Just a bunch of jumbled up thoughts today.
I finally spoke to my BF Brenda last night. It's been a month since her daddy went to be wiht Jesus and it's still so raw and fresh for her. My heart aches for her. I hate to see someone I love in pain! We have SO much to catch up on. Last night's 45 minutes was just a tease!
I talked to her last night while sitting in my car in the Albertson's Grocery Store parking lot. Charles went to a guys bible study for the first time down in Keller, TX about 45 minutes from us here in Denton.I was not about to drive home and then back so I've decided I will use that time wisely, working on Bible study or catching up on reading. He was really excited about the study when I picked him up. Jordan, the multi-talented, mega-gifted Worship leader and lead singer of Destination Known
http://www.dkband.com/
is leading the study. Since Charlie is learning to play electric guitar, he is really drawn to Jordan. He is a good role model and "mentor" for my son. I've always sensed that God will use Charlie in a special way because he is such a sweet, sensitive, compassionate kid! I have to go out today and get him the book they're studying.
What else? Oh yeah, I did NOT get chosen for Jury Duty yesterday morning. I was kind of relieved because I feel I need to get myself together and be ready on a moments notice when Jennifer calls me to come because she's having the baby. I have started a list and I need to stock up for my family here at home.
For dinner tonight? I grilled and BBQ'd on Sun afternoon since I didn't know if I was going to be selected for JD. I didn't want to come home and then have to make supper too. I cooked bratwurst, sausage, burgers, pork steaks and chicken breasts. I probably won't have to cook until Thursday!
My MIL came home from the hospital yesterday and seems to be doing much better. That was yesterday mind you. It changes day to day. We should have the remaining results to determine the type of leukemia she has and then we'll know the course of treatment.
A little disjointed but that's the kind of day I sense it's going to be!
Later!
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
The End Of The Spear!
At long last, a film has been made of the 5 missionaries who were martyred and their families in 1956 by the most violent people in history. I had heard of Elizabeth Elliott for years. When I worked in the Christian Book Store business I had seen her books on the shelf. It wasn't until 5 years ago did I know "the rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say.
I was watching a program on TV and they had 4 or 5 of the widows on there and instantly they captivated me with their story of heartache and triumph. I ran out and bought "Through Gates Of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliott and devoured it fairly quickly. In this book she wrote about the background of her and her husband Jim Elliott along with the other families.She wrote about their callings as Missionaries and the preparatons that were made to try and make contact with the "Auca" Indian tribe. Their name translates into "Naked Savages" and they were merciless in their spearings of their enemies.The book was written from their point of view.
This movie we saw last night, "The End Of The Spear" was told from the Indian's point of view. This story is a beuatiful example of God's redemption. The movie was produced by Steve Saint, who was only 5 years old when his father gave his life. He lives among the very people his father and the others tried to bring the gospel message to and the man who speared his father is the "spiritual grandfather" of his own children!
This one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen and I highly recommend it to everyone. I'm going to take our kids to go see it. For anyone who thinks that someone is beyond the reach of our amazing God, thwy only need to watch this movie and realize that HE is still in the life-changing business!
I was watching a program on TV and they had 4 or 5 of the widows on there and instantly they captivated me with their story of heartache and triumph. I ran out and bought "Through Gates Of Splendor" by Elizabeth Elliott and devoured it fairly quickly. In this book she wrote about the background of her and her husband Jim Elliott along with the other families.She wrote about their callings as Missionaries and the preparatons that were made to try and make contact with the "Auca" Indian tribe. Their name translates into "Naked Savages" and they were merciless in their spearings of their enemies.The book was written from their point of view.
This movie we saw last night, "The End Of The Spear" was told from the Indian's point of view. This story is a beuatiful example of God's redemption. The movie was produced by Steve Saint, who was only 5 years old when his father gave his life. He lives among the very people his father and the others tried to bring the gospel message to and the man who speared his father is the "spiritual grandfather" of his own children!
