| 20 | Spring | 03 |
|---|---|---|
| Linda White Box 311 Cheyenne, OK 73628 | News from Monta
| Garland's Family
| Virginia's Family
Ed's Family | Dale's Family | Richard's Family | Elmeda's Family Birthdays & Anniversaries |
Joe Elder 813 SW 63 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 |
| Volume 12 | of the family, by the family, for the family | Issue 4 |
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 MontaDoes anyone realize when Easter is, this year? April 20th, can you believe? So we still have plenty of time for winter. I have some friends here in Amarillo that wants to move to Tucson or Phoenix where it is nice and warm all year around, "never gets below 45 degrees, and no rain". I started to add "nor above 120 degrees in the shade all summer". I just heard from a friend in Tucson, who was complaining about the cold and rain!!!!!!!!! So we aren't the only area that is having an unusual winter. Sure hope Dale and Frances can shake off their bugs and gain strength to come up in April. Frances was in the hospital with her hip and back, and she and Dale both caught a bug while there. I got so tired of hurting and didn't want to take any more steroids, so I was sent to a pain management doctor. He put me on patches with strong pain medicine and when necessary I still take my regular pain medicine, too. The patches last 72 hours. I have smartened up and started writing the date it needs to be changed on the one I have on. I write it backward so I can read it in the mirror. I was still so sore, my arthritis doctor gave me a large shot of Kenalog, which is a steroid, in my back side and gradually some of the soreness is leaving. I have to go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks for a follow up. Elmeda and I have been experimenting with recipes. I made a batch of stuff yesterday and she is improving on it today. I kind of think hers will be better. We get our vegetables! Lowell just called and he wasn't interested. Ha I always enjoy having her here and kind of think she enjoys being here. We talk gardening, sewing, and do some of it. We even went to a Saturday night church service in the neighborhood last night. It was different and kind of neat. I had wanted to check it out, but needed my sister to give me the courage to try it. Ha No suits and ties, just plain clothes, blue jeans and the such. The service was conducted by a stand in pastor, who is a teacher at the San Jacinto Academy just down 6th street. His brother is the pastor. He said he remembered me from NW Baptist which has now been taken over by the Academy. He spoke against so much dissention in church, and that and fifteen steps were the main reasons I quit going to that church. I finally got my Van a couple of days ago. My neighbor put it in our mechanics shop to keep it from harm while I was in the hospital. I had introduced her to "my" mechanic when she was having car problems, so he is now, "our" mechanic. He got it all ready for inspection. It will pass without added expense. I am glad we still have the safety inspection here. Some states have abolished it. Responsible people keep their vehicles up, but there are so many who will drive until the wheels fall off. And I am glad I have Harry to keep my vehicle in pretty good form. He was a friend of Bob's. I can count on him and his wife for help anytime. I have been taking aspirin since I have been home. My heart doctor took me off Coumadin because I was loosing blood somewhere, and so far they haven't found out where. I am still anemic, but take vitamin B12 and all the other B vitamins and iron. Monta Garland's FamilyHere it is already time for another issue and I haven't got all the files formatted yet... The new address, where I have uploaded all but two of the newsletters is located at: Watts News Index Hope I'm not to late to inform the family! Virginia's FamilyAll are well here. Glad winter is on its way out and look forward to spring. I am busy, not only with the usual daily activities, etc., I have volunteered for the SHIBA (Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) program through the State of Idaho, Dept. of Insurance helping qualified senior citizens get their Prescription drugs directly from the pharmaceutical companies at no cost. This is a federally funded program and is available in all 50 states - in some states the program is called SHIPs and SHIBA in others. A very worthy cause and I'm proud to be a part of it. The Patterson-Pendleton-Bradshaw reunion is scheduled at the Wheeler Park on June 15. That date will coincide with Rhett's wedding on the 14th so I know none of Ed's family will come to the P-P-B reunion and Roger has another obligation - so, it is up to others in the family to determine if our family wants to get together on the 14th at the Mobeetie Park. Let me know what everybody wants to do. Barbara and Dennis are fine. Busy as usual with their on-going projects at home, with work and grandparenting. They recently took TJ (and me) to the dinosaur exhibit in a museum in Idaho Falls. The dinosaur (Sue) is on loan until May from the Field Museum