Another Little Month of Living

Sunday, August 26-September 30

We finished the month back in Mineola doing the normal daily activities. Jim joined the men fishing on Monday the 27^th.

While Jim was drowning his lures, I was busy trying to find the 5 girls that I ran around with back in the old days in Hobbs, NM. Since our Hobbs class was having its 50^th reunion, I had found out ways to contact Peggy and Patsy (1^{st grade} -11^th), Ann R., Margie, and Ann C (7^th-11^th) so armed with either email or phone numbers that Arleen had sent me, I set out to visit with them. Today I found Peggy in California and Ann R. in Colorado. I sent emails to Ann C. and Margie. Arleen had no information about Patsy. By the end of the month, via email I had visited with Ann C. and Margie. I had also found Patsy and got to talk to her on the phone. More on this later, but for now pretty exciting! 

Wednesday, August 29^th -31st

Wednesday found us driving to Tyler to take Jim’s leather vest to the PGR seamstress to have his patches placed.

Thursday was another staffing at Wood Memorial to discuss Edith’s comprehensive care plan. However, before the meeting, we went to Sonic and bought Edith a slurpee.

Friday we received word that Jim’s leather vest was ready; so we made another trip to Tyler.

Also, on Friday, we received the horrible news that a Deacon at First Baptist Yantis and a friend, Mike Fuller, had died in a trucking accident. 

Mike spent every Sunday morning making omelets for the breakfast goers at church. He also ran the sound system and performed many other behind the scenes jobs. Some Sundays we were blessed to hear him sing during the offertory. 

What a void there will be for us who called him a friend.

Sunday, September 2

After church services this morning, we went to the nursing home to eat with Edith before heading home to our naptime!

Tonight we had been invited over to Lindale to Heidi and Curt’s for supper. Heidi’s family had just moved into a new home and we hadn’t had a chance to check it out. Plus, we were anxious to teach them the game, 9’s.

Wednesday, September 5

Since we had missed our Wednesday night baby-sitting while we were in Artesia, we volunteered to take this night to give someone else a night off. Jim and I take turns watching Jeremiah while the other goes to the other youth groups and takes photos. It’s just another way we can document some of the history for the church.

Thursday, September 6

We begin the day by going by the nursing home to visit with Leslie as she does Edith’s hair. Words cannot express our gratitude to Leslie who each week goes to Wood Memorial to make Edith feel beautiful and brightens her day!

Next we drove out to the church to help serve lunch for Darlene and Mike’s family before attending Mike’s funeral.

Thursday, September 6

Due to our crazy schedules and circumstances in life, it was almost time for Gene and Michelle from Kansas to return there, but we hadn’t had a chance to see each other. Finally, we agreed that we would meet in Quitman at Wing Dingers for a meal and short visit. 

Sunday, September 9- Thursday, September 20

To say that I’m not one to go to the doctor is putting it mildly; but finally on Sunday the infection on the bottom of my foot (which I had had since the end of May), caused me so much pain that I asked Jim to take me to the emergency room. Even after seeing a doctor, we weren’t sure whether I had a fungus or a bacterial infection; but at least someone did something to make it feel a little better. However, by Tuesday when I had an appointment with Dr. Bankhead, I was a basket case as I was allergic to the medicine the ER had given me and had broken out into hives. Yuck!

We did venture out to the community play, Almost Maine, on the 14^th; but, it certainly wasn’t on our list of favorites. However, one still must appreciate the efforts of all involved in any performance.

Sometime during this period, we received a call from Dr. Bankhead’s office that my EKG showed a problem with my heart so I was scheduled to see a specialist on the 19^th. Dr. Tolleson, who looked like a baby to Jim and me (wonder if it’s cause we’re getting older???), was a delight. His recommendation was given like this, “If you were my mother (at least he didn’t say grandmother!), I would ask you to have a stress test just to make certain there is nothing wrong besides the heart murmur.” So…by the time we left, I was scheduled to have a stress test done the next day. This required another trip to Tyler on the 20^th, which was also Edith’s beauty shop day with Leslie. Since I failed the stress test immensely (I didn’t last 2 minutes on the treadmill before I got dizzy and had to stop), we went back by to see Edith and share a marquee sign with her that we felt she would agree with!

Edith’s sister Glennis from Florida is visiting…

September Patriot Guard Rides:

Jim has done something to his right knee and cannot support himself, much less the motorcycle, so this month, we've had to use the car for Patriot Guard duty.

Sometimes, Jim and I just have to get away from the real world. One of our favorite places to do that is at the Mineola Nature Preserve. 

Wednesday, September 26...See You at the Pole at Yantis High School, Yantis, TX

Followed that night by our usual 3^rd Wednesday nursery job and Saw You at the Pole.

Every Thursday night is community band night for Jim and with a concert coming up in October, there’s been a lot of music around this house!

We ended up the month of September with a visit from Leah and Ryan. I think she thought her Mom’s ticker was going to quit ticking and she’d better come see her! Lol!

While the guys were gone to a Men’s breakfast Saturday (the 29^th), I took Leah to the Texas Tea Room in Quitman just as I had taken Randi this summer. Couldn’t help seeing the resemblance between the two in these shots!

No, the kids’ shirts aren’t stained! They’re just proof that we finally received some much needed rain!

Ryan has just informed Leah, Edith, and me that at the men’s breakfast this morning, he received Jesus into his heart. And, by looking at his face, one can tell he is filled with joy!

What a wonderful end to an interesting month!

"Resolve to keep happy and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." Helen Keller. 

Loving our life in small town America.

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams