| 20 | Autumn | 05 |
|---|---|---|
| Linda White Box 311 Cheyenne, OK 73628 | Virginia's Family
| Richard's Family
| Dale's Family
Elmeda's Family | Ed's Family | News from Monta Garland's Family | Bill & Mary | Announcements |
Joe Elder 813 SW 63 Oklahoma City, OK 73139 |
| Volume 15 | of the family, by the family, for the family | Issue 2 |
| 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 | ||
Virginia’s FamilyFollowing a cold, wet Spring we had a hot Summer and now are feeling an introduction to Winter already. Night temperatures are in the 30s and 40s - the daytimes like Indian summer. I have been busy with yard work here at home as well as tending the flower beds at church plus volunteer work at the Senior Center helping elderly and low income people obtain free prescription drugs directly from the pharmaceutical companies and advising people on Medicare about the new Medicare approved prescription drug plan which will be effective Jan. 1, 2006. I entered a machine knitted 3 piece outfit in the Eastern Idaho State Fair and won a blue ribbon plus 'Best of Class' ribbon! Machine knitting gives me something to do in my spare time. Barbara and Dennis are doing well. Dennis retired a couple of years ago and is busier than he has ever been. He works for a fellow who has a recycling business and lately they have gotten some contracts for BLM clean up. Barbara is enjoying not working and is busy with tole painting and other projects. She has been very successful selling her tole paintings. Also, both are wonderful grandparents to TJ and Jordyn. Roger was with us for a couple of weeks in late July and early August and we really enjoyed having him here. He is doing very well and with very little disability. He has not returned to work yet and is looking for employment, possibly a ground job with United Airlines. Shannon, Kenneth, TJ and Jordyn are all OK. TJ is in second grade. Jordyn is enrolled in pre-school again this year. TJ will be 8 years old in November and Jordyn was 4 in May. They are growing up much too fast. Shannon and I just returned from a trip to northern Idaho where we visited with our good friend, Selma Howard from Desert Hot Springs, California. Selma was visiting a cousin in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and had a stroke. She was hospitalized, then transferred to a re-habilitation unit at the hospital. She is doing fairly well but has a long way to go. She has a positive attitude and a keen sense of humor which will help speed her recovery. She will return home to California on September 16th. I am leaving right away to visit Roger for a couple of weeks and if need be I will go to Desert Hot Springs to help my friend. Love to all. Richard’s FamilyMom says she feels “at home” now, after having been in South Carolina four months. She and Sharon joined the same church not long ago. Mom is already involved in two weekday Bible studies. Mom keeps busy with housework and sewing. She and Sharon are watching lots being leveled and houses being built across the street and on one side of their house. They have a nice double glider on their front, covered porch, and made some beautiful covered cushions for it. Mom’s friend David (from Tipton OK) surprised her with a visit recently. He played his role of Abraham Lincoln for Mom, Sharon, Cecil and me. He recites “The Gettysburg Address” and does a great job at it. He should be great at it, as he has done this so many times for a number of years—to about 40,000 students (mostly elementary) and teachers. He also asks the kids some questions, and that helps them learn. He has to shave his mustache and dye his hair and beard (to cover the gray) whenever he portrays Lincoln. He’s tall and lanky like Lincoln and wears appropriate attire, including a hat like Lincoln wore, so his appearance very much adds to his presentation. Sharon stays busy with her job. The hospital now makes the day shift do night shifts also. So her hours vary quite a bit from one day to the next. That makes it hard to have a life. Her house in Altus finally sold, so that’s a big load off of her. She has asked me to paint a muted sunset beach/ocean scene above her Jacuzzi tub. I haven’t done that before, so I hope it turns out as good as I have it pictured in my mind. Jason and Jeremy were recently deployed to the south side of New Orleans. They’re working as military police, guarding the areas that had shooting and looting. It sounds dangerous, but Jeremy reports that they are quite bored. I guess most of the people have evacuated by now. They were told that they would be there no more than 30 days. Cecil recently completed a real estate course. He’s awaiting word of when he will test for his license. He already has a job at an established realtor’s office promised him. In fact, he was offered the job out of the blue before he began the course. The offer is what initiated him taking the course. This office is super busy, as Greenville and vicinity are growing fast. Many people are moving here from up north. Cecil’s mother had heart valve replacement surgery on September 7. She came through the surgery itself fine, but all hasn’t been well with her condition since then. The doctor said that her heart was enlarged and looked bad. Blood had been leaking from her bad valve into her lung, which was what caused her shortness of breath. She had low blood pressure and low urine output, so she now she has liver damage and is on kidney dialysis. She also might have brain damage. She hasn’t been fully responsive since the surgery (I’m writing this 5 days after the operation). We pray that she will fully recover, Lord willing. Cecil and I took a weekend getaway Labor Day weekend. We went to Pine Mountain, Georgia, and went to Callaway Gardens and African Wild Animal Safari. We saw everything from kangaroos to giraffes, and peacocks to zeedonks (half zebra and half donkey). They even brought a 2-day old zeedonk on the tour bus for us to pet. Be careful out there—it’s a dangerous world. But have fun and God bless! Jeanne Hart Dale's FamilyI'm in Shawnee, OK tonight. Got your email and thought I'd give you an update on our family. I'm in the final phase of my PhD program. Should be starting my comps soon. Also teaching this semester at a local college in the RL department. My class meets on Tuesday from 2:30 to 5:30. It is tough on the students and me the instructor, but I enjoy it. Our book, "Lookout for the Headhunters" is selling steadily through Amazon.com and through www.BrandtSmithpublishing.com It is a good feeling to have people reading it and writing us letters expressing how much they enjoyed it. Gailia lets me go back and forth regularly to China...we started an organization called "The Connection Company" where we network with Chinese underground house church leaders. It is very thrilling working with these dedicated Christian leaders in underground seminaries and their evangelistic efforts. We are assisting them with tuition and living expenses which takes the pressure off of them and gets the Word out. I'll be going to Iraq in October to teach the Lead Like Jesus workshops with Dr. Avery Willis, retired VP of the International Mission Board. We'll travel up into the Kurdish areas of the north and then into Baghdad finishing up in Amman, Jordan. A policeman in our church loaned me a Kevlar vest and asked that I return it without any holes. Gailia is working as an office receptionist for a surgeon in Jonesboro and enjoys the challenge of a fast-paced office. She is also partnering with another lady in our city to bring Shoutfest 2005 to Jonesboro. She has organized about 20 churches and expects some 3000 college and high school students to attend the one day event. The cost will be $40,000.00 and ticket sales are brisk. I'm really proud of her administrative skills. The negative about her working outside the home is Amber has had to start public school for the first time in her life. She is in the sixth grade. I asked her how things were going yesterday and she told me "we have to line up to go any where." She also asked me if I knew they were not allowed to run in the halls. When I told her I knew that, she told me I should have told her…she got in trouble for running. Whitney is in her final few months of high school. She graduates in December. She is applying to Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas where she wants to major in journalism and photography. She is a terrific young lady. Nathan is a second semester freshman at ASU and in the ROTC program. He was at Ft. Bragg this summer for some special ops training and said he got fleas bad enough for his camp commander to authorize him a shower. He is dating a young lady, also a student at ASU. She is a Texan…I told him to watch out. Texas gals can steal your heart. He is receiving a full scholarship and a stipend for his military commitment. We are really grateful to God for him and his focus. Justyn is getting married in a couple of weeks to a young lady down in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. They are expecting their first child in November. We are going to be grandpa and grandma. He is starting to come around to good decision making and we are also grateful to the Lord for being so good to Justyn and Nikki. We are enjoying our home and the fence is up and the English bulldog, Churchill is a hoot and gets along with our deaf cat from China. We call her Skyler but since she is deaf she doesn't answer to anything. Love you all, Hello and here we are again! This year is quickly coming to it's end! It hardly seems time again for this newsletter but I did not forget it this time. So many things call for attention I almost get overwhelmed at this point. Daddy called just a while ago to let me know with Hurricane Rita headed in his direction, He and Frances would leave Thursday for Harbor Point I think he said, on to Tyler direction if needed. They would be in the mobile home so we know they have safe shelter. While I am talking of Daddy and Frances the both of them have a birthday coming up on the 23rd of this month. Happy Birthday and I love you both! This will be very special for Frances as she sees 75. A nurse caring for Grandma and Grandpa Watts told me once age was not to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. But see it for what it was, a gift God saw fit to give us; the next day and take it a day at a time. We should not be ungrateful for that. (Not that Frances is, but so many women are offended at their age; I personally have a goal to live to be at least 100 years old) I will make 50 next year! Oh yes, I think Daddy told me Frances has had some more dental work done also and doing well. Bruce and Robbie had a great time this summer. The two of them took off for Carlsbad Caverns, went on up to I can't even remember where now, but not even in that direction and farther north! They had a terrific time. It is believe it or not Ripley - - the first time the two of them ever went anywhere without kids and/or family with them! It was just more than Bruce's system could handle. Once they returned home; after two weeks or better I might just add; He stirred up some old friends that seem only to irritate him at the worst times.That poor child has had another round with kidney stones. They don't seem to want to pass, they will just stick around and plague him some other time. I spent a couple of Saturdays ago with Loretta and Megan. Liberty University had an Extraordinary Women's Seminar with some wonderful Authors and Women speakers. I had a terrific time. Loretta is working on her masters in Remedial Education I think it is. She is teaching this year at a wonderful school district and has many benefits to offer her and the family. Megan is working part time in the Hospital gift shop and of course Heather is heavy into the books. Rob is doing finishing work on modular homes. They all seem to be adjusting pretty well to the move across the states. Gailia and Family are also doing well. Brandt has returned from a trip to China, and continues to help pastor a church as well as continue to work on his PhD. He will be working with the Muslim people as part of his job. Gailia is working for a busy dental surgeon of sorts. The dr does facial lyposuction, grafts, reconstruction type stuff, oral surgery...and Gailia will be the next of we four to become a Grandparent! Justyn and Nikki will be having their first child around Thanksgiving! She is a great mom, I know she will also be a super Grandmother. _-- But what is she going to be called, I can hardly wait to find out! -- Justyn is working at the University there in Arkansas. Nathan is attending college with the goal of special forces in the future; Whitney Marie is going to be finishing up high school early I believe - such a smart girl. And Amber is working on being American I think. She has always had her own personality and she is a card! My family and I are doing well. Ron works all day and still finds energy to help me with my stuff in the evenings at times besides mowing our yard and the two elderly neighbors yards. He even pottys our new dog, Desi, in the morning because the bats are so bad Cheri' and I don't want to go out there! We did fairly fine until one of those creatures landed on Cheri's right shoulder and didn't want to leave! I had to knock it off and as it crawled over her dark red shirt at dusk, the harder we tried to be nice and flick the thing off, the tighter it clung. Finally, I think we had just worked ourselves up into such a tizzy afraid the thing would get in that almost waist length hair of hers, I took off my shoe, Cheri' was threatening to take her shirt off and I knocked the thing off her. No - it wasn't good enough that the thing was now on the ground (you know they are gliders not flyers) adrenaline was really pumping so I beat the the thing several times with my shoe until I was r e a l sure it was dead! If the neighbor lady across the street had a camera, she would have won funniest home videos with that one! Anyway, dawn and dusk, our poor dog will use a potty mat because until the bats are gone- we aren't goin' outside; so Ron takes her out. Now back to the Newsletter- Cheri' had a small surgery earlier this month for endometriosis. But once they got inside there, she is clean as a whistle. She has a follow up this coming up Monday, Maybe the Doctor will have news for her problems. He did state they found no cysts, tumors, lesions... all looks fine. She also is getting things lined up to move to Texas with Neil in February 2006. They are both chomping at the bits! She has wanted to make this move for a few years and she can now make it a reality. I just have to make up my mind how to fill all the empty rooms. We have been so crowded for so long, I may can start looking relaxed around here. Cheri' has been my right hand and sometimes both hands and both feet for me for so long, it will be and adjustment for sure. We have team taught children ever since she was big enough to help do anything, I started delegating. She's a kid magnet, they just love her where ever she goes. Half whats in the house is hers, we have tried to prepare Neil. He started looking at houses not just apartments. We told him quite a while back not a two bedroom apt, but three. I think he understands. Neil is doing great. He made the Siberia trip just swell and is still relaying things to us he hadn't told us before. Like the plane running out of gas over the Bering Straits and starting to nosedive, they had another tank and things worked well of course. It's a longer story but I'll not go into it. He forgot one of his backpacks on the huge truck he had hitch a ride with through the tundra on the way back; The guy was honest so when they found it, realized who's it was they knew who to contact to get it back to Neil. So in order to do so, that backpack has now been to Korea! What stories it could tell if possible! He has also started an exercise class with some friends of his. The leader is a personal trainer, and Neil says he is feeling it, better for it, but feeling it. He also plans on making the Palo Duro Fun Run again this year in October. So he needs the muscles in one of his legs to be stronger this year, he has injured it in the past. I too am doing well. The long bankers hours get me some days, but I'll make it. I am also taking a banking course, will be taking a computer course as soon as it comes open, will be taking a speed reading and comprehension class as soon as the videos arrive. I still clean for a little lady about once per week at least once