This one of the most powerful movies I have ever seen and I highly recommend it to everyone. I'm going to take our kids to go see it. For anyone who thinks that someone is beyond the reach of our amazing God, thwy only need to watch this movie and realize that HE is still in the life-changing business!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Cancer Strikes Again
Well, we got the results from the bone marrow biopsy and my MIL has Leukemia. What we're waiting on now is to find out which kind it is? Apparently there is an agressive kind that is difficult to treat and then there is one that's not as agressive and treatable. We hope to know more in a few days and then we'll know what kind of treatment the docs are going to try. Keep those prayers coming.....
Friday, January 27, 2006
2006 Isn't Starting Out So Hot!
Many of you remember me posting about the disasterous trip to Texas by my in-laws for New Years. In it I wrote how my MIL flipped out on the trip down here and slept the whole time they were here, never leaving the motel room. We speculated that it was a lack of circulation that caused her spastic and then coma-tose like behavior.
Since her return she has been sleeping up to 23 hours a day!!! Yeah, that's not normal. The bottom line is that she has been in the hospital while they try and figure out what's wrong with her. She had high levels of calcium in her blood and through medication, trial and error they've managed to bring those down. This probably explains her unusual behavior. What causes elevated calcium levels? It sounds like cancer is the guilty culprit.
They've been running tests and even did a bone marrow biopsy a couple of days ago.Having had one of those done 18 months ago at the Texas Cancer Center I can tell you that they are pretty darn uncomfortable. Some would even say painful. The early results are in but the docs are waiting to go over the results once all of the rest get in. They said that if the bone marrow biopsy came back negative, they would do one on her liver.
Last night my brother-in-law Perry said the nurses took out her catheter and even tried to get her up to walk. She is very weak and can no longer walk more than a step or two.The speculation is that the results are in and from what the docs have already seen, it's not good. Why remove the catheter only to reinsert it again for more testing?
Quite frankly, I don't know if my MIL is strong enough to endure treatments of any kind. She has had cancer twice before but she was much younger then and that was also before her stroke 10 years ago. Until we know anything definite we just sit here in limbo.
Dave and I have talked about our parents getting older and having to go through the inevitability of death. It was always way down the road. Brenda losing her dad last month has made it more real.
Anyone out there reading this, please pray for my MIL Kathy and my FIL Bill as they go through this latest ordeal. Thay've been married 54 years and they are in their late 70's. A little prayer for Perry who is the nearest son and helping out, along with my husband Dave and the other brother Trace would be great too.
Will post more later.....
Since her return she has been sleeping up to 23 hours a day!!! Yeah, that's not normal. The bottom line is that she has been in the hospital while they try and figure out what's wrong with her. She had high levels of calcium in her blood and through medication, trial and error they've managed to bring those down. This probably explains her unusual behavior. What causes elevated calcium levels? It sounds like cancer is the guilty culprit.
They've been running tests and even did a bone marrow biopsy a couple of days ago.Having had one of those done 18 months ago at the Texas Cancer Center I can tell you that they are pretty darn uncomfortable. Some would even say painful. The early results are in but the docs are waiting to go over the results once all of the rest get in. They said that if the bone marrow biopsy came back negative, they would do one on her liver.
Last night my brother-in-law Perry said the nurses took out her catheter and even tried to get her up to walk. She is very weak and can no longer walk more than a step or two.The speculation is that the results are in and from what the docs have already seen, it's not good. Why remove the catheter only to reinsert it again for more testing?
Quite frankly, I don't know if my MIL is strong enough to endure treatments of any kind. She has had cancer twice before but she was much younger then and that was also before her stroke 10 years ago. Until we know anything definite we just sit here in limbo.
Dave and I have talked about our parents getting older and having to go through the inevitability of death. It was always way down the road. Brenda losing her dad last month has made it more real.
Anyone out there reading this, please pray for my MIL Kathy and my FIL Bill as they go through this latest ordeal. Thay've been married 54 years and they are in their late 70's. A little prayer for Perry who is the nearest son and helping out, along with my husband Dave and the other brother Trace would be great too.
Will post more later.....
Monday, January 23, 2006
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Quick Update From Missouri
This is my last evening at Jennifer's. Tomorrow we drive to St Louis from Columbia and I'll fly back to Texas. I've had such a wonderful time sharing in my daughter's life and her family this weekend. We had manicures and pedicures on Friday which was her 28th birthday. I treated her to lunch and then I got to go to her office at the American Heart Association and see a little bit of what she does. Now, when I talk to her and she's at work, I can picture where she is. That evening I watched Aly Cat so Corey could take her out to dinner. That was enjoyable!!
