A "Little Look at January...Moving Right Along Into 2020...Wondering Where That Will Lead Us

JANUARY 2020

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

Those who have kept up with us over the years know that we are all about travel, whether in the car, Big V (the motor home), or Taz (our Can-Am Spyder).  January gave us a month of almost NO travel, unless you count doctor and hospital visits.

That being said...we'll begin the month with three days of travel from Midlothian, Virginia, to Mineola, Texas.

January 1 saw us up early and headed off to home.  For Point A to Point B travels we like to hurry along with minimal stops, but the doctor was adamant that we take our time and make lots of stops to get up and move around to keep Barbara's blood circulating.

Rest areas along the way were Godsends...and we enjoyed a lovely New Year's Day dinner at a quaint pub outside of Knoxville, Tennessee

January 2 wasn't memorable in any way except for the constant rain from the time we left Knoxville until after we fell asleep in our hotel room in Arkansas.

January 3, however, had only a little rain, mostly overcast skies, and a smooth ride back to our casa in Mineola.

The doctors had told us to avoid stress, so we made that our goal for the month.

Slow days are great for

Sightseeing in our little town of Mineola...Lots of history and pride here.

Baking, shopping, and slow walking

January 8: Happy Birthday, Grandson Benjamin Little

Christmas isn't just a date on the calendar...it's when family gathers to celebrate the reason for the season

Some days are just silly days...they seem to b coming around more regularly than in years past.

And then there are days like today, where a hospital visit overnight is necessary

But it goes easier when one of your sisters is there...

Whatever the ailment or situation, fresh air is an essential element for the cure.

Life is grand when the kids come to do a house makeover...Thanks Leah, Ryan, and Kaiden for all your hard work this weekend!

January 22: Happy Birthday, Leah Renee'

And Happy Birthday to daughter-in-law and busy mom, Kelly Little

There's nothing like some quiet time at Lake Fork

The last couple of weeks of the month were not much to speak about...Barbara began cardiac rehab in Quitman, entered the world of Fitbit to monitor her progress, and made arrangements to see her pain management specialist, Dr. Olvera, in Tyler to discuss procedures for the pains in her back.

No travels and no excitement...just daily walking and breathing for both of us.

++++++++

Wrapping up the month at home in Mineola, Texas

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsie

A Little Behind, But Catching Up Part 3...December 2019...December Travels and Travails

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

DECEMBER TRAVELS AND TRAVAILS

It may be December, but it's still Fall around our place.  Raking up all the leaves sure helps keep me out of the pool hall!!!

Sounding Taps at Wreaths Across America in Gilmer, Texas

Sharing Sounds of the Season with Friends

Our 2019 Christmas card

Children's Sermon Preparation

Celebrating the season with church friends

A hidden treasure...The North Pole of Texas

Lake Country Symphonic Band Concert

After-Concert Taz Ride to Sonic

Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Jim's natal occasion

Another Children's Sermon

Celebrating Christmas at Yantis FBC

And On the Road Again!!!...Spent the night in Mount Pleasant...

First Stop...

Surprising friends George and Janie and sharing the sounds of the season in Germantown, Tennessee

Celebrating the season in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

And doing the odd bit of shopping...

Spending time with friends along the way

Finally in Midlothian, Virginia with Mike, Kelly, Ava, Jack, and Ben

Let the games begin!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ME AND SHE!!!

Photos from San Antonio...the Colwell family and Payton's first Christmas

On the day after Christmas Barbara felt like she might be coming down with a cold, so headed off to our regular Midlothian "Doc-in-the-Box," to get a shot.  However, instead of going to the regular place, we saw a small  emergency hospital and decided to go there.  God must have been talking to us.  Once inside, they did some general tests, then some more tests, and then told Barbara she had some serious heart and blood pressure issues and they were getting an ambulance to send her to Chittenham Hospital in Richmond.  Never saw that coming...

So, the next several days were hospital for Barbara and commuting between the kids' house and the hospital.

Our plan for tonight was to go with the kids to see the Christmas lights in some of the area neighborhoods.  The rest of us went, and I took photos and emailed them to Barbara.

Everyone was concerned about what was going on.  One day Mike and the kids delivered flowers and projects from the kids to Barbara's room.

Ava gave us a copy of her Veterans Day assignment...

And Jack shared his report on dinosaurs...

The hospital stay wasn't all bad.  We met a new friend who had been assigned as Barbara's roommate for a couple of days.  Neci was wonderful, and we found that we had much in common.

It was cutting it close, but they released Barbara from the hospital only after she promised to get back to Mineola as soon as possible and make the first possible appointment with our cardiologist.  At that point she was ready to agree to anything just to get out, so we loaded her up, went to the kids' house, finished packing the car, spent New Years Eve with the kids and some of their friends, made our annual phone calls to Joyce and Gary Whitaker in Houston, and Max Johnson in Santa Fe, New Mexico,  and generally got ready to head out at first light on the first day of the new year.

++++++++

So there you have it...closing out 2019 with family in Midlothian, Virginia.

Jim/Dad/Gramps and Barbara/Mom/Grams/Gramsie