PRAYING FOR UNCLE STEVE AND FAMILY

This is a picture of Steve and his three girls, Raeanna (likes to be called "Rae"), Mariah, and Jasmine. Jasmine turns 7 on October 27. She had an all-night Birthday party last night with 9 girls and her two sisters. Fun, fun, fun, and lots of little presents. This picture is an old one of last year when their new home was being built. This is the ground-breaking service picture.

Steve fell flat on his back on the 10th while putting up a sign for one of the conservatives that is running for office on the Island. He broke 3 ribs. He was in the hospital for about 7 hours and then home to rest. He was feeling a little better, but a couple of days ago he was helping Rae push a table and felt a lot of pain in the front of his chest. Upon xray was found that the broken rib might be pushing on the lung. He goes on Tuesday to see a specialist. Possible surgery. We hope not. We are praying not.

Steve and family live in Beautiful Oak Harbor, Washington (on Whidbey Island) - home of the US Naval Air Base. They train pilots there. So, all through the day you can hear the jets zooming by. Love it.

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - BE SURE AND VOTE

Be sure to vote. It is only a few days away and this vote is so important to our country. We know that our Lord God is in control of everything, but He would want us to vote so that our opinion is expressed about how we feel. We need to stand up for right! Who you vote for tells us how you feel about abortion, taxes, and big government spending.

You know, there was a day in this country when everyone would put their right hand over their heart as the American flag passed by in a parade or while attending a sports event. The American flag stands for freedom! Many have lost their lives so that we might have freedom! Let us not loose that. Go to the polls and vote from your heart!

GOD BLESS AMERICA - LAND THAT I LOVE

Jim and Pat - Yep! that's us

Well, here is a picture of me and of my husband, Jim. Lots of memories here, but they will have to wait until you get all the history from the early years. And, at the rate in which my pictures are coming up, that will be almost forever. Just teasing.

My wonderful son-in-law, Bill, is helping me and I'm sure he will get that picture up soon. Then, I'll tell you a few things about our memory lane together. 28 years. Long time. But, has flown by so quickly.

"Can two walk together except they be agree"?

1939 - What A Year

The great depression was just ending and things were still very hard in America. Me, along with my mother, dad, and 3 brothers lived in Arkansas. Now, I do not remember the following, but my mom would talk to us about it. She and dad worked picking cotton in hot, hot sun and got very little pay for it. I and my brother, Sam, were not in school, so we would be with mom and dad in the fields.

Dad had been told that their were jobs up in Illinois. So, we packed up everthing we owned and put it in a big trunk. Tied