Jennifer is due to have Ashley in 5 more weeks, Honestly, she looks like she could go anytime now! I can't imagine her "growing" anymore! I have taken a lot of pictures and I'll be posting them as soon as I can. On Sat when Jenn had a birthday/shower luncheon hosted by a really close friend of hers, Corey's Dad helped him put together Aly's new bedroom set. She'll be moving into a "big girl bed" this nest week. Too cute!!! I will post more after I get home.
Lots going on.....
Jennifer is due to have Ashley in 5 more weeks, Honestly, she looks like she could go anytime now! I can't imagine her "growing" anymore! I have taken a lot of pictures and I'll be posting them as soon as I can. On Sat when Jenn had a birthday/shower luncheon hosted by a really close friend of hers, Corey's Dad helped him put together Aly's new bedroom set. She'll be moving into a "big girl bed" this nest week. Too cute!!! I will post more after I get home.
Lots going on.....
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Well, it's the start of another crazy day in the Hopkins family! I have just one house to clean today so I should have my afternoon free to run the remainder of my errands, do catch up on laundry and then pack tonight for my trip out of town tomorrow. I have to run the boys back & forth to Youth Group tonight and still squeeze in tonight's episode of "LOST"! Tomorrow I have a house in the morning and will need to come home and clean up before heading to the airport.My flight is scheduled to leave at 4:50PM.
I spoke with my Mom last night and I was pleased that she was in such a good mood. She didn't sleep in the hospital (whoever can?) and was worn out Mon night when I called her after she got home. So I called her back last night, she was refreshed and we talked for nearly an hour. I sure wish they lived closer! I miss my Mom and being able to see her more often and do things together.
Essentially, she said that she'd had a nosebleed last Tues (the first she'd ever had in her life if you can believe it!) It didn't last too long and she checked in with her doc. They wanted her to come in for a lab draw and when they called her back with the results, he wanted to up her Cumadin to 14mg. Mom said she was too scared to go that high and didn't. Good thing it turns out! She'd have bled even worse, if that was possible, when she had this last one that made Pop take her to the hospital. She said that her nose bled and refused to stop. It began at the restaurant and she soaked piles of napkins trying to stop the flow. Fortunately, DePaul Hospital was right there and she got in.
They ended up cauterizing one side of her nose to stop the bleeding. They had to pack her nose, inserting gauze etc up inside. I had to laugh at the description she was giving me of theses things with their strings hanging out. Honestly, I told her it sounded like they had shoved tampons inside her nose! Being a tad more conservative than me, being "Old School European"plus the ordeal being too recent, she didn't exactly laugh at my attempt at humor! Still, I thought it was a fair comparison. I told her that Hockey Players and Boxers receive "Snot Rockets" when they get an injury to the nose and that maybe she was in training and I din't know about it. Again, not too much response on her end! Ha Ha! That's "Meine Mutti" for you!
I hope she's feeling up to coming out to Jenn's this Sat. If the packing hasn't fallen out on it's own yet, she'll probably stay home. She's kind of embarassed and she said it's gross to see this stuff hanging out her nose. I guess I'll have to take her word for it. Being the sick scrapbooker that I am, I told her I wish that I had had a picture of her in all her glory. You now, I'm surprised my Mom even WANTS to talk to me! She probably wonders how she could have borne a child so different from her!
Ich Habe Dich Sehr Liebe Mutti!
I spoke with my Mom last night and I was pleased that she was in such a good mood. She didn't sleep in the hospital (whoever can?) and was worn out Mon night when I called her after she got home. So I called her back last night, she was refreshed and we talked for nearly an hour. I sure wish they lived closer! I miss my Mom and being able to see her more often and do things together.
Essentially, she said that she'd had a nosebleed last Tues (the first she'd ever had in her life if you can believe it!) It didn't last too long and she checked in with her doc. They wanted her to come in for a lab draw and when they called her back with the results, he wanted to up her Cumadin to 14mg. Mom said she was too scared to go that high and didn't. Good thing it turns out! She'd have bled even worse, if that was possible, when she had this last one that made Pop take her to the hospital. She said that her nose bled and refused to stop. It began at the restaurant and she soaked piles of napkins trying to stop the flow. Fortunately, DePaul Hospital was right there and she got in.
