My husband Steve takes more pictures:)

Ice Storm Continues!

Israel (Akina has been busy this summer!)

Akina (our grand daughter) in Africa

Hey everyone...

I tried to change templates again, and lost everything. I'm under construction! Will fix later:)

Happy Birthday And Congratulations!

Kristie, I wanted to embarrass you by putting on some "childhood" pictures as I did of your sister, Kimberly. Even though you threatened me if I did:) I thought hard, wondering if you would carry out the threats, and decided it would be worth it. Since I'm older than dirt, a little water torture shouldn't kill me. But if it did, I'm old anyway! So to the computer I ran, and realized that Dad had wiped the computer clean, to install Window's XP that you gave him. *sigh*. So all the pictures I had ear marked for your birthday, are gone! You win! hahahaha! Have a wonderful birthday sweet heart! You are as precious to us now, as you were the day you were born.

Also, I wanted to take this time to congratulate you for making the Deans List at college! After I realized it wasn't for getting caught passing notes in class, I decided it must be a good thing! Well done hon! I don't know how you do it, caring for two children and a husband, and going to college full time...but you did it! We are so proud of you:) Keep up the great work! Love you always.

Happy New Year!!!!!!

May you all be blessed with MANY BLESSINGS this year! I love each and everyone of you VERY MUCH!

Merry Christmas To Everyone!!!!!!!!

Was the month before Christmas

When all through our land,

Not a Christian was praying

Nor taking a stand.

See the PC Police had taken away,

The reason for Christmas - no one could say.

The children were told by their schools not to sing,

About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings, the teachers would say

December 25th is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit

Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod

Something was changing, something quite odd!

Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa

In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging their trees upside down

At Lowe's the word Christmas - was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples and Penny's and Sears

You won't hear the word Christmas; it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty

Are words that were used to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen

On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton!

At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter

To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith

Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace

The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded

The reason for the season, stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break' under your 'Dream Tree'

Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.

Choose your words carefully, choose what you say

Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday!

Please, all Christians join together and wish everyone you meet

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Christ is The Reason for the Christmas Season!

*Thank you Stacy for this poem:)

Happy Birthday Sister!!!!!!

I know I don't tell you enough, but I love you very much!

Have a wonderful birthday!!!!!!!!!

The House Guest That Wouldn't Leave

As I sat writing to my grand daughter Akina, I saw a squirrel busily hiding a walnut in the snow outside the window. I told her I wondered if he would find it later! This also reminds me of a story, of the baby squirrel Kristie and I found. We actually found two. One day she and I were standing outside talking to a neighbor. I saw two baby squirrels come down the tree next to where we were. Out of instinct (or stupidity)I held my hand out, and one ran down my arm and perched on my head! None of us could believe it! Then he came down off my head and held onto my clothes. We noticed there was no mama "chattering" at us, and wondered if she had been killed.

I put the little fellow back on the tree, but he seemed to want to stay with us. My daughter ran in, got some water and food for them. They seemed very hungry. The friendly guy stayed with us. The neighbor had ten dogs, that roamed the back yard next to us. The squirrels stayed in the tree on our property line, and we were afraid the dogs would eat the babies. The other baby would never get near us....but we continued feeding them....never seeing a mama. Then one little guy disappeared. We feared the worst. Kristie got the friendly baby, and put him in the garage in a large dog cage.

We fed him cereal, corn, and anything else we thought he would like. We put newspapers and card board boxes in his cage, which he completely shredded and made himself quite a nest. My husband was fit to be tied about the whole adventure! "You can't keep a wild animal!", he said. The neighbor with all the dogs, intimated that she could turn us into some animal rights place if we didn't stop taking care of the squirrel. Hmmm....

Believe it or not, Kristie and I could sit out in the garage for hours watching that cute little baby! Kim was married but came over and sat with us and watched him too! My girls and I can be easily entertained! And let me tell you, he was the best fed squirrel in Illinois! He had every toy imaginable! During this entire time, my husband had also become attached to him. He was the one who spoiled him the most, bringing him nuts and boxes of cereal! The squirrel would climb all over us, and was sooo gentle. He would run to each of us, and climb right up our legs to our shoulder.

