| 20 | Spring | 05 |
|---|---|---|
| Linda White Box 311 Cheyenne, OK 73628 | Richard's Family
| Dale's Family
| Garland's Family
Virginia's Family | News from Monta | Ed's Family Elmeda's Family | Announcements |
Joe Elder 813 SW 63 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 |
| Volume 14 | of the family, by the family, for the family | Issue 4 |
| The 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, Editor | ||
Richard's FamilyAs you may know by now, Mom had a heart attack in late October. Sharon and I hopped on a plane and arrived in OKC in time to be there for her heart catheterization, which was followed by quadruple bypass surgery. She came through it well and is recovering nicely. When the weather's warmer and she's more recovered, Cecil and I will fly to OKC on May 12. The next morning, he and Mom's friend David will drive a rental truck with Mom's car towed behind to Easley SC, where she will live with Sharon. Mom and I will fly from OKC to Greenville that afternoon. Mom's lived in her house in Altus for 42 years, so it will be quite an adjustment for her to move away from familiar surroundings, as well as her church friends, neighbors, etc. Please say some prayers for her. Jason and Jeremy are supposed to end their tours in Germany this month. They will come out to SC sometime in late spring. They'll depart with some hand-me-down furniture and household items to help them set up housekeeping again in Missouri. We sure look forward to seeing them again. Sharon's been in her new house for a few months now and is quite settled in. She likes seeing the stars at night and listening to the tree frogs. Her orange tabby cat, Tiger, enjoys having more space to run and play. Today he brought in a teeny, tiny baby lizard and batted it around the kitchen a while before it died. Cecil, Billy and I are eagerly awaiting our new senior pastor, who begins duties on March 20. We've been without a senior pastor for over a year. Sharon's been visiting churches in and near Easley. The three of us had a nice visit with friends and relatives in OK and TX at Christmas. We get to go back about every other year. Sharon has planted flower seeds indoors in order to get an early start on flower gardening. Her house came with one small flowering tree, a bunch of non-flowering bushes, and a sodded lawn. Cecil and I recently set out a cypress tree, a forsythia bush, and a red weigela bush. We have 2 more forsythia bushes, 2 false cypress bushes to plant, as well as a lot of different flower seeds to sow. Hopefully our yards and flowerbeds will look really good by the time Mom arrives. Cecil's mom recently had an angioplasty done with 2 stints placed in her heart. She's doing well now. We're looking forward to future months, busy though they will be. Take care of yourselves and we hope you all have a safe and pleasant spring. Love, Dale’s FamilySo many things are going on I almost don't know where to begin. I'll just start with my mom, slightly disconnected from this side of the family. However, she is with Bruce a lot so that does have bearing on my dear brother. Mom has just about healed from her broken ankle, the tendons will need some extended time of healing of course, but all is going well. Bruce and Robbie have been wonderful to help her out. She's had to use crutches and at first was just much more dependent on others for her care. Mom is blessed with good family down there and good friends. Bruce and Robbie still work long hours and watch the two grandsons, Jeffrey and Aaron a lot. They are very proud of those two. Bruce informs me he now carries five gallons of gas in the can he hauls in his truck not his usual two. Strange comment I thought. Then he went on to explain after the context of our conversation. I had been complaining that the story of bankers hours was a lie- there is no such thing for bank tellers where I work. He understands well. After all, if you remember previous newsletters, I've told you how Bruce and Robbie both work their Butts off! Well - he goes on to explain he now has to carry extra gasoline to get the ants off some of his co-workers candy ___ -not butts- they don't move fast enough or long enough to keep them off for themselves! He gets lots of laughs, apparently one of his complainers got the retort that Bruce could just go ahead and throw the match on him too. Now most of the fair hair children at the worksite don't complain to him anymore, they just say- Let's go find something to do. Of course Bruce has a real sense of humor as most of the Watts' do, and I am glad they all realize he would not do anything to hurt anyone, but he does make his point clear. Loretta is our real news getter this month. Robert has been interested in property