They ended up cauterizing one side of her nose to stop the bleeding. They had to pack her nose, inserting gauze etc up inside. I had to laugh at the description she was giving me of theses things with their strings hanging out. Honestly, I told her it sounded like they had shoved tampons inside her nose! Being a tad more conservative than me, being "Old School European"plus the ordeal being too recent, she didn't exactly laugh at my attempt at humor! Still, I thought it was a fair comparison. I told her that Hockey Players and Boxers receive "Snot Rockets" when they get an injury to the nose and that maybe she was in training and I din't know about it. Again, not too much response on her end! Ha Ha! That's "Meine Mutti" for you!
I hope she's feeling up to coming out to Jenn's this Sat. If the packing hasn't fallen out on it's own yet, she'll probably stay home. She's kind of embarassed and she said it's gross to see this stuff hanging out her nose. I guess I'll have to take her word for it. Being the sick scrapbooker that I am, I told her I wish that I had had a picture of her in all her glory. You now, I'm surprised my Mom even WANTS to talk to me! She probably wonders how she could have borne a child so different from her!
Ich Habe Dich Sehr Liebe Mutti!
Monday, January 16, 2006
Stop The World, I Wanna Get Off!
It's the start of another week. Laura Lou and Charles are off school today for MLK day and tomorrow for a Staff Development Day. I told Dave last night we should put a revolving door in at our house. Yesterday afternoon Charles' best friend came over, then he went to Charlie's High School bible study group and spent the night. They've been up ALL NIGHT playing video games. It's nearly 8AM and they're still at it! Laura Lou came home from work yesterday and she had 2 friends spending the night as well. They ran out to get movies and snacks and were cooking in the kitchen at 11 last night. Wow! I don't think I could do that now that I'm an old lady! To be young again (at least physically anyway)!
I spoke to Pop last night and my mom is in the hospital. She has a pacemaker and is on meds but this was unrelated actually. She's been having gushing nosebleeds and he was concerned because she's on the blood thinners. At dinner yesterday evening at the restaurant she had one. He packed her up in the car and took her to the hospital that was virtually next door. It turns out she has some kind of nasal infection. She's not had a cold or sinus infection or anything like that. They packed her nose, put some type of tubes in and injected antibiotics through a syringe. She's supposed to come home today. I know my Mom and I'll bet she's fit to be tied! She gets really aggravated over stuff like this! I wouldn't want to be Pop today! (cringe)
I went into the Texas Cancer Center last week for my lab work and my platelet count was great! Mine were 339,000 and that's after my Oncologist lowering my meds! Dave said that maybe I could be off the meds altogether this year! I would certainly like that! My stepsister is supposed to be starting chemo soon so we're definitely praying for her situation! Her youngest child is only 15 and she's a Sophomore in High School.
I'm getting excited over my trip back to St Louis this Thursday to spend the weekend with Jennifer, celebrating her birthday. I'll probably start gathering stuff together and pack some of my stuff rather than waiting until the last minute.
That's all for now.......
I spoke to Pop last night and my mom is in the hospital. She has a pacemaker and is on meds but this was unrelated actually. She's been having gushing nosebleeds and he was concerned because she's on the blood thinners. At dinner yesterday evening at the restaurant she had one. He packed her up in the car and took her to the hospital that was virtually next door. It turns out she has some kind of nasal infection. She's not had a cold or sinus infection or anything like that. They packed her nose, put some type of tubes in and injected antibiotics through a syringe. She's supposed to come home today. I know my Mom and I'll bet she's fit to be tied! She gets really aggravated over stuff like this! I wouldn't want to be Pop today! (cringe)
I went into the Texas Cancer Center last week for my lab work and my platelet count was great! Mine were 339,000 and that's after my Oncologist lowering my meds! Dave said that maybe I could be off the meds altogether this year! I would certainly like that! My stepsister is supposed to be starting chemo soon so we're definitely praying for her situation! Her youngest child is only 15 and she's a Sophomore in High School.