every two weeks. So any spare time is rare. Cheri' and I also taught Vacation Bible School for a week. We had the 3, 4 and 5 year olds for two hours each night. This included craft time. We felt deader than that bat I beat with the shoe after that week! On top of that the bank is very civic minded so we each employee had to take our shift at the fair booth this month, and attend our monthly bank meeting, and work our shift at the business expo sponsored by the Chamber. Did I mention there is no spare time anywhere? and if I find an hour to sit and eat supper I am usually asleep on the couch with the dog wanting me to play fetch, hold her, or potty her. On top of all that I had to break down and buy a pair of bifocal. I was spending more time taking off and putting on those little reading glasses than it was worth. But despite it all--- Life is good and I guess I just wouldn't change a thing at this point in time. Well, I gotta go. It is about midnight here. I open in the morning. I'm not a very good morning person. I love you all, be safe and I hope to hear from each of you in this newsletter. I miss you. Elmeda's FamilyMichael and Katie Crump Hey everyone! It's been a long time since I've written, so I thought I would let everyone know what has been going on. In January, Michael and I bought our first home. It's an 80 year old two bedroom one bath fixer-upper. We have been working hard on it and hope to have a cook out when we are all done. We are living in Idalou about three blocks from my parents. Our new address and phone is: 605 W 8th St. Idalou TX, 79329 (806)-892-3613. We also found out not too long ago that we are expecting our first child. Don't drink the water in Idalou! We will find out if it is a boy or girl in about 6 weeks or so. We are very excited as are our families. My parents have been working hard and Ben has been going to school and working. Ben is a Jr. in high school this year and is working at the Holiday Inn Park Plaza in Lubbock. He is a house man there which means he cleans up everyones messes. If you come to Lubbock be sure to stay there and trash out your room! Well I think that’s about it for now. God bless. Katie Crump News from Oklahoma City, Elmeda is still getting around. She enjoys going to the Senior Center every day for lunch. It gives her a variety of foods and a chance to visit with other people. She is in the process of selling her brick duplex that she and dad bought in 1950. After dad died, she said then that she was going to sell off the properties one per year until they are all gone. After this one sells, the only one left will be her house. I don’t think that she has any plans on selling it, otherwise she would be homeless and might come live with us in John’s old bedroom. Mom’s old car finally bit he dust. She said that she was glad she wasn’t home when they hauled it off. Jessie also is still getting around, she took mom to Lubbock a couple of months ago. She is living in half of mom’s duplex. I guess come the first of the month, she will start paying rent to the new owner. Lloyd is driving a truck for J. B. Hunt. He has been with them for several years. He bought himself a used Mercury Grand Marquis to keep in the truck yard so he would have some transportation when he is home. He is usually home about three or four days per month. Rachel is a senior in high school this year. She is active in sports and is currently running cross-country. Her car is in the shop to get a new engine. Last weekend while I was driving her car to a track meet in Watonga, her engine decided to make a lot of noise. John is still in the Marines in California, he is currently part of the base security for Camp Pendleton. When they have a minor earthquake, they have to go around and reset the alarm systems. Of course they treat each one as a ‘real’ alarm, because you just never know. He is scheduled to get out of the Marines the end of February. Carol has been extremely busy with her mother. She also stays busy with continuing education credits to keep her certification current. I am still employed, and they haven’t even threatened to run me off. There is a supervisor’s position open and I am thinking that I will apply for it. I probably will not get the position, but at least they will know that I am willing to accept more work. Ed's FamilyDear Family, Our part of the family is a bit behind on sending in information for the newsletter. I believe Sissy wrote a note about Scout last time, so I'll start with Lindy's family. Tessa and Mike Jones became the proud parents of Hugh Michael on July 26, 2005. He is a precious little boy who looks alot like his mom. Almost half of little Hugh's heart had not developed at the time of his birth, resulting in open heart surgery when he was 3 days old. He has been in ICU on a ventilator every since. The dr. is pleased with the progress of his heart, but there is some little glitch in his body that the doctors haven't been able to pinpoint yet. This causes Hugh's vital signs to go haywire every once in awhile. The swelling is going down more every day and Hugh can process 1 1/2 ozs. of formula every 3 hours now. PLEASE, PLEASE CONTINUE TO PRAY FOR HUGH MICHAEL AND HIS FAMILY. We have seen GOD in all His glory through these babies. Sissy and her family are doing well. Sis had to start back to school all too soon. It has been an adjustment for the whole family, especially Sissy and Scout. She was used to eating and grazing most of the day, but now she has to drink her bottle during the day. At her 4 