Reagan (4) & Rory (2) October 2011

Rory all dressed up for her Tigers.Reagan got a tiger paw but because it was 100 degrees it eventually melted off.

3 Generations!

Clemson Game with Troy. The girls rode in style.

Football Season Clemson Tigers 2011

John and me at the Clemson-Auburn game! Meredith and John came for homecoming!

The team comes on the field.

We have had so much fun at the CLEMSON Tiger Football games that I had to post some pictures. It sure does make you feel young again. I've never seen so many cowboy boots and Clemson orange in my life and I certainly have never screamed and clapped so much. Thank you Clemson for such a great time.

Meredith's Birthday and Father's Day June 2011

Meredith is 30. Here she is with Rory (almost 2) and Reagan (4 in October). This was the beginning of the day when John and I both had strength. It was just an incredibly fun weekend.

Sisters that love each other. So sweet.

Reagan, John, Rory and me.

A view of just a small part of Great Wolf Lodge.

front yard

Before Before

After

After

Before and after!

House in the middle of no where!

Two little princesses with Mom and Dad.Enormous house in the middle of no where!

April 30, 2011

Princess Rory!!Sweet Country ChurchPapa with his two special girls on Easter Sunday.Spivey's Corner. Home of the Hog Calling Contest. Two little princesses

Three generations!Today is a very special day. It is our 34th anniversary. I remember the day so well. To celebrate we did The Melting Pot experience for the first time and we are both stuffed. If you have never done The Melting Pot experience we highly recommend it. It starts with cheese fondue with veggies, bread and apples, then a salad, then a mixture of meat (lobster, shrimp, chicken, filet and sirloin) with veggies, and THEN strawberries dipped in chocolate. You can hardly walk after this experience but it is great fun.

I am sorry I have not written in so long. It has been an adjustment for me that Mom is no longer here with us. It will be my first Mother's Day and Birthday without her. She loved both. Thank you everyone for your kind notes and phone calls. Being an only child is a special thing. You share your parents with no one.

I have been keeping busy. I worked February, March and some of April for Welborn Tire. I will continue working there one day a week and at Propp Drugs one day a week. I learned a lot about tires and taking care of a car while at Welborn Tire. I learned that every tire has a number. I never knew tires were numbered. I would answer the phone and men would call out these numbers like they were the alphabet and that I needed to be ready to write. I learned about alignments, brake pads, and many other things that make a car run smoothly and efficiently. The people at Welborn's know how to take care of their customers. Thank you to Wes and Reid for putting up with me for those weeks. It was a wonderful experience.

Our yard is in full bloom again and yet again I wish I had known the responsibility this yard would entail. I was so proud in early Spring that there were not many weeds but then the rain has brought weeds forth from every inch of this yard. I wish our yardman from Brazil was here. I would keep him so busy. He would love it too.

We spent Easter weekend with Meredith, John, Reagan and Rory in Goldsboro. It was such fun to see them open their Easter baskets and enjoy all the goodies inside. Reagan is 3 1/2 and Rory 1 1/2. They are like little sponges learning, learning, learning. We went the back road to Goldsboro and I'm going to put some pictures on our blog. We passed through Spivey's Corner where Johnny Carson always had the Hog Calling Winners from. We passed a wonderful country church and the cemetery where they were putting Easter flowers on all the graves. Then, in the middle of nowhere, we passed a Huge home. I mean to tell you 5 car garage huge.

Ben is doing well. He continues to work hard. We are hoping he will be able to come for a visit soon. He has moved into a new place and is very happy. His new home is in Whittier, California. It is across from a school and very quiet and safe.

My heart is with my friends and family in Chattanooga and Ringgold. One friend lost everything around her as she, her Mom, her daughter and grandchildren prayed for God's protection. The only thing left standing was the wall they were knelling by. I am so grateful that God blessed them with His protection.

Happy New Year 2011

Rory and Reagan enjoying Mimo and Papa's Christmas Tree.Papa loves Reagan. Uncle Ben with Reagan.

Reagan in Papa's CLEMSON coat.

Reagan goes to her first Clemson basketball game.

Mimo and Rory in one of Meredith's outfits!

What a year 2010 was for us. I look back and it is a blur but it is a blur with lasting memories especially for me. We had the delight of having my Mom with us from February 1 until September 25 when she went to be with the Lord. She talked about it often and was so assured of her Salvation. She loved her room here. When I go in there now I think about how often she would say "leave the door open so I can enjoy looking out". I think she mainly enjoyed it because she could see a lot of her own furniture and it comforted her. I am grateful to Hospice the last two months because they were able to keep her out of pain. She loved her visits from Monica. It was precious to see her old friends in Chattanooga at her funeral that she loved and I love too.

We also had the joy of seeing more of Meredith and Ben. We were togther with them Christmas 2009 and then they both came to see Mom in June. We are so glad that Reagan and Rory got to meet Mom and get to know her. When they came for the funeral Reagan went into Mom's room looking for her and could not find her. I know she did not understand.

Reagan and Rory are such a complete joy to us. Many told us being Grandparents was life-changing and now we totally understand. When John and I are sitting and eating supper we watch the pictures flash across our computer and we enjoy it so much. We find ourselves talking to the computer and telling the girls we love and miss them. I am so glad we have these pictures and memores to watch when we cannot be with them. I was always close to my grandparents. It was just a 30 minute drive and I was there. I wish things were the same with Reagan and Rory.

John B continues to amaze us with his recovery. He just had his 3rd MRI and it showed no growth of the tumor. He is off medication and is so disciplined about being healthy. We are very proud of him and of Meredith whose faith and undying love and compassion has really encouraged us. They will learn in May of the Air Force's decision about John's future. It is wonderful to know that our God is in perfect control.

Ben continues to work in California. He likes the group he is currently working with and is learning a lot. We are hoping he will be able to come home in the Spring for a vacation. He was blessed to have a family invite him to their home for both Thanksgiving and Christmas which was good for me and comforted us and we did not want himn to be alone.

I have loved seeing sweet friends and meeting for lunch and just talking. What a blessing friends are. I have worked a bit at Propp Drugs during Christmas and have seen many friends that did not even know we had returned to Anderson. I have also been able to make a trip to Columbia to see John's sister, Katherine, and shop. It is only two hours away. John continues to work with the team at Owens Corning to work out the kinks at the Plant and get it to running consistently. I pray for him everyday. John and I both miss Brazil. I find myself thinking in Portuguese often and so does John.

We had many other answers to prayer this year. The sale of Mom's home was our biggest answer. Our wonderful realtor, Claire, would agree with me. It needed so much work yet was approved by FHA for a loan with no repairs. A MIRACLE. We attended my 40th (yes 40th) Class Reunion. I was privileged to see many old friends and to see how many had grown in the Lord. It was heart warming. The Reunion Committee headed by Claire (I don't see how she does it) planned a weekend that was just perfect. Finally, John and I unpacked the last box from Brazil this past weekend after ONE YEAR. I have felt in limbo and it is a settling feeling to feel more organized.

We have lots of room so if you are EVERY close we would love to have you stop by and visit. We miss all of you very much and we are so grateful for your friendship.