I'm getting excited over my trip back to St Louis this Thursday to spend the weekend with Jennifer, celebrating her birthday. I'll probably start gathering stuff together and pack some of my stuff rather than waiting until the last minute.
That's all for now.......
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Moose Goes Through Car!
I was reminded of this story when one of my Alaskan Blogger pals wrote about her son's man and moose encounter! Talk about scary!!!!
http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/moose.asp#photo
http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/moose.asp#photo
Monday, January 09, 2006
Start of another busy week!
Where DO the weekends go? All I know is I went to bed Friday night, woke up and it's suddenly Monday morning already! I can not believe how much Christmas stuff got packed away this weekend. I normally have *10 or 11 of the largest size of Rubbermaid containers and *6 or 7 of a smaller size that I store all of our Christmas stuff in. I only have 1 large and 1 small left to fill. I will take down all of the ceiling garland with lights, beads, picks & bows, store the kitchen rugs, tablecloth and placemats and remove the lighted snowman banner in front of the house and TAA-DAA! I'm finished!!! I hated storing the Christmas china, it's so pretty to eat off of during the holidays! The bright side, I can go back to my Moose patterned "Brushwerks" stoneware (made by Big Sky Carvers) which I love!
The weather has been very warm for January, even breaking a couple of record highs in the last 2 weeks! Who ever heard of running around in shorts and 82 degrees outside in January (unless you live in California, Hawaii or Florida!) I would really like to see some cooler weather! I want to use the fireplace again and can't justify it unless it gets down into the 30's at night! Saturday I took a break from Christmas de-decorating and ran over to the park to see Gabby & Jacey. There were people "tanning" and folks rollerblading in tank tops, someone was even riding their horse! Weird! I even used the new grill and cooked up some Marinated Chicken Breasts, which turned out great!
Yesterday, before having to return her, Jessica and Steven brought Gabby over so she could open her Christmas presents. To be a kid again! (sigh)
Last night Dave and I watched a good movie we rented from Netflix. "The Great Raid" is based on a true story, set in the Phillipines during WW2. It was in January of 1945, the Americans were pushing to take back the Phillipine Islands and were working with the Underground Resistance. The Japanese were "liquidating" American POW's because they saw the writing on the wall (losing the war). This movie was about the raid that Army Rangers carried out to rescue over 5oo POW's. They did so with only 2 American casualties. One POW died afterwards due to his deteriorated condition of being in there for over 3 years! A really good movie in my opinion. I'll probably get it for Pop. He calls war movies, "training films" since he's retired Army.
I love historical movies and I'm probably one of the most unusual woman around in my taste of movies. One year for Mother's Day Dave took me to dinner and a movie. When asked what I wanted to see, I blurted out "Gladiator!" Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good romantic comedy and even chick flicks but I prefer Westerns and war movies. Speaking of movies, we had already seen "Dreamer" in October but it's at the dollar show so we went Sat night and caught it again. A really nice family, feel-good movie! It's a shame that Hollywood and the forces that be, don't make more of these kind of movies. If the public however doesn't support them (translation: The studios don't make oodles of money) they will get fewer and fewer! I read that "Cinderella Man" was considered a box office flop (didn't rake in the big bucks like some "Human Hamburger Helper" slasher movie) and we LOVED that movie!
My list of things to do is about a mile long and I'm burning daylight as it is. I'll post a couple of pics from the weekend.
Auf Weidersehn!
The weather has been very warm for January, even breaking a couple of record highs in the last 2 weeks! Who ever heard of running around in shorts and 82 degrees outside in January (unless you live in California, Hawaii or Florida!) I would really like to see some cooler weather! I want to use the fireplace again and can't justify it unless it gets down into the 30's at night! Saturday I took a break from Christmas de-decorating and ran over to the park to see Gabby & Jacey. There were people "tanning" and folks rollerblading in tank tops, someone was even riding their horse! Weird! I even used the new grill and cooked up some Marinated Chicken Breasts, which turned out great!
