| 20 | Winter | 02 |
|---|---|---|
| Linda White Box 311 Cheyenne, OK 73628 | News from Monta
| Garland's Family
| Richard's Family
Ed's Family | Dale's Family | Elmeda's Family | Virginia's Family Greetings from Bill and Mary Watts | Birthdays & Anniversaries |
Joe Elder 813 SW 63 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 |
| Volume 12 | of the family, by the family, for the family | Issue 3 |
The NewsletterThe cost is $2.00 per year (mailed). If you have an e-mail address, Joe can send you a newsletter via e-mail for free. So send him your e-mail address and save money. The news needs to come to Joe or me, Linda White.If you have any suggestions let us know. We will publish the newsletter four times a year. The deadline for your news to reach either Joe or me will be the 1st day of each new season i.e. June 21, September 22, December 21, March 21. The newsletter should be out a week later, give or take a day or so. We won’t send out reminders, so be sure to mark your calendars now. If we don’t have to send out reminders, we can keep the prices lower. Linda White News from MontaMerry Christmas Everyone I wish to express my appreciation for the support of family, church family and friends through my latest surgery and recovery. I seem to be doing well and will see my back doctor Wednesday (12-18) and another CBC to see if my blood has built up on Thursday. 12-19. I didn't go back to my lung doctor as scheduled because my regular doctor can take care of all that as well as my low blood. I do have asthma so that probably accounts for my reaction following surgery. I'm doing fine now. I have been trying to hook up internet on my laptop and when that is done, I will be back in contact. Love, Garland's FamilyJennifer Mink is getting married to Jamie Shirley on January 4 in Ardmore, Oklahoma. Who told? Richard's FamilyNo news this issue. Ed's FamilyA great Christmas get together was held at Cheyenne, Oklahoma on December 21st. Those in attendance were Linda and Curtis White & Tess, Jerry and Teresa Watts, Chandra and Braden, Richie and Judy Watts, Chandler and Orion Clark, Candy and darek Johnson & Baylee, Nancy and Randal Patterson, Rhett Patterson and fiancé Ashley Grimes, Heather Patterson and friend Ray James, Stephanie and Connor White, Ben and Janna Avidas & Genna O'Dell, Joe Elder, Elmeda Elder, Lowell and Dianne Elder & Ben. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. God's Blessing to all Rhett Patterson and Ashley Grimes are getting married June 14 in Irving, Texas. Special hotel information is: Fairfield Inn Special rate is $49.00 plus tax for king or two doubles. Dale's FamilyMerry Christmas to All My Family It seems Bruce and his family will have a great Christmas this year. New Grandson Allen is the main attraction. Santa Robbie and Bruce will be bringing a new red wagon and a Rocking Horse! Children do make the holidays at times that is for sure. Bruce got an early Christmas, a new 2003 four door truck. Don't ask me any more, I just didn't retain the important stuff. All his family is great, and finally settling down from the move I believe. Curtis is ready to graduate this year I think, Kay works for the school system and is proving to be a very good mother. Bruce and Robbie are working their buns off as usual. So if you see any butt less people around, look good, they may be relatives. Gailia had written me in October of several things going on and not going on. School was still with borrowed books. The boxes of school books were 'too big' when they arrived in China - so they were returned for repackaging! Gailia had been ill for several weeks; they treated her for worms, bacteria, and such. They later found it to be a side effect of the medication she was on. I know she was glad when that was finally over. Brandt stays in and out on business most the time; Marie is still teaching English in the school; Nathan is probably as industrious as he always was, Justyn is still in the states; and Amber likes making tents from kitchen chairs. Youth is such a wonderful state of being. I heard from Gailia over Thanksgiving Holiday. It took me by surprise to say the least. Brandt hooked her up on the computer, China doesn't offer long distance calling. She was doing well, busy preparing the meal they were sharing with her guests from Canada and (oops another detail lost) something like Peru. Okay Okay! I hear Gailia laughing from here. Somewhere not from the eastern countries anyway. Loretta's family is staying busy also. The lodge goes from season to season. One time I talk to her and it is full of hunters, the next time it is a wedding party, others ski season. On and on it goes. The first frost they had must have been just beautiful. Lots of the fall flowers were still in bloom, hardy plants for sure. This week Frances and Granddad are among her guests. Daddy wasn't sure