Ann

So very sorry for your loss.

I am so sorry to hear that your sister isn't doing well. I will be remembering both of you in my prayers. Don't worry about words. You and your sister will communicate with your hearts. If there are words to be said, those words will come to you when you need them. I( know how difficult this must all be for you. Stay strong and remember that you have many friends here that care.

Thank you for always being here for all of us, Katie. Your strength and determination to fight lung cancer has been a true inspiration for all of us. We are so very lucky to have you and Rick!!!!

Hope you're having a much better day today, Cindi. You're much too tough to let these hospital stays keep you down!!! See ya at the Pub!!!

So very sorry for your loss.

Laurey, I am so very sorry for your loss. I know how hard it is to lose someone you love and be forced to remain strong for your children. I know how broken hearted you and your children are right now. The pain can be truly unbearable. Please know that my heart is reaching out to you and I am remembering you and your family in my prayers. If you ever need to talk, I'm here to listen.

Connie, I have no advice to send but I am sending a ton of positive thoughts, good wishes and am saying lots of prayers.

Beautiful picture!!! Does the little one like those donuts as well as you do, Frank???

And....I thank God for you, Cindi!!!

Don...you are the absolute BEST!!! Thank you so much for all of the friendship, encouragement and support that you have given to all of us. I look forward to at least 9,000 more of your great to read posts!

Don, I also found some letters from Dennis after he passed. Those letters are so treasured and mean so very much to me. As others have said, I don't think it's pure coincidence that leads to us to find these things when we do. Finding those letters was just Lucie's special way of reminding you how much she will always love you.

SLOW DANCE Have you ever watched kids On a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain Slapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. Do you run through each day On the fly? When you ask ?How are you?? Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, Do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores Running through your head? You'd better slow down Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. Ever told your child, We'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, Not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, Let a good friendship die Cause you never had time To call and say, "Hi." You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last. When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry through your day, It is like an unopened gift... Thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear the music Before the song is over.

I just posted ordering information on a couple of message boards that had contributors to our recipe book. I'm placing my order right now! These cookbooks are going to make great Christmas gifts!!!

Will be saying lots of prayers for our friend, Rich.

(((((((((Donna))))))))) Your brother was so blessed to have such a loving sister. I've been thinking of you a lot and have been wondering how you are.

Thanks for all of the kind words. I promise to post some clearer pics as soon as I can. Little Ella went home last night from the hospital. My son called me a few minutes ago and he sounded exhausted. It seems my little grandaughter (love the sound of that word) kept her mommy and daddy awake most of the night. So...grandma is headed over right after work to hold Ella and let mom and dad catch a few winks. I'm sure you can all tell how I'm looking forward to this job!!! This is my third day of being a grandmother and so far I LOVE IT!!!!

George Carlin's View on Aging Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions. "How old are you?"? "I'm four and a half!"? You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five!? That's the key. You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back! You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead. "How old are you?"? "I'm gonna be 16!"? You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony... YOU BECOME 21...YESSSS!!! But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there?? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong?? What's changed? You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40.? Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50 And your dreams are gone. But wait!!!? You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would! So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60. You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90's, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92." Then a strange thing happens.? If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again.? "I'm 100 and a half!" May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!! HOW TO STAY YOUNG 1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them!" 2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. 3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's 4. Enjoy the simple things. 5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. 6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, Who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive. 7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies...whatever. Your home is your refuge. 8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help. 9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is. 10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. And if you don't send this to at least 8 people - who cares?? But do share this with someone; we all need to live life to its fullest each day!! Have a wonderful day!!!!!!!

Here's our little Ella Marie..... http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i308/ ... lla001.jpg http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i308/ ... a/Ella.jpg These pictures were taken last night. Like a nut, I used the camcorder on the first night and forgot I had my digital camera with me. Ella is going home today.....hooray!!!!

Thanks for all the good thoughts and wishes!!! Ella Marie was born at 8:01 tonight!!! She weighed 6lbs-15 ounces and is absolutely beautiful!!! After having 3 sons, I finally have a little girl to spoil!!! I'll be posting lots of pictures tommorrow! Youngest son and new DIL are honeymooning at Sandals in Antigua for the week. They will be so sad that Ella didn't wait for them to get home. I'll also be posting wedding pictures by the end of the week!

I think this may have been posted befroe but thought it was good for another laugh.... Deep In the back woods, a hillbilly's wife went into labor in the middle of the night, and the doctor was called out to assist in the delivery. Since there was no electricity, the doctor handed the father-to-be a lantern and said, "Here. You hold this high so I can see what I am doing." Soon, a baby boy was brought into the world. Whoa there, said the doctor, "Don't be in such a rush to put that lantern down. I think there's another one coming." Sure enough, within minutes he had delivered a baby girl. "Hold that lantern up, don't set it down there's another one!" said the doctor. Within a few minutes he had delivered a third baby. "No, don't be in a hurry to put down that lantern, it seems there's yet another one coming!" cried the doctor. The redneck scratched his head in bewilderment, and asked the doctor, "You reckon it might be the light that's attractin' 'em?

Like Kasey, I'm a "gotta know" gal! Give me all the facts...good or bad. I need to have time to get myself in an "I can handle this mode" and I need all the info to do so!

No thanks necessary. As Don said, we're all family and we're here to help each other along during tough times and cheer each other along when times are good. So glad you feel better after talking!

Nick, I think placing the angel in your mom's garden was a perfect thing to do! Sometimes, after losing a loved one, we just seem to "know" what special thinks to do. I think your Mom was guiding you through this one!!!

Are you a person that deals better with the "known" or the "unknown"? In other words, do you want to know everything straight up or do you prefer to not know the rality of an issue?

Oh yes...I believe.