Yesterday, before having to return her, Jessica and Steven brought Gabby over so she could open her Christmas presents. To be a kid again! (sigh)
Last night Dave and I watched a good movie we rented from Netflix. "The Great Raid" is based on a true story, set in the Phillipines during WW2. It was in January of 1945, the Americans were pushing to take back the Phillipine Islands and were working with the Underground Resistance. The Japanese were "liquidating" American POW's because they saw the writing on the wall (losing the war). This movie was about the raid that Army Rangers carried out to rescue over 5oo POW's. They did so with only 2 American casualties. One POW died afterwards due to his deteriorated condition of being in there for over 3 years! A really good movie in my opinion. I'll probably get it for Pop. He calls war movies, "training films" since he's retired Army.
I love historical movies and I'm probably one of the most unusual woman around in my taste of movies. One year for Mother's Day Dave took me to dinner and a movie. When asked what I wanted to see, I blurted out "Gladiator!" Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a good romantic comedy and even chick flicks but I prefer Westerns and war movies. Speaking of movies, we had already seen "Dreamer" in October but it's at the dollar show so we went Sat night and caught it again. A really nice family, feel-good movie! It's a shame that Hollywood and the forces that be, don't make more of these kind of movies. If the public however doesn't support them (translation: The studios don't make oodles of money) they will get fewer and fewer! I read that "Cinderella Man" was considered a box office flop (didn't rake in the big bucks like some "Human Hamburger Helper" slasher movie) and we LOVED that movie!
My list of things to do is about a mile long and I'm burning daylight as it is. I'll post a couple of pics from the weekend.
Auf Weidersehn!
Friday, January 06, 2006
Ready To Move On
I've been in one of those restless moods the last couple of days. I look around at the Christmas decorations in need of being packed up and stored away and think, "Naaaaahhhh, I don't feel like it!" I went back to work Wed and thought, "I'm ready to retire to my cabin in the mountains and play." I've been looking at floorplans again as well as some mail order catalogs with furnishings. I'm seriously considering playing the lottery! My luck, is such though, that I'd have a greater chance of being struck down by blue ice falling out of a passing jetliner!
The only thing I really have been working on lately is my Genealogy project. I am currently writing chapter 4 which starts around 1700. I have from 1477 to 1699 completed in the first 3 chapters. I got a note from my father this week and apparently another family member is wanting my information. Heck NO! I have become very posessive about my hard work. I mean, what has she contributed? It sounds mean and petty but she's going to have to wait along with everyone else in the family. My timeline is to have the book completed this year.
I have been blessed to hook up with 2 other cousins who have graciously shared their info and research with me. The 3 of us have invested a lot of our time into this project. My one cousin in Maryland shares the same Great Great Grandparents, Norman Oscar McCollum & Iantha Mullins McCollum, as me. Her great grandmother (Marietta) and my great grandfather (Homer) were siblings.
The other cousin of ours in Arkansas goes back one more generation, we all share the same great great great grandparents William Francis McCollum (killed in 1863 in the Battle of Chickamaugua in the Civil War, father of "my" Norman Oscar and "her" Mary Elizabeth) and Nicey Jane Cannon McCollum (descendent of Lord Oliver Cromwell). Bless you girls for all your hard work!
So I find myself researching and writing about Colonial history, specifically in Maryland where the Teague branch of our family has surfaced. For someone who loves American history as I do, it's getting really enjoyable to write about things near and dear to my heart. Captain Elijah Teague fought in the French & Indian wars for England but died as a Patriot (for the Colonists) and a traitor (to the Tories) during the American Revolution. I'm still wanting to get all of the legal documentation which allows my family into the DAR.
This is why I'm ready to retire from my house cleaning business. I want to research and write all the live long day! Reality check time-Unless I DO win the lottery (which I have never played in my life) I'll continue to work so Dave & I can have our little vacation getaways, just the 2 of us.
Our next one is scheduled in July in San Francisco. Never in my life have I ever had the urge to go to California. I have such a negative image in my brain about the state and things that are so foreign to me. I'm sure I'm generalizing and stereotyping. It can't be totally filled with clueless cele"brat"ies, decadent lifestyles, gangs, riots etc. or else decent people would flee in droves! Still, knowing that in the back of my mind, hasn't put vacationing there in my top 1000 list!