he was up to the trip but went anyway. He has thought about a hip replacement for a little while, but just isn't ready to do so at the present. A few weeks ago he lifted a 100# bag and really paid for it. X-rays showed no break, but lots of arthritis, bursitis and such. He has been on crutches, and had to use a wheel chair at the airport because of the discomfort of standing and walking. He is too young to cross that bridge I think. After all, My Daddy can do anything. I Love you - Daddy. Neil is home for ten days this Christmas, then will fly back to Tyler. He just loves the area, the job, the people he lives with, the Church he is attending - Yep, he will definitely stay in Texas. We have been talking about moving back in about a year. And that was in discussion before Neil ever went back. My Grandma Dixon Robey has congenital heart failure and is just plain tired at her age. She is only about 81 or so. Mom had been caring for her until about six months ago. Also, to be closer to help with anything mom or daddy may need. Virginia is pretty, but it isn't home. Plus getting to the reunions is just a major thing for me. I'd love to attend them all but a plane ticket into Amarillo from here is always around $1700.00, and then I would have some driving to do. That isn't too horrible, except after driving about one hour, I require at least a few hours nap. I am one of those who just can't stay awake and drive. Ron and the kids have really had fun over the years. As a passenger - I survived. Ron would wait until I was really gone, and then slam on the brakes. After finding myself in the floorboard or time or two I wore a seat belt before it became Texas Law. My mouth would fall open, head back (you know the pose) If I were anorexic or bulimic, it may have been welcome, but I am not. Ron's finger down my throat was just enough to wake me up gagging, hissing, spitting, and scared to death to go back to sleep. However, none of the tricks worked. I still sleep very well behind a steering wheel. I literally go no where by myself if there is any traveling to it at all. I have rattled long enough. And I don't know of anything else newsworthy at the present. You all have a blessed and Safe Christmas and New Year. I Love you. Karen Memories Several times a year I get such a homesick feeling for Grandma and Grandpa's farm. Somehow, that is home. My heart stays there a lot. This holiday season is as all others. It only takes seeing a beautiful red poinsettia to set it off. My mind recalls tons of memories and the desire to relive it again. The memories of the farm are the foundation of what I desire to leave with my own grand children some day, or for that matter, any child that visits my home. Remember arriving at Grandma and Grandpa's in the dark? As daddy was driving just past Uncle Earl's house, I would always be looking toward the farm as we approached from behind. The light always lit up the shade as if to say, "We're so glad you are coming and we are waiting for you." My heart would just relax; every care would leave as if I could let my soul fly away. As we entered the house, both would be reading the Readers Digest, some novel, or maybe the Bible at times. Grandma would have our beds turned down; we did them as we got older. We never went to bed without Grandma greasing us up like pigs with Vick's Vapor Rub. Must have worked, we were and still are the healthiest kids this side of the sun! I love the smell of that stuff to this day. The cool breeze in the summer coming through the window along with the sounds of cows bawling and coyotes howling in the distance. My own personal midnight serenade. Remember the little clock sitting on the built in bookshelf? I loved that clock! The little lady in her rocking chair just keeping the time. . . The squeaking noise as the chair's motion kept the little gears moving for the clock 'in the next room'. The smell of breakfast, and people talking as I awoke. The smell of grandma's cooking penetrated the wooden cabinets, causing the smell to linger. As an adult I have only been in one house where the smell of the kitchen drew me back to childhood, the same house kept me there as I walked across the room with its worn linoleum floor. It too was as grandma's house, the appearance, the sound, the warmth. I was home again for a brief time. Did Grandpa ever try to teach any of you how to call the cows up to the barn? Lord, we must have sounded like we were dying or something. But did we ever have fun! The old car our imaginations allowed us to drive a million miles; the old tractor plowed more fields. Ha, I remember Aunt Monta Faye telling us of a field she plowed while trying to read a book at the same time. As the rows ended up as straight as a jack rabbit's hind leg - Grandpa just had her to do it over! (Sorry Aunt Monta Faye, but seeing that in my minds eye is just