The time came, to set him free. He was getting bigger now, and we made sure he knew what kind of food to look for. He was good at making nests and hiding food, it was time. So we took him outside, and released him. Kristie kept corn and nuts for him in a feeder outside. A few weeks later, Steve came in the house and said, "Guess what? That squirrel is still in the garage!" I went out there and sure enough, there he was perched on a high shelf where we kept our Christmas Decorations. Steve pulled out the ladder and climbed up to the shelf, and all the nuts and corn Kristie had been feeding him, were now nestled among last years decorations! Not only that, he had shredded boxes and had the hugest nest I had ever seen! We couldn't find how he got in. So my husband took him out again, and cleaned up the shelf. He did this about 4 more times! We never could find how he was coming in.

Finally my husband let him stay AFTER THE FIFTH time. He began feeding him again in the garage. This time I was the one who said, "you have to stop feeding him in the garage!" One day my husband called to tell me, "our visitor is gone!" I asked what happened. He said, "I climbed up the ladder, to give him some nuts, and he thought I was trying to take his food instead....and he bit me!!!!" Steve almost fell off the ladder. I guess the squirrel held onto my husband as he ran around the garage! Steve ran outside, squirrel still attached, trying to get it off his arm. Finally the squirrel went flying. The squirrel ran up a tree, and we never saw him again.

My husband wouldn't go to the doctor for the wound, of course. I wanted to get the squirrel and have it checked for rabies...but it never showed up again. Of course, we learned one thing....some guests do bite:)

The Land Crab Story

There is a time for laughter:) Lately things have been a a little rough. So I decided it was time to degrade and humiliate myself, by telling you a TRUE story about my 5 year old grand daughter, Sara. I told my daughters I would NEVER tell this story on my blog. Well, guess what? You get to hear it!

Sara came this summer and spent a couple of nights with Grandma and Grandpa. She asked me a hundred million questions CONSTANTLY. She is so eager to learn new things. I hear that she goes back home and totally bores her Mom with "Grandma said this or that..." as if I'm the expert on ALL things great and small! I have done my job well:)

This particular time, she was interested in all the wild life that comes around our place. She asked questions about the deer, coyotes, fox, possum, and snakes. We went over all of this, hundreds of times. While outside she saw a lot of holes in the ground. She asked me what they were. I told her I assumed that they were snake or gopher holes....and that they made their homes under the ground. I also told her that my Aunt Zoe said they were land crab holes. But then explained to her that I didn't believe that Crabs lived in Illinois, but Aunt Zoe said she had seen them. We even looked them up on the Internet, so Sara could see what Crabs looked like. According to the article we read, Crabs don't live in Illinois. So my Aunt Zoe's story of seeing them, has always confused me. Do we or don't we have them in Illinois?

After Sara went home, of course she bored her Mommy with all the animal stories. One day, Kristie and Josh had friends over. They were all in the living room talking. Sara has turned into quite a social butterfly, and LOVES talking to adults. As they were all talking, Sara goes to the middle of the room, and says in quite a loud voice..."Guess what, my Grandma has Crabs!" A hush fills the room, and EVERYONE BEGINS LAUGHING! My daughter was probably the only one not laughing, and tried to explain what Sara meant. Now, since there are NO LAND CRABS in Illinois, do you think they believed my daughters story? I hope to high heavens I never have to meet these friends! *sigh*

My Grand Daughters Home Coming!!!

Akina is a senior this year, so this was her senior prom! Isn't she beautiful? We also just found out that she received TWO scholarships to two different colleges! We're so proud of her:) Not sure which one she will pick, but I know God will guide her path. Congratulation honey! Love you always!

Someone Is Doing Better!

My brother looks pretty good after having open heart surgery, doesn't he? It's simply amazing:) Now I can also post a picture of their oldest grand daughter too! Kathy is holding Kate, Then there's Mike, and Laren. They had their Christmas early this year:)

Updates And Continued Prayers

Thank you so much for all the prayers. I wanted to let you know that my brother Mike just got home today:) He is resting, and I'm sure he is glad to be home! Kathy said they were tired, of course. Continue praying for a speedy recovery. I also heard that Leo (my sister's dear friend who is like family and now mine too!) is recovering from surgery, so add his name to your list as well!

Dear Sister Taylor went to be with the Lord today, just a few hours ago. We were able to spend some time with her and her family. She passed about 20 minutes after we left. I know there was such a home coming for her! I want to write about her later, to tell you a little bit about her life....which was totally dedicated to the Lord. But now I'm tired. We went to sit with the family yesterday as well. I know how tired they must be, but happy that she is in heaven now. Her daughter never left her side....and her sons were there every day. I'm sad but happy at the same time. There is so much to write about her, but not right now.