Dave will have Haz-Mat training there and I will fly out with him instead of joining him when he's done. While he's doing his work stuff, I'll do historical stuff-Alcatraz etc. for those 2 days. Then we'll make our getaway! We're heading to Yosemite NP, which I know is going to be very crowded but I've never seen it and this is the opportunity to do so! Then we head to Kings Canyon NP. Last night Dave ordered some hiking books from those 2 places so we can plan some day hikes. He knows how to hook my interest! Mention history and throw out some outdoorsy stuff and I'm a goner! This should be great! I've even bought me some new hiking boots to relace the "toenail eaters" that I have!
Later.....
The only thing I really have been working on lately is my Genealogy project. I am currently writing chapter 4 which starts around 1700. I have from 1477 to 1699 completed in the first 3 chapters. I got a note from my father this week and apparently another family member is wanting my information. Heck NO! I have become very posessive about my hard work. I mean, what has she contributed? It sounds mean and petty but she's going to have to wait along with everyone else in the family. My timeline is to have the book completed this year.
I have been blessed to hook up with 2 other cousins who have graciously shared their info and research with me. The 3 of us have invested a lot of our time into this project. My one cousin in Maryland shares the same Great Great Grandparents, Norman Oscar McCollum & Iantha Mullins McCollum, as me. Her great grandmother (Marietta) and my great grandfather (Homer) were siblings.
The other cousin of ours in Arkansas goes back one more generation, we all share the same great great great grandparents William Francis McCollum (killed in 1863 in the Battle of Chickamaugua in the Civil War, father of "my" Norman Oscar and "her" Mary Elizabeth) and Nicey Jane Cannon McCollum (descendent of Lord Oliver Cromwell). Bless you girls for all your hard work!
So I find myself researching and writing about Colonial history, specifically in Maryland where the Teague branch of our family has surfaced. For someone who loves American history as I do, it's getting really enjoyable to write about things near and dear to my heart. Captain Elijah Teague fought in the French & Indian wars for England but died as a Patriot (for the Colonists) and a traitor (to the Tories) during the American Revolution. I'm still wanting to get all of the legal documentation which allows my family into the DAR.
This is why I'm ready to retire from my house cleaning business. I want to research and write all the live long day! Reality check time-Unless I DO win the lottery (which I have never played in my life) I'll continue to work so Dave & I can have our little vacation getaways, just the 2 of us.
Our next one is scheduled in July in San Francisco. Never in my life have I ever had the urge to go to California. I have such a negative image in my brain about the state and things that are so foreign to me. I'm sure I'm generalizing and stereotyping. It can't be totally filled with clueless cele"brat"ies, decadent lifestyles, gangs, riots etc. or else decent people would flee in droves! Still, knowing that in the back of my mind, hasn't put vacationing there in my top 1000 list!
Dave will have Haz-Mat training there and I will fly out with him instead of joining him when he's done. While he's doing his work stuff, I'll do historical stuff-Alcatraz etc. for those 2 days. Then we'll make our getaway! We're heading to Yosemite NP, which I know is going to be very crowded but I've never seen it and this is the opportunity to do so! Then we head to Kings Canyon NP. Last night Dave ordered some hiking books from those 2 places so we can plan some day hikes. He knows how to hook my interest! Mention history and throw out some outdoorsy stuff and I'm a goner! This should be great! I've even bought me some new hiking boots to relace the "toenail eaters" that I have!
Later.....
Thursday, January 05, 2006
I had to post a picture of my Christmas cactus. I bought it at WalMart over a year ago. At that time, it had some flowers on it which is why I bought it. Throughout the year I've just watered it and left it alone. Pretty good philosophy when it comes to me & plants. I figured it would be like my violets in the past. I would buy them when they're in bloom and then they never do so again. After Thanksgiving, I noticed these tiny pink dots on the tips of the cactus. It's now in it's full glory and putting on quite a show for us. Against my better judgment I'll probably transfer it to a larger pot in Feb and keep my fingers crossed that a little "nurturing" from me won't kill it!
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Are We Having Fun Yet?
Well, another holiday season has come & gone, another new year has been ushered in and we can get back into our usual routines. Notice, I did not say normal, because who knows what normal means anymore! Certainly for the Hopkins family, the only constant is change.
