What the .....

OK you got my attention!!!!! I had hoped what Eileen has said would become the norm. I think this is a great way to keep every one up to date with what is going on in our lives. From the day to day to the extraordinary. Those with our DNA seem to always have something going on so lets keep sharing
Hurrah Bean great Idea!!!

Have I gotten your attention?

Hey Guys, Just playing around to make things a little different. The blog is kind of falling asleep on us. This doesn't have to be about the reunion...it's a way to keep in touch with everyone and share news and ideas without having to email a bunch of different people. I miss hearing from everyone, personally. Hope to hear from you soon. Love you, Eileen

A little Hannah Update

Two posts in one day. Oh well, I feel like gabbing. Just a little update on Hannah. She says things are going pretty well in Iraq. She loves her "men". That's the team she goes on missions with. I guess a "mission" is when they go outside the wire and blow up road side bombs and the like. She says she never realized how much fun "blowing s!%t up is!" That's my Hannah. Actually she stays in the truck as the medic in the event someone gets hurt "having fun". The worst part is she is on duty 24 hours straight, then on call 24 hours which means she must be able to report within 7 minutes. The third day she is off, which means she must be able to report in 20 minutes. She can only shower on her off days. This for a kid that used to have to shave her legs every day! She says the best part is there are so many males, the females can be choosy, and so few females that they all look good to the men! Actually she has a beau over there watching out for her. She is studying to go before the Soldier of the Month Review Board at the end of May. Say a little prayer for her if you can. She plans to re-enlist in July and I believe getting the Soldier of the Month honor will help her in one way or another for her re-enlistment. She says she thinks the Army is the best way of life for her and either she is made for the Army, or the Army is made for her. Knowing Hannah...it must be that the Army was designed strictly for her! Needless to say, I am a proud, concerned mom, but happy that she seems happy. I'll let you know more as I hear. Eileen

Update on our Branson Home!

Greetings Everyone!

It's been a while since a new post, so I guess it is time. Last week was a little sullen for me with it being "Mom's Week". Mother's Day and Mom's birthday all in one week. I didn't really think about it too much, just had that "in a funk" feeling I usually get in August. Most of you know what I mean.

I got the contract on the house the other day, and the cost went up dramatically! I contacted the owner, and she explained some zoning changes, etc. that Stone County had implemented. She agreed to honor the initial price she quoted. This truly is a cost to these folks. They are now only allowed to rent to one family per month! I feel pretty lucky to have gotten this deal, so I'm going to go ahead and send the contract and my credit card number for the $3,000 deposit. This is a little unnerving, but since they are cutting us a deal, I don't want to wait until the end of the month and risk losing out. So, if you all don't want me to go to the poor house, or debtor's prison, please don't forget those contributions at the end of May. If I win the lottery before then, the trip is on me! I did look again and consider some lower cost houses, but having done this before with a group not quite so large, I really think having the two "living areas" and the huge dining area will make things much nicer for us. I'd like to be able to do this every few years, but in the event that is not possible, we might as well have the most awesome memories possible from this reunion.

Hope all are well.

Love you all, Bean

Happy Mother's day!!!!

Happy Mother's day.

This is our first Mother's Day without our Mom. It will happen to us all, that is to say someday we will all loose our mothers. It comes with sadness and joy. The missing moments in time and the joy of knowing mom sits in her room in the mansion of God.

But we are here and now and we still need to give thanks to our wives, mothers and sisters for all they do. I know I praise God each day for putting Pam in my life. She has been my wife, mother of my son, nurse to us when we have been sick, chief cook and bottle washer and all without complaint. I can say I have married the most selfless and giving person I have ever know. Thank you Pam.

This goes out to the gentlemen in our family. I have come to learn a couple of things about mother's Day. Never forget it is mother's Day, Never give an appliance as a gift, although I hear the i robot is acceptable, Don't expect her to cook, that is why they invented restaurants. Don't ask her for her credit Card either, bad move. Flowers are great but don't buy them at the grocery store or buy artificial flowers in the hopes you can use them again next year. And never I say never give her things from Victoria's Secret and say "This is for you to wear tonight honey" ooooh that is bad. And the last thing after dinner never say "Hey Honey it's been a good day how about fixing me a cold drink". It may be more than cold around your house.

Well that is some of the things I have learned not to do. I am not going to tell you the things that work, 'cause your Mom or Wife may read this and you will not be able to use those most successful of ideas as they will know it came form me.

So in conclusion Have a Happy Mother's Day!!!

Love,

Uncle, Husband, Brother, cousin and father, Jim

30 years ago today

I had a little girl...so scrawny and cute.......Happy birthday, TreeFrog! You know who you are..... (and how OLD you are - unlike me; I'm eternally mentally young)

And Happy Mother's Day to all of us!!! We deserve it!

visit from Bryan and Shelly

Wow, what a great birthday I had! Bryan and Shelly came to visit along with Hershey their chocolate lab. We went to Hocking Hills and I got some great pictures of them at the cave and cliffs. I will eventually post the pix, well actually I will beg Barry to figure out how to post them. Right now he is replacing the back steps with the worlds tiniest deck. I prefer a patio, which we have, so he had quite a challenge designing what was acceptable to his picky, picky wife. The poor man has been dodging rain showers trying to get this done! He built such a strong foundation that it will outlast the house.
Bryan didn't know anything about the reunion and do you know what? I forgot to give him info about the blog! Well I couldn't help it! We had busy, happy days exploring, playing with the nephews/grandsons, and evenings sitting around the firepit! He and Shelly left this morning and arrived home safely.
Did anyone find a picture of Nan and Pop at their wedding?
My love to all!
Debbie

Are you excited?

Well it has been several months since we started the discussions about a family reunion. As I read the comments, both those pertaining to the reunion and those that don't, it has become abundantly clear that this blog this is a great source of family communication.

News about birthdays, illness, our pets and the list can go on. Some comments at our sisters, mothers, expenses but all done in fun. This is what family is about.

I personally have gained by building back some relationships and hearing about others ideas and point of views. 4 months ago I could not spell blog and now I am using one. Isn't new technology great. And for the younger kids in the group, I am proof you can teach an old dog new tricks. Now if I could only figure out mp3 and i-pods I'd feel like I have accomplished something.

If someone has a laptop and can bring it to the reunion and would be willing to take some time to teach me some computer tricks I would find it most enjoyable. To learn from those younger than you is a rewarding thing. You'll understand when you get older.

Well I sign off now and God bless to you all!

Uncle, Brother, Father, Cousin and Husband Jim

Another old one!

Happy birthday, debbie Laverty Ketchie, did you think I'd forget you in your dotage? I hope you had a very special day...and how old are we now????? Love you!