Lady Bug for December 1997 - Maria Zuniga
Lady Bug for January 1998 - Tricia Pentecost
Lady Bug for February 1998 - Mary Ann Crenshaw
Lady Bug for March 1998 - Frankie Watson
Lady Bug for April 1998 - Carol Dvorak
Lady Bug for May 1998 - Barbara Lynn Crenshaw
Lady Bugs for June 1998 - Mary Jo Peck & Frances Roberts
Lady Bug for July 1998 - Jean Wasson
Lady Bug for August 1998 - Laurie Pennell
Please refer to Mary Frances' World to find out who the current "Lady Bug" is!
Jean has been and is a big influence on her son. Even though I don't think that Bill's dad will appreciate it, but he gets to be an "honorary" Lady Bug (a Lad Bug???) since I can't think of Jean without thinking of Bob. They have been an excellent example for Bill of a stable, loving, devoted couple and I have benefitted from the role model they presented to him.
Since Jean is Bill's mother, and since this is her birthday present, he would like to add the following:
As Mary has already said, Mom and Dad were an enormous influence in my life. Dad was there to teach me the "manly" things, duty, honor and devotion, but my mother was,well, she was "mother". Mom has always been there for me, when I had all of the childhood diseases, my first day of school, my first date and even when Mary and I were married she was always there to comfort and advise. Mom and Dad shaped my personality but they also allowed me to choose my own destiny. They gave me a life full of adventures, new places and new friends (I was a Coast Guard brat so we were constantly moving and meeting). Love and stability were the family values I learned because they were practiced each day at our house. I have two sisters and a brother (I was the oldest), but we all felt we were the favorite and special because my parents (especially Mom) encouraged and supported our hopes and dreams. Thanks, Mom (and Dad), have a great birthday Mom and THANKS!!!!!
These two women had a great influence on my life as did their mother, Jeppie Hise Crenshaw. They are my father's sisters and played a big part in my growing up and who I am today. I guess probably the most "impactful" thing they brought to me is my name....Mary Frances. Granted I was also named for my mother and Mary is a family name, but my Dad named me for his sisters.
I'll start with Aunt Jo since she is the older of the two. She is the most steadfast Christian woman I have ever known. She practices her beliefs with every breath she takes and is truly a role model for what a Christian should be. She is loves her Lord with all her heart and all her soul. Her life, her marriage and her being are centered on Jesus Christ.
Aunt Jo and Uncle Billy were married on the same day as Bill and I married. It just happened that way, but I have always considered it an honor that it did. Uncle Billy grew up with my Dad and I have always loved hearing the stories of their childhood.
When I was a teenager and during my college years, I spent summers and school holidays with my Grandma Jeppie. Every Sunday (morning and evening), Wednesday nights and Thursday nights, we went to church with Aunt Jo and Uncle Billy and on Friday night we would go the grocery store. To this day, I don't think anyway can "spread a table" like my Aunt Jo. If you go away hungry, it's your fault! During these times, Aunt Jo and Grandma Jeppie sewed with me, talked with me and cooked with me. I learned to become a "Crenshaw woman" under their guidance. Aunt Jo gave me my very first piano lesson and I still remembered it when I finally started taking piano lessons are 50 years of age.
Aunt Frances was the "baby" of the Crenshaw family. There were three boys - Walden, Willard, and Warren (my Dad was the third) and the two youngest were the girls (Jo and Frances). To this day, Aunt Frances is a petite red-head who is sooooooo much fun to be around. She doesn't have a shy bone in her body and you are never bored or depressed when you are around her.
During the summers and school holidays when I stayed with my Grandma Jeppie, during the day, I worked at the bakery with Aunt Frances. She decorated the most beautiful cakes for some of the most famous people in Dallas. She had many of her nieces work for her at the bakery over the years. The richest families in the community and other celebrities would frequent Aston's Bakery in Dallas and she always introduced us proudly to them. She encouraged our creativity, made sure we had "good" manners, provide us a wonderful role model with her strong work ethic and gave us sound guidance. You could talk to Aunt Frances about anything. She never judged you, she always listened carefully to what you said, she kept a confidence and she was always "there" for you. She is to one who taught me about make-up and "doing" your hair. I have always thought that she was "movie star" beautiful.
Aunt Frances was widowed twice and is now married to Uncle Gene, who is into computers and geneology. He has provided the family with some wonderful ancestoral information and because he makes my Aunt Frances happy, he can't be beat for an uncle.
Barbie was born on May 4, 1954, thus it is very fitting that she should be honored during her birthday month. Barbie is the youngest of all us kids and lives with our Mother (Lady Bug for February 1998) in Fort Worth. She loves to drive Mom crazy by staying up all hours, sleeping all day, ignoring mealtime and using up all the room freshener spray. And don't ever let her near the Pledge furniture polish. Barbie loves to putter around the house. She likes to sweep the floors, dust, arrange and then re-arrange things. Barbie does very original plastic canvas needlepoint work, keeping up the family tradition of sewing any and everything!
Barbie has a very well developed sense of humor. She loves to be sneaky and play jokes, but hates it when I play jokes on her. One of my favorite jokes to play on her is to mess up the days of my Mom's perpetual calendar. That really makes her mad! She is the one responsible for changing the months.
Barbie loves the singer Tom Jones, the actor Robert Vaughn (remember Napoleon Solo from "Man from Uncle"?) and the Beatles. Those are Barbie's favorites. She can tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about Tom, Robert, John, Paul, George or Ringo! She is going to a Tom Jones concert this month and is really looking forward to it. If he cancels like he did in December, I plan on writing a really nasty note to him, his fan club and all of his ex-wives!
I'm about the only one that Barbie will talk with on the telephone. We have telephone conversations at least once a week. She is always concerned whether I'm taking care of the dogs and always has to talk with Bill to assure that he is giving me a "hard knock" life....her terminology for making my life a challenge!
For all of these reasons and 1000 more, Barbie is my favorite Lady Bug!
Carol is an Registered Nurse and is an accomplished seamstress and quilter. She does beautiful cross stitch and keeps an immaculate house. She is wife to Bobby, her high school sweetheart, and mother to Susan (17), Jamie (14) and Dustin (13). Her kids are wonderful. Smart and funny and a blast to be around. Each one is accomplished and so different. There is never a dull moment when they are around.
Carol is a faithful friend. She has friends she has known since she was a little girl. Her friend Cydney has been around forever! However, I do have a bone to pick with her about friends....when she was a toddler she messed in the bed when my schoolmate (Joan Crapo) stuck her foot in it. After that Joan H-A-T-E-D me! Thanks a million for that, C.J. Anyway, Carol is a great sister even if she won't go to the chats with Tricia and me!
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My mother, Mary Ann Kirn Crenshaw, has been selected to be my Lady Bug for February 1998. She has also agreed to be my Valentine! My Mom is a very accomplished artist, crafter and quilter. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Arizonia in 1942, was a wartime bride and eventually taught school. She is mother to the Outlaws - myself, my three sisters and one brother (Tricia, Carol, Barbie, Mike and myself). She is mother-in-law to the Inlaws (Chet, Bobby, Bill and Betty) She is grandmother to eight grandchildren (Kerry, Catherine, Sara, Allen, Susan, Jamie, Dustin and grandson-in-law Richard) and one great-grandchild (David). My Dad died in 1985 and he and my Mom had a beautiful relationship....to this day, none of us kids have divorced and I believe that the example they set for us is a contributing factor...that plus the fact, none of us would want to be the one to tell my Mom! We have all been married over twenty five years. At times, I truly think she loves her sons-in-law and daughter-in-law as much or more than us Outlaws. She isn't a meddling mother, but she continually demonstrates to us all her concern. Mama set a wonderful example to us. She has a sense of determination that is hard to believe. It never occurs to her that she can't do something....she sets her mind to something and it's all over but the shouting! One year, she decided that we would have a Great Family Quilt Lottery. She then set about making seventeen quilts for each family member. Each quilt was to be a different design and we would draw lots for the quilts. In less than a year, we had a big family celebration, drew lots for our respective quilts (with some manipulation by the participants from my perspective) and each went home with a beautiful quilt. Bill got the Bargello quilt in shades of rose, purples, black and grays. I got the beautiful appliqued Hearts quilt. Another example of Mom's persistence, resourcefulness and talent are her living room, dining room window valences. Her house sits high on a hill in Fort Worth, Texas and has a huge bank of windows in the living room and adjoining dining room. When she became unsatisfied with the mini-blind route, she created nineteen 19" quilt blocks. All in a different design, all coordinated and all fully finished. She tells us when she tires of that look, she MIGHT share the blocks so we can have pillows or maybe she'll make a quilt with them.