month check-up, Scout weighed 9# 14 ozs. She is growing fast now. Connor is a very good big brother. He is in the 4th grade this year and takes Tai Kwan Do lessons twice a week in Enid. Herb stays very busy with his job at FedEx. Maci celebrated her 2nd birthday recently and had lots of fun. Her big sister, Genna, is an extremely busy Senior this year, juggling school activities and work. So, you can imagine how fast Ben and Janna have to run after work. Donna and her family are all well. Grandson, Brennan, is having a good year in football, and Lindy and Curt try to go to his home games and enjoy that. Curt has been super busy with his job at the fertilizer company and his back has been giving him trouble. He's hoping some rest will help his back. As you can imagine, between grandkids, church and work, Lindy meets herself coming back. I haven't gotten to talk to Amy lately, but Lindy said Amy and Monty were tired from work, but doing good. I know fall time through Christmas is extremely hectic for Amy at the candle factory. Jerry and Teresa are busy as well with jobs and family. Jerry is still with the gas company and Teresa is the head librarian in Wheeler. They both get off about the same time which leaves them some time to work on projects. Jerry is still wanting to build a kitchen out in the backyard by a swimming pool they put out there this summer. Apparently, Jerry didn't put on sunscreen since he had never burnt in his life. Unfortunately, his tummy, among other parts suffered for about 2 weeks from that decision. They still have their Harley Davidson motorcycle, but it has been too hot to ride it much this summer. Teresa said that Evan had moved back home recently and is doing roustabout work out of Mobeetie. He is trying to earn money for a new vehicle. Chandra and grandson, Brayden, still live in Sayre. She may start back to school in January, and Brayden stays with Grandma and Grandpa as often as possible. Their new email address is: tljbw@hotmail.com Talked to Judy the other day and their family is all well and healthy. Richie is getting to fly quite a bit now and is learning how to take off and land. You know that is right up his alley! Judy enjoys staying with 2 elderly ladies, taking them to appointments, gardening for them, and caring for their needs. She and Richie are also mom and dad to 11 baby calves and all their goats. They all had a great time this summer when the grandkids got to come for visits. Chandler was chosen for the Gifted and Talented program, and that made school alot more interesting. She is also learning how to play the fiddle. Orion is going to be a cowboy and has his own horse. Drae started to kindergarten this year and likes it pretty well. These are Camron's children. She lives in Blanchard, OK and is doing good. Baylee should be in the G & T program. She finishes her work, gets bored and starts visiting with her classmates. As a result, the teacher removes Baylee's apples from the chalkboard, and she doesn't get the surprise at the end of the week. She is Candy and Derik's daughter. They both work for the city of OKC. Candy recently got a promotion and will start full time the 1st of October. Randal and I feel so blessed. We had been really busy for months getting Randal's Uncle Floyd moved from California and his home in Claude remodeled, then helping his mom and dad. So when Rhett, Ashley, and the dogs, Tucker and Ruby Lou got to come home the end of July, we were thrilled. They were ready to chill out and switch gears. Rhett had been so busy at work, Ashley had been recovering from shoulder surgery, and the beginning of school was just around the corner. Their dogs seem to enjoy being out in the backyard. The chainlink fence allows them to see what all is going on. Rhett and Ashley will leave on Sept. 29th to fly to Hawaii. They will have 2 or 3 days to island hop before Rhett has to start the conferences with clients. Ashley will fly home on Wednesday and Rhett will get home the following Saturday. Their church is helping thousands of people from New Orleans, and the kids adopted a little grandmother. They are helping her with any problems she has. Then, over Labor Day weekend, Heather, Ray, and Hadley came home. This was Hadley's first trip by plane and first trip to Nanny and Granddad's. She is 9 months old now and a bundle of energy. Hadley was having some trouble cutting teeth, but that didn't slow her up much. You can see her little mind learning and absorbing new things. Hadley has a great imagination and seems to focus on details. Well, as all you grandparents know, I could go on and on. Heather and Ray have been doing some major cleaning and purging because around January 13, 2006, little Ryan Patrick will join their family, and they need more room. Ray has 6 sisters, so he didn't think it was possible to get a boy. Heather has been more tired than usual with this pregnancy, so we are praying for a healthy and happy baby boy and his mom. They hope to come back home for Thanksgiving, and we are hoping also. Randal sometimes wishes he were already retired because he doesn't have time to help everyone who needs help, and I'm heading over to the church parsonage this afternoon to start helping our pastor's wife redecorate part of her home before her parents come up. From all of us to all of you, we send our love.............. Nancy News from MontaNo news at this time Garland's FamilyNo news at this time Bill & Mary WattsNo news at this time Announcements
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