in Chicago. A wonderful experience for a 5 year old who loves dinosaurs. Roger is busy with flying and union work. The travel industry's future looks pretty bleak and now United Airlines is threatening liquidation (may be a scare tactic). He had some much needed R and R in Florida recently. Shannon, Kenneth and little ones are doing well. Shannon recently changed jobs. She had worked 5 years for a local, family owned, furniture and appliance store with no benefits - not even paid vacation. She is now working for Idaho Central Credit Union with benefits and a competitive salary. TJ, now 5, will register for kindergarten this spring. Jordyn will be 2 in May. Both are very sweet, beautiful little kids. My never ending prayers are for John Elder's safety and peace. Virginia Patterson Ed's FamilyMr. and Mrs. Larry Grimes Reception following ceremony at La Cima Club, Irving, Texas Also, if you are going to be there by Friday night, we would love for you to come to the Rehearsal Dinner. Please let us know by June 7th about this so we can give the restaurant a head count. For the ladies, there will be a Bridesmaid's Brunch type thing on Saturday morning around 10:00, I think. All the ladies are welcome. Again, please let us know if you could be there so I can get more info to you. Special hotel information is Fairfield Inn Special rate is $49.00 plus tax for king or two doubles. We are so excited some of our families will get to join us on this special day. Heather continues to do temp work, but is making lots of contacts, and has several possible job opportunities coming up soon. I got to make a quick dash to Dallas the first of the month to see the kids. I couldn't wait any longer. They were doing good. Randal is running like crazy trying to get a new rest area opened up about 20 miles east of Groom. It will be a relief to get that behind him. Gotta go for now. Our love to all, Nancy Dale's FamilyHello to all our Family, I am so glad spring is here! I just hope it is really spring without any delays or surprises. This winter has been winter for me. Cold, wet, miserable. I have seen more snow - about 36 " all together- more than I want to see ever again. 27" of that came at one time; I am ready for some southern "warm" weather. However, we were blessed not to have a blizzard, ice storms, or even loss of power one time. Thank you Lord! My Flowers are starting to peek out of the ground; I pray for them, until Easter Weekend, I just do not relax about the weather freezing things. But they sure do perk me up just to see green again. However, with the drought last year I know water in any form is needed and appreciated. This year we hope to be able to wash the house down good, we had bats under the shutters last year and hope to prevent them this year. We gave the neighbors a few laughs last fall trying to chase the bats out and killing them before they flew off. I do love every season but winter. Well, as for our immediate family: Loretta's family may be making a move this summer. The owner of the motel is trying to sell and Loretta isn't sure she wants to take a chance with new owners and the such. We will have to wait and see how it all pans out. I have spoken to her quite often this last couple of months. If you remember our grandma Dixon, cancer has been a passed issue and is once again. However, this time the cancer is in her liver, stomach, and one lung. Doctors give her six months but grandma says they just don't know it all. But - Back to Loretta, I think she should have been the big sister, she is the one who keeps the contact going between us all. The motel as of a week or so ago was full of ski teams - and they needed our snow. How I wish I could have sent them ours. And this latest snow that dumped 3 feet on Denver - just sat on the divide - not Loretta's side - she only got about 4 inches. What a bumber! Bruce is spoiling Allen, 8 months old grandson, rotten I think. He is already teaching the little fellow to wear sunglasses. I hear that is the latest fashion for babes nowadays. Also, Bruce and Robbie are going to be grandparents again in September I believe. Allen's DOB is Father's Day I think. Maybe this next one will be on Grandad's DOB. Robbie, Kay and family, & Curtis are doing well and apparently starting to feel at home in their new home. Gailia and family are also doing well. Just finished a working vacation in Taiwan. Gailia took advantage of the 5 cents a minute price wars for phone calls and gave some of us a call. They are all doing well. Brandt stays extremely busy as usual, she is teaching her own children of an afternoon, and teaching publicly English as a second language. Marie and Nathen have such good Chinese language skills, both will be going into Mongolia this summer to work as translators for groups traveling into the country. Justyn is still here in the states and Amber is still by Gailia's side of course, still a bit young to be off to far, however, she is quite independent in her own right if you ask me. Daddy will be going to Colorado again the 29th. Robert is asking for some help with some electrical wiring