hilarious) My Daddy, Dale, told me a few stories I'll put in the next letter. But he told me one time he was lying on the couch as he read a book. He got to laughing so hard, he fell right off in the floor! Hey! As a little girl I and several others got on Trixies (horse) back and posed for a picture. Anybody remember that, or better yet, still got that picture? What about that bicycle with the beaten off rubber tires... the smell of cashmere bath soap? Have I told you this before? If so, I apologize. There are so many memories this time of year. I still see the red Christmas poinsettia sitting on the sewing machine, and the hard Christmas candy as it lay in the dish for the taking. My favorites were those long ribbon like ones. Well, as I leave the farm and smell the wonderful crisp air, I walk away on the path of stone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, until I meet you here again! You are forever in My Heart, Elmeda's FamilyWe were fortunate to have John home from the Marines. He was here from Dec 5 to Dec 20. He returned to San Diego to board the USS Tarawa. He is headed to the Persian Gulf, Jan 6 to July or September depending on world events. He is in the 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Division as an 81mm mortar man. Elmeda went with Lowell and family to visit Kate and husband in Houston for the holidays. She left before the snow came to OKC. This is the first white Christmas in Oklahoma City in 27 years. Lloyd is spending Christmas on the road in Denton, TX. Jessie is spending the holiday at home. Virginia's FamilyNews from Idaho It was so good and so comforting to see so many of you at T.J.'s memorial in early October. Thank you all for coming. Lets all think about a family reunion in early June of next year - the Patterson, Pendleton and Bradshaw reunion is scheduled next year (every other year) and it is always held at the Wheeler Park on a Sunday so lets plan ours the Sunday before at the park in Mobeetie. As soon as I know the date of the P-P-B reunion I will let you know. I can't remember if it is held on the first or second Sunday in June. I went home with Roger from Wheeler and stayed a week. We had a very good visit and took a trip into northeastern Indiana to Amish country - a step back in time in some respects. They are the very enterprising people in farming, livestock, carpentry, fine furniture, canning and preserving and QUILTS! We had a long beautiful fall with very little wind. So far, not much winter weather and no moisture. Barbara and Dennis are fine - busy with work, ongoing projects and grand parenting which s what they do best! Roger is doing well - staying positive about United Airlines' filing under Chapter 11. We are looking forward to having him and Florida friend, Pattie Reid during the holidays. Shannon and Kenneth are busy with jobs and raising their little ones. T.J. just turned 5 and in his 2nd year of pre-school and is and exceptional, very good little boy. Jordyn is 19 months old, a sweet, loving, beautiful little girl with a mind of her own! I feel fortunate to have most of my family near. Wishing everyone a Happy Holiday Season and love to all. Virginia Greetings from Bill and Mary WattsThis has been a busy time for us. We have been writing Medicare supplement policies for everyone. It seems all their policies have gone up. Bill had to have some more Laser Surgery on his right eye this Friday. The blood vessels are leaking into his line of vision. He says he can already see better. His left eye has nearly no sight since he was quite young. Bill's Uncle Albert Smith (married to Carola Summers) passed away in Farwell, Texas week before last. His funeral was last Saturday in Clovis, New Mexico. Our Granddaughter, Krista Duffield who lives here in Childress is in the "Gifted & Talented" and got to go on the bus with 22 other young people to Amarillo to see the "Nut Cracker." A couple months ago I was at the Texaco Truck Stop in Childress and a lady asked where she could mail some letters. Her and her husband were in an 18 wheeler and were passing through town. I told her I was going by the post office and would mail them for her. She said, they are awfully important as it is the insurance payment for our Big Rig. I assured her that I would mail them. As I was driving to the post office I noticed that she was from Blackfoot, Idaho. I took down her address and sent her a letter assuring her that I had mailed the letters and also told her that we had relatives in Blackfoot. Telling her about Virginia and family. We got a letter from Virginia and the lady called her as they have been good friends for many years. "Small world isn't it." We wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year. May you all be healthy, happy and wise. Love, Birthdays & Anniversaries
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