My Mom is a lot of fun. She loves a bawdy joke but can't tell a joke to save her life. She always gets the punch line wrong! She has a great sense of humor and can always find the best in any given situation. She is always available for advise but hesitates to offer her opinion unless we ask. If you do ask, you best be prepared to hear her opinion straight out! Mama has been a big influence on my life, she makes each of us feel like we are her favorite. She is very careful to treat each of us like individuals. I don't think I have ever heard her say anything resembling "Why aren't you like your brother or sisters?" She has always stressed our individuality. She gives each of us total, unconditional acceptance. I can't think of anything any of us could do that she wouldn't forgive and forget. For these reasons and so many more, my Mother, Mary Ann Crenshaw truly deserves to be named the Lady Bug for February 1998.
This is what I wrote in preparation to nominating my mom as my February Lady Bug.....Mary Ann Kirn Crenshaw is my Mother. When she viewed my pages and noted that there were two previous Lady Bug Awards bestowed on others, she explained to me the error of my ways. I looked carefully all over my body and no where did I see the word "stupid" tattooed.....therefore, the Lady Bug Award for February 1998 goes to my Mother! To read the full impact of her contributions to me, please refer to "What's Happening in Mary Frances' World" by clicking on the link below. For those who don't know me or my family well, rest assured my Mom will take no disrespect for these words and she will join in and probably lead the laugh!
Patricia Pentecost (aka Tricia) is my slightly older sister. She was born in May and I was born about sixteen months later in October. Needless to say we are close. I always trailed behind Tricia in school...one grade behind! We were always "those Crenshaw girls"...somewhat different and somewhat alike. She was the one with straight dark hair, I had the curly dark hair. She was the studious, serious one, I was the carefree, adventurous one. We fought like sisters and we are good friends like sisters should be. We are the two oldest ones who share a brother and two younger sisters. We are soooo alike and we are sooooo different. She got her degree in Sociology and works at the Amon Carter Museum...I got my degree in Art and work in the social service field. She is so like our father and I'm so like our mother. In thinking about who should be the second "Lady Bug" who else could
I chose. We live over 250 miles apart but it seems we are constant contact. She is my computer pal meeting me at online chats (she's TriciaP on Quilttalk!) or talking on the telephone. She is the family "hall monitor" who keeps all the rest of the siblings in line and in touch. She never hesitates to tell us all (to use a family expression) "how the cow ate the cabbage". Tricia cheers for our successes and commiserates with our challenges. She is and has always been there for me and that's the best thing about her. That is why my sister, Tricia is the Lady Bug for January 1998 - that's the best way I know to start out the new year!
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"The best way out is always through." "I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
If you drink a diet soda at the same time that you eat a candy bar,
"Make the most of yourself.....for that is all there is of you"
"That lowdown scoundrel deserves to be kicked to death by a jackass...and I'm just the one to do it."
Everyone has a photographic memory.....some just don't have any film!
© 1997 bilwas@intertex.net
Robert Frost
does the lack of calories in one cancel out the calories in the other?
Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is a true quote by a congressional candidate in Texas..scary!
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