The last couple of weeks have been filled with too much bad and sad news for me. My brother-in-law Perry brought Dave's parents down for a visit to ring in the new year and they never left their motel room. My mother-in-law slept the entire time they were here and my father-in-law was staying right there with her. Dave's brother Trace thinks that a lack of circulation and dehydration on the drive down here were the causes for her deteriorated health condition. On New Year's Day he very graciously detoured and drove her back to St Charles in the rear of their conversion van. They folded down the seat into a bed so she could lie down and sleep. She apparently looked better upon her return home than the day she left! Then they headed west on I-70 towards Denver. They drove for a while and pulled over to sleep. They made it in yesterday afternoon. At least there wasn't a snow storm to trap them in Kansas which happened at Thanksgiving!
We did get some visitation in with Perry during this whole fiasco. Any tme spent together is better than none, in my opinion. He represented our family at the funeral for Brenda's dad. The wake was on New Year's Day and the funeral yesterday.
I spoke with my stepdad last night and my stepsister Yvonne has stage 4 colon cancer. He remains optomistic and they should hear this week when she begins chemo. My stepbrother was in a car accident last week which sent him to the hospital for a few days for observation. He's a diabetic whose leg was amputated about 10 years ago and he's on dialysis for kidney failure. This summer he had a heart attack and had to have 8 by-passes done on his heart. The accident occurred on a rain slickened street when another driver pulled out in front of him. JR couldn't stop in time and totalled his car.
Okay, enough of all that negativity! The kiddos go back to school today much to their dismay! Dave went back to work but I'm off until tomorrow. I stripped the Christmas tree this morning and I'll take it outside and clean up all the needles. Slowly, I'll get the house back to it's boring, non-festive self! The house always looks SO naked when all of the decorations come down. It's kind of depressing in a way!
I DO however have a couple of things to look forward to. On Thurs the 19th, I'm flying into St Louis and spending the weekend with Jennifer to celebrate her 28th birthday with her! I am looking forward to some special one-on-one time with my baby girl. Next month, Ashley Elizabeth Hively is due to make a dramatic entrance into this world. I say dramatic because this family is a bunch of outgoing exhibitionists so I expect nothing less from its newest member! The circle of life continues...
The last couple of weeks have been filled with too much bad and sad news for me. My brother-in-law Perry brought Dave's parents down for a visit to ring in the new year and they never left their motel room. My mother-in-law slept the entire time they were here and my father-in-law was staying right there with her. Dave's brother Trace thinks that a lack of circulation and dehydration on the drive down here were the causes for her deteriorated health condition. On New Year's Day he very graciously detoured and drove her back to St Charles in the rear of their conversion van. They folded down the seat into a bed so she could lie down and sleep. She apparently looked better upon her return home than the day she left! Then they headed west on I-70 towards Denver. They drove for a while and pulled over to sleep. They made it in yesterday afternoon. At least there wasn't a snow storm to trap them in Kansas which happened at Thanksgiving!
We did get some visitation in with Perry during this whole fiasco. Any tme spent together is better than none, in my opinion. He represented our family at the funeral for Brenda's dad. The wake was on New Year's Day and the funeral yesterday.
I spoke with my stepdad last night and my stepsister Yvonne has stage 4 colon cancer. He remains optomistic and they should hear this week when she begins chemo. My stepbrother was in a car accident last week which sent him to the hospital for a few days for observation. He's a diabetic whose leg was amputated about 10 years ago and he's on dialysis for kidney failure. This summer he had a heart attack and had to have 8 by-passes done on his heart. The accident occurred on a rain slickened street when another driver pulled out in front of him. JR couldn't stop in time and totalled his car.
Okay, enough of all that negativity! The kiddos go back to school today much to their dismay! Dave went back to work but I'm off until tomorrow. I stripped the Christmas tree this morning and I'll take it outside and clean up all the needles. Slowly, I'll get the house back to it's boring, non-festive self! The house always looks SO naked when all of the decorations come down. It's kind of depressing in a way!
I DO however have a couple of things to look forward to. On Thurs the 19th, I'm flying into St Louis and spending the weekend with Jennifer to celebrate her 28th birthday with her! I am looking forward to some special one-on-one time with my baby girl. Next month, Ashley Elizabeth Hively is due to make a dramatic entrance into this world. I say dramatic because this family is a bunch of outgoing exhibitionists so I expect nothing less from its newest member! The circle of life continues...
Monday, January 02, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
