support decision. It was time and Mary had suffered way more than anyone ever should. Saturday January 6, 2007 the choice was made to remove the respirator and let Mary rest. And she did, in a room filled with her children and grandchildren fluffing her pillows and holding her hands, just as she would have wanted it to be.

The folowing Monday my new son-in-law left to join the Army. We were so busy with funeral arrangements and stuff that I didn't get to see him that weekend before he left. I didn't get to tell him how proud I was of him. I hope he knows. My husband was not crazy about the idea when Sarah first told us that Ricky was thinking about the Army and I think Ricky knew that. I had to convince Rick that Ricky and Sarah had to make their own life now even if it meant moving away, probably a long way away. I'm so glad we never had to tell Mary. This news would have broken her heart (and likely done her in if the fall had not). Sarah and her grandmother were so very close and Mary adored her greatgrandson. Thank goodness for small blessings.

Tuesday night visitation was held. All of Mary's brothers and sisters, and there were 6, from all over the country were there. The funeral home scheduled 2 hours from 6:00-8:00pm but it was well after 9:00 before the line out the door tapered off. Mary was well loved in our home, in her church, and in this community.

Wednesday the funeral was held early in the afternoon. Though Mary and I were never really close, she was a loving everpresence in our family and I knew better than to where mascara today. At the graveside service doves were released. I haven't ever seen that before, not that I go to a lot of funerals. This was neat. One dove lingered and had to be shewed in order to get it to fly off. Richard, my father-in-law remarked, "That was Mary! She always wanted to stay just a little longer to visit." That indeed was Mary.

Bye Mary. I'll miss you.

Wedding Photos, FINALLY

We still haven't received the professional photos of Sarah and Ricky's wedding so I'm going to go ahead and post the ones my friends and I took. Sarah was lovely and Ricky was dashing of course. Sarahs lifelong friend, Jennifer, was her maid of honor. Laura and another af Sarah's friends, Brittany, were bridesmaids.

My sister Pat on the left and daughter Laura.

Laura created this cake. Pretty good for a first attempt at baking.

Sarah and her dear friend, Jennifer

She's so lovely. Her daddy's kind of handsome too.

These two will be next.

Maid of honor and other bridesmaid with boyfriends

My beautiful parents

That handsome man and me

Off to Gatlinburg!

There will be more pictures soon.

Pumpkin Carving

Sort of late on this post too but the pics are cute. Sarah and Laura and Baby Warren came over to carve pumpkins back near Halloween. Warren really enjoyed it, especially eating the pumpkin.

October was quite a busy month!

The first weekend in October, Rick and I went on his company's yearly trip. This year it was to Rio Grande, Puerto Rico, just outside of San Juan at the Paradisus Resort. We had a great time and the weather was sunny most of the trip.

These first two pictures are of the sunset the first night.

The resort had a little casino with a lot of slots and a few tables of poker but outside in the parking lot little booths were set up. It was like a little carnival.

Making out right there in the front lobby!

Oh, in the lobby picture there are two huge bird cages in the background.
These are the birds up close.

This little guy was waiting at our bungalow door.
Our luggage was late but the wildlife was prompt.
Hermit crabs crawled everywhere after dark and in the early morning.
One had to be careful not to crush them underfoot.
I took this little guy to breakfast the next morning and treated him
to fresh fruit before returning him to a safe retreat.

See the bird in the fountain? Click on the picture to enlarge it. The guy sitting at a table beside me was throwing packets of Equal and Splenda to the birds in the cafe. The birds would snatch the pack and then fly up to a beam above the table. A couple of seconds later the Equal pack would fall straight down, still full. Ten minutes later the Splenda pack would flitter down like a leaf with a hole nibbled out of the middle and empty of contents. The birds could tell the difference and they did not like the Equal. So funny this was too watch.

This is the main common area. In the morning it was vacant but at night it was a busy place with a bar in the middle and a band playing all night.

I spent a lot of time photographing critters.

Click on this picture to enlarge it. Can you find the iguana?

The beach was lovely. Where were the waves?

The front of our bungalow.

The pool at night was lit only in the water, really lovely. The columns circle around the jacuzzi. It was a huge pool with four or maybe five jacuzzi areas.

Here's the pool bar.

Bye bye. Hope to come back again.

He's walking now!

Look at him finally!

First Trip to the Park

Last weekend Warren's three year old cousin celebrated her birthday at the park. Warren had never bee to the park to play before.

Warren's Birthday Party

Happy First Birthday Warren! Oh it was a busy day. First with the haircut, then the birthday portraits, a short nap and then it was party time! The family and a few close friends were invited to Nini and Puppa's house Saturday afternoon. You'd have thought it was Christmas too look at the living room as he openned his gifts. Warren really enjoyed himself. He really enjoyed his cake!




Aunt Laura wanted to clean him up afterwards and let him down to play with his cousins and new toys. I handed her the washrag and she looked at me and asked, "What do I do first?" Oh my, the child was a mess!


After the party a smaller group met at O'Charley's for dinner. The waitress brought balloons and a little cake for Warren to share with his family.

Aunt Laura and Uncle Lando

Warren and his mommy and daddy