God bless you all:)

Prayer Requests

My brother Mike went in for a routine stress check up on Monday, and flunked. So they did a few other tests, and he flunked those too. Next thing he knew, he was having open heart surgery, a double bipass. All reports are good, and we thank God for those! I also believe God's hand was on him, for it to be found in the way it was. My brother Jim a few months back went in for a routine check up and was in surgery as well. He is doing great now! Please keep Mike in your prayers, that he have a speedy recovery. Also pray for strength and peace for his wife and family. Life is so precious, which is what this last year has imposed on me.

Also keep Sister Taylor in prayer. She is on a lot of medications for pain, which she does not like. Her back broke, a few weeks back, due to the cancer. I tried to feed her one day, and she didn't want to eat. She told me she had "meat to eat" that I knew not of. That's straight out of the Bible. meaning that her nourishment is coming from God, not man. Even as she suffers, her thoughts are still with God, and only wants His plan for her life. There were saints back in the Bible times, and her name is written with them.

Shadows Of Fall

Isn't this a beautiful fall picture? A friend of my sister's has a blog site called "Leo's Photography".  You will find his blog site address to the right. If you enjoy nature scenes as I do, you will love his blog! My sister has two blog sites as well..."Til we meet again" and "My Crockett Connection". Also my nephew Rick has a blog, "Footnotes with Rick Kelsheimer"  to the rightl. I guess it's all in the family! 

By the way, I do take contributions for advertising:) Chocolate chip cookies work for me!

Visiting Grandma And Grandpa

This is Kate, my sister in law (KRK), and my brother Mike. They love spending time with their Grand Daughters! Sorry I don't have a picture of their other grand daughter, we had computer problems. The only pictures I have now are those I "just happened" to save in e-mail. I think my daughter has most other pictures on a disc for me...thank goodness! But I know there are ones I lost forever. Anyway, just thought I would share this! 

Tic Tac Toe

I have been babysitting my two grand daughters, ages 4 and 5. While the oldest one was in kindergarten, I thought I would check my e-mail at my daughter's house. Hailey, the four year old was standing next to me at the computer, hoping I would hurry up so she could play her Care bears game. I got an e-mail from Tom, my brother in law. It said to click here, to play Tic Tac Toe. As I did, Hailey asked me what it was. I explained to her it was a game, called Tic Tac Toe. She loves games, so asked me how it worked. I explained as I did it for her.

This one, was a joke which I didn't know at the time. As I put my second or third "x" on the grid....a huge scary face popped up and SCREAMED at us! She and I both screamed and jumped! Then she began to cry. I hugged her, and told her I was sorry...and explained it was a joke and I didn't know it. Through the tears, she said.."do it again Grandma!" "Do it again?" I asked. "but it scared you!" "Yes," she said...."do it again."

So I played the game again, it screamed...she screamed and cried....and said "do it again, Grandma. We did this about 5 times or more! Each time she screamed, cried, laughed...and said do it again. I have never seen anything so funny in my life! It scared her each time, but she loved it:) I finally had to tell her we had to go pick up Sara from school...or she would have made me repeat the game a hundred times! THANKS A LOT TOM!

Here's the game:

Happy Birthday Kimberly!

It seems like just yesterday to me, that I held you in my arms and rocked you to sleep:) How time flies by! Those moments of watching you climb trees, bringing home strays (like Garfield!), swim in kiddie pools, being a Brownie, and watching you and Amy do those dances for me to music...seem so fresh in my memories! Now you have grown into a fine young lady...whom your Dad and I are very proud of!!! Happy birthday my sweetie! Love you always and forever! Mom

Logan

Thank you Tom, for sharing another wonderful video! After so many losses this year of family and friends, this video says it all:)

My Brothers And Sister

This past year has made me realize how we all need to cherish life, it is but for a moment we are here. My brothers, sister, and I all live many miles away from one another. I have missed so many happy events due to this! Births, marriages, graduations, on and on. Even though we are miles apart, I know I can always count on these three people to be there for me if I needed them to be! From left to right, is Mike, me, Sharon, and Jim. I love you three more than words can express! This picture was taken last Saturday by my wonderful sister in law Kathy:) She is the camera "woman" in our family! Thank you sister!

Virginia

It is so hard to say good bye to yet another family member. We went to Virginia's remembrance of life memorial this past Saturday. She had a wonderful life, and family. She loved her daughters and grandchildren immensely....and they loved her. I know she is with the Lord now, and her grandson JD...my nephew. We will dearly miss you both. If you look closely at this picture, you will see two people walking together into the sunset.