which needs to be done. Daddy will be there for about two weeks. He has had a very busy last month or two. Frances has been in some real misery with her back. She's had to be taken to the hospital via ambulance and the such. While there, she's been overdosed on Demerol, then both she and daddy caught the flu. What a joy. Also, while Frances was in the hospital, Daddy has had a problem with one of his eyes. The blood vessels stopped up or something. Blood flows into the eye, but not out. Therefore, he sees his world through rose colored glasses in the one eye. Not pleasant, not desirable, hopefully not long. He will return to the doctor's office in about three weeks to update that little condition. The doctor didn't elaborate the three alternatives for care if it hasn't cleared up on its own. We shall see. Frances will soon be doing better. She saw the back surgeon her oldest daughter, Brenda sees, Healed on Sight! NO - You know what I mean though. The Dr. looked at her x-ray films and such and pointed out the problems to Daddy and Frances immediately. The doctor who performed the prior surgery apparently stopped before the job was done. So, this Dr. will finish the job. They will schedule the surgery after daddy returns from Colorado. Maybe after this it will be Daddy's turn for some maintenance and Frances will finally be well again. Bless her heart; this has been a long haul. One of the stories in the archive, I just hope I can recall it accurately; I don't have time to look it up this time: (see Refrigeration?) When daddy was a young boy of course the refrigerator was not quite the household item it is now. Nor did people eat meat like we do now. However, this was for a Sunday dinner and the chickens were too small at this point in time. Early spring, it was customary for grandpa to go out and shoot a small rabbit or two for the meal. This particular year, the rabbit hunting season had to be extended just a bit. Daddy went out with grandpa and was to sit in a certain spot while grandpa was doing his hunting. Well, those baby rabbits were no longer baby rabbits, cute, unsuspecting, s l o w. They too had lived a few weeks longer and had gained some size and speed. Grandpa almost ran his legs off for that meal. Put up quite a show for daddy, and frustrated to the nth degree. They ate no more rabbit that year. I know time is everything. But can ya'll see our grandpa running around a field with a gun chasing rabbits! I see him walking up the drive with his walking stick. How I love him and cherish every and I do mean every memory of him and Grandma Watts. To me grandpa had the patience of Job - I just can't see a thing like a rabbit upsetting him. But roll the clock back some years and I know he too was human. What a laugh. I'll also bet grandma Watts was a real card herself. No disrespect intended at all, but I bet she could tie his pants in a knot. Boy how I'd like to know them as an adult - me as an adult that is. Well, my family is great. Cheri' is finally assistant manager for our local Ace Hardware. She has been carrying light duties of that title for a little while now. But now she is going to start feeling the full load. Yet she is excited and we are for her. Neil is of course a confirmed Texan again and loving it. He has been extremely busy between work and preparing props (with a few other strong able young men) for the Children's Easter Program at church. He is however got his ears open for the opportunity to go to Siberia again later this summer. Ron and I just keep muddling along. Nothing else new on the home front. I love you all and wish you all the best. Praying for your health and safety, Richard's FamilyLouada has had a few difficult experiences lately. At this time she's recovering from a bout with pneumonia. In the middle of that, she felt it necessary to have her dachshund Brownie put to sleep. This is Gretchen's (Monta's dachshund) "brother." Brownie was aging and in much pain, so it was for the best. Now for some good news. She drove to Wichita Falls on March 15 to see her younger sister Phyllis and Phyllis' daughter Tracy, who is in the Air Force cross-training to another career field at Sheppard AFB. While in the area, Louada also spent some time visiting with Cecil's mother Jolene, who lives in Wichita Falls. After recovering, Louada could get back into church and enjoy their newly renovated worship center. Cecil and I saw the renovation in progress at Christmas and could imagine the finished result--teal carpet and pew cushions, chandeliers, and oak-encased lighting along the walls. Now they're talking about expanding the fellowship hall. The church body sure enjoys their young pastor, Jason. Speaking of Jason, Sharon's been busy with various issues regarding her sons, Jason and Jeremy. There have been job changes for Jason and his girlfriend Samantha. Jeremy had an illness and is struggling to get his grades up to finish high school. Everything's taking a turn for the better, however. As Jason will depart for Army basic training on March 25 (he joined the Army National Guard Reserves), he and Samantha decided to wed, in case he got sent overseas directly after training at Ft. Sill. They married at a Justice of the Peace office on March 13, with Jason's dad Larry, step-mom Jane, and Brother Jeremy in attendance. They plan an outdoor ceremony in a scenic state park in October 2004 with more family present. Jeremy is making up some classes on-line, which will go into summer school session, so he can graduate this year. It doesn't look like he'll be able to walk across the stage at the spring graduation, however. Just the same, Sharon, Louada and I are going to drive up there in mid-May. Jason will be training at Ft. Sill, but we'll get to visit with Samantha some, although she is now working on the assembly line night shift at the Ford plant in Kansas City. A short while afterward, Jeremy will return to Ft. Sill to finish his AIT training. (He and Jason both signed up for field artillery.) We pray that neither of them have to go off to war! In the middle of all this, Sharon has been diagnosed with severe degeneration of the spine. We thank God that surgery is not now required. She's undergoing physical therapy. Some of this is from a car wreck long ago (undiagnosed/untreated whiplash) and years of lifting patients as a nurse. I guess we're all getting older and have our health issues. Cecil's no exception (wait until he reads this!). He has a swollen area on his neck just above his right clavicle. He's had an ultrasound, CT scan and an MRI scan--none of which showed anything to cause this. So he's scheduled for a consultation with a thoracic surgeon on March 27, in preparation for a biopsy (date not set). Our family doctor doesn't think it's anything serious. Cecil's in Columbia March 20 through 25 undergoing extensive training to be a security officer for Security Consultants Group, which has obtained the security contract for federal agencies in all of South Carolina, beginning April 1. We don't yet know exactly where he'll work, but it should be in or near Greenville. Before (and after) this training, I've got him busy doing some preparation work so I can paint our guest room--which we actually use as an exercise room. OK, sometimes use. Me--I'm just grateful for my health and looking forward to spring! We've had an abundance of rain this year, but at least the Bradford pear trees and cherry trees are blooming! My job is ever busy; I've been allowed to work at home on Tuesdays since last October. That way I get a lot done in a quiet environment--just have to keep pushing the kitty away, as she curls up on the paperwork in front of me, wanting undivided attention! I'm looking forward to meeting my new niece Samantha--I've just seen a few pictures. She's about as tall and thin as Jason, but she's an attractive brunette. They're both 21 and have known each other quite awhile. Sharon and Mom speak highly of her. So in the next newsletter, I should have some great news from our trip to Missouri! Take care everyone... Elmeda's FamilyNews from Oklahoma City It is amazing just how fast a year can go by. It seems only a little while ago that my kids were young and running around the yard. As most of you know, John joined the Marines and left for training a little over a year ago. He was home last during the first part of December. His unit arrived in Kuwait on the 10th of February after a long boat ride from San Diego. We were getting a few short e-mails from him until the last week of February. He writes almost every day, but the letters take between two to three weeks to get here. The latest letters we received last week were post marked 1 March. His unit is 1st Marines, 15th MEU (Marine Expeditionary Unit). Rachel is doing good in the 9th grade. Her latest report card showed A's and B's. She was on the basketball team, and now she is on the track team. She stays active with Camp Fire and attends horsemanship meetings twice a month. Carol is staying busy with work (RN at hospital) and taking care of an older Aunt. We moved her Aunt Kathryn to an assisted living center last month. Aunt Kathryn is perking up since they feed her real well and watch after her needs. I just pray that I am doing that good at age 103. I have stayed busy with work and playing with my tractor. Now it is yard mowing time. We just returned from a trip to New York. It was Spring break and I had purchased a front loader for my tractor from an individual in Buffalo, New York that I went to pick up. I'm glad that we were just visiting; I don't think that I can handle that much snow. They must be used to it. Carol and Rachel enjoyed the slower trip home. We spent an entire day sight-seeing around the Niagara Falls area. We then stopped and visited the Lucille Ball gift shop in Jamestown, New York. (The museum was closed). Enjoyed a leisurely drive along the Allegany River, and then shopped until we dropped in the Amish area in Ohio. Mom went out and stayed with Monta for about ten days. Lowell brought her home last Saturday. >Joe, Carol and Rachel Elder April May June Anniversaries: April May June Birthdays & Anniversaries
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