investment and development for a while and started talking to a few people. Things just started connecting. At the end of the month Loretta's family will move to Maui, Hawaii. Things have worked out well. The Hotel Loretta works for has a new Condominium setup thing going in and her transfer has fit in very well with their plans and Roberts contacts as well. So- off they will go. However, before they go, they will be here in Virginia, March 16th for at least a few days! Heather will be attending Liberty University in Lynchburg this fall. They have some last preparations to make and Loretta would just feel more comfortable seeing for herself where Heather will be attending college. I look very forward to seeing them no matter how brief it may be. I did see all my family in November 2004, for a few days. Our Grandma Dixon passed away after being ill for such a lengthy time. We want to thank you all for your prayers for both her and us. And a very special Thank You to our Aunts, Uncle Pete, and Daddy & Frances for the Beautiful Flowers sent for her funeral services. You are so very thoughtful. Seeing Gailia and her family was also such a wonderful event. As we drove, we had the opportunity to pick Gailia up and she traveled with us. God is so good to help reacquaint us with each other after so many years apart. First we saw her family for a week at New Years, then this November just Gailia. It was so very good - a sad situation, but God will use everything we allow him to have. It was also the first time we four kids have been together in so long I can't even remember, possibly Kay, Bruce's daughter was very young. Anyway - Gailia, Brandt have bought a New, Beautiful house, in a new subdivision in Jonesboro, AR. Brandt has a preaching position there. Until the end of the 2004 he was for a while both pastor and teaching for a seminary in Memphis. I'm sure he felt like Willie Nelson's "On the road again!" before it was over with. But I believe some of the culture shock is starting to wear off. Maybe they are starting to feel like Americans, I know they have had some tough situations at times and it hasn't been an easy adjustment for them. Justyn, their oldest who is now living in CA will be moving to AR in June. He plans to marry a young lady he met I believe from Arkadelphia. Don't quote me on that town please, but I think it's right, it is right he will be moving to Arkansas! Nathan, is in college taking some required courses they ask of him before they will accept him into training for the seals. Whitney Marie is completing her last year of high school and is quite the athlete and social girl. Amber is schooling at home for the transition into America. She is a real ham - let me tell you! Not afraid of anything I don't think - she reminds me of Grandma Watts. (I don't think she was afraid of anything either. [I did hear she was afraid of bad storms] I think she was one tough lady.) Gailia tells me she is a homebody, but I believe each time I have called she's been somewhere and I've had to call back. Brandt's father has been dead for some years now, and his mom is getting married in a month or so. Gailia says she's like a 16 year old all over again. I know that has been keeping Gailia busy some. Hey! When I talked to Bruce earlier he tells me Uncle Pete may be at my Daddy's about the 18th of March. They plan on doing some fishing if they don't get rained out. This time of year it rains quite a bit down there. The ground is just plain spongy when you walk it seems due to the saturation level. Reckon, just maybe Uncle Pete will get to eat inside this time! And what about that bed of tacks! You're a real tough one too Uncle Pete! By the way, Welcome to Civilian Life Beverly. Daddy says your discharge date was March 5th in Nashville, TN. I hope you had a wonderful visit with Uncle Pete, I am sure he enjoyed it and is very proud of you. Pray for another one-John Elder- one to be proud of also. John returned for the third time to Iraq, March 10th, for about a month I believe. I Love You John and anxiously await your safe, speedy return home. Daddy and Frances are telling me they are fine as usual. I hope they are. Daddy and I just talked this time around so I really don't have much more news on them. I hope to see them on our vacation even if it is for a very brief time. My family is doing great. Neil is as busy as ever. Working his regular job, has some side jobs for extra funds, moved into his own apartment this month, just finished the spring children program at church, and is now preparing early stages for another trip to Siberia I believe. He may have some others from his Church join him this year we will wait to hear more later on that. Cheri' just got a new Chevy Trailblazer. Still has some loose ends before she can solidify getting a move to Texas. It all takes a bit of time to accomplish tasks, but they get done with careful planning. She still communicates with some of her classmates from Indy. One young lady lives in NJ, the other in Canada. They keep her informed on lots of the other kids. Even though they are not kids any longer! She is in contact with friends in TX also, after all, we are Texans and have many friends and family there. She is still learning managing skills, all goes well until she has to work with people! HA! Ron and I are doing fine. I'm trying to get rid of the flu and Ron declares he isn't going to get it! As of April 1st I will be transferring to a different branch of the bank. One I will be very pleased with, and I hope they will with me as well. I've worked with these girls for two weeks in the past, so I just hope long-term works as well. My dear Ron is as great as ever. He is looking very forward to having a real vacation this year. It will be the first vacation he has had in eight years! Every year since we have moved to Virginia he has lost his weeks vacation due to a death in the family which took us to Texas. His job gives him no time off for such occasions. SOOOO- as of April 1st Ron has another week coming his way - don't any of you get any ideas and die on us! Plus the bank is going to a new system and I can't have off until June 1 anyway. So just keep right on tickin'... We have so many things the three of us want to do we almost had an argument after just 20 minutes of conversation the other night discussing plans. So we had to table the entire conversation, think about it until another time. I am sure until Loretta and the girls leave, we don't want them leaving with any tales now do we? They would be entertained I have no doubt, we get rather ridiculous in our discussions. Well, I open the place up this week, and it's getting late so I'll close this letter for now. I Love you all, I am very Blessed to have you as my family and will not take any of you for granted. That reunion just wasn't long enough and not enough of you there. Well, until another letter and another reunion, - Karen Garland’s FamilyNo news at this time. I have heard that he made it home from Tennessee, and did stop to visit Carol while the Panhandle was snowed in. Virginia's FamilyEveryone in my family is doing well. Barbara still volunteers every Monday morning at TJ's school. The slower learning students she tutors have made good progress and are now al-most ready for the 2nd grade. Dennis is working part time for a car auction company that have sales every Friday to dealers. Roger is doing well and will be here for a few days in early April for the dedication of our new church building. It will be a short visit and we will enjoy having him. Shannon and Kenneth are busy with jobs and raising their little family. Kenneth drives a gasoline truck, picking up loads in Pocatello and delivering as far away as Jackson Hole. Shannon really likes her job at First American Title Company, which will be celebrating their 100th year in July. She is on the planning committee for the celebration. TJ is a good student in school, is all ready for the 2nd grade and is reading at a 3rd grade level. He sings in the Children's Choir at church. He is a very sweet, adorable little boy. Jordyn will be 4 years old on May 18th, loves to wear pretty dresses and to have her curly hair done. We call her "gorgeous". Spring has not arrived yet - have had lots of cold wind and disagreeable weather. It is very dry here. I've done lots of sewing and knitting this winter along with some volunteer work at the Senior Center. Also have done some upgrading in the bathroom recently. I will be doing a lot of work landscaping around our new church building and that will be exciting. The Patterson-Pendleton-Bradshaw reunion will be June 12th at the Wheeler Park. I think our family should get together on Saturday, June 11th, if possible, either at the Wheeler Park or the Mobeetie Park. If anyone is interested let me know. I can make lots of phone calls to help get us together. Love, Virginia News from MontaNo news at this time, I have heard that she is now home from the hospita. Ed's FamilyDear family,We missed the last newsletter, so if you haven't heard yet, God has blessed us with a beautiful granddaughter. Hadley Elizabeth James was born on December 1st to Heather and Ray. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 inches long. She is growing so very fast. At 3 months, Hadley weighed 16 pounds and was 25 inches long! She still sleeps better during the day than at night. Heather and Ray stay tired, but love being parents. Heather found a new web site called Austin Free Cycle. People put everything on there that is too good to throw away, and if you respond first, you are the proud owner of the item. They have received all kinds of baby items, plants, etc. Rhett and Ashley are enjoying their new home and their puppies, Tucker (a Bassett hound), and Ruby Lou ( a tall boxer). Ashley has enjoyed her year teaching Kindergarten at a private Christian school, but is still having trouble with her shoulder. She may have to have surgery on it after school is out. Rhett works hard for his company, and they have been rewarding his work ethic with a bonus, a pay raise and a promotion---all since the first of the year. That has enabled him to get a guitar, and he is playing with other members of their Sunday School group in a Christian rock band. They have named their band Seven Quest. Rhett and Ashley are spending Spring Break in North Carolina visiting friends with a side trip to Washington D.C. Randal has been moving pretty slow here lately. Recently, as he was going down a hill at work, a rock he stepped on gave way and he fell on a boulder. The x-rays revealed no broken or cracked bones, but he wears that rib belt night and day to support the badly bruised muscle. This week, Groom received at least 12 inches of snow, so Randal has been busy trying to keep highways clear. We have taken several trips to see the kids since Hadley arrived. The trip to California to move Randal's uncle to Texas has been postponed several times, but we heard this week that we will need to leave in about 40 days. That helps to have a time frame. So that tells me that I can fit in another trip to Austin and Ft. Worth. TESSA WHITE BECAME THE BRIDE OF Mike Jones on March 5th in a beautiful afternoon ceremony. They are expecting a baby boy (Hugh Michael) in August. Sissy and Herb found out today that they are having a baby girl (Erin Scout) who is due in July. Please pray for these families. Both the girls are having some difficulties. Tessa has placenta previa and can't walk very far, bend over, stoop, be on her feet very long, etc. for at least 2 months. She will go to OKC the middle of April for another sonogram. Sissy found out today that she is dilated some and will have a surgical procedure done in the morning that will help her body be able to carry little Erin full term. She will be on full bed rest for at least a month. Monta Faye has been in the hospital this week recovering from a bug that caused an extreme amount of vomiting. She is doing good and will get to go home tomorrow. Thank the Lord for healing and renewed strength. Our love to each and everyone, Elmeda's FamilyNews from Oklahoma City It is nice to see all the trees budding and tulips popping their heads thru the ground. This week was Spring break and we went on Tuesday to Memphis, Tennessee and saw Graceland, the home of Elvis. It was impressive. Even Rachel had a good time. Then we went shopping and on the way home we stopped in Little Rock and saw the Clinton Library. It was ok. The people of Little Rock are very proud of it. Jessie has been helping my mother and Elmeda get to the senior meals at lunchtime since my mother’s truck was in the shop for an accident repair. Elmeda is sewing bonnets for the cancer patients and doing some small sewing on lap quilts. Joe has been trying to get the lawn mowers in shape to start cutting grass. Since we cut ours, Elmeda’s, Jessie’s and my mothers it takes a little time to get all the lawn mowers tuned up and ready. John’s third trip back to the Middle East was cancelled. We are thankful that he is safely stuck in California for the time being. John and Ashly were here in Oklahoma City over the Christmas holiday. Rachel’s first track meet of the season is next week. She ran on the cross-country team during the Fall season. She has applied for a summer job at the Church camp, she doesn’t know yet whether she has been accepted. It was either that or her Mother was going to find her a job. Rachel helped me build a quarter mile of 5-strand barbed wire (bob-wire to most of you) fence the weekend before spring break. Carol has been working and trying to assist her 105-year-old aunt, along with the usual chores that happen every day. I have just been working; I did trim the roses the other day to get them ready for spring. Joe, Carol and Rachel Elder News from the metropolis of Idalou Sunday March 13th, Benjamin had a seizure. He spent 4 days in the hospital. The doctors have yet to find the cause. He is back to his normal self again and we are all thankful. It was a scary ordeal for all of us. Katie and Michael bought a house the first of the year. Their new address is: 605 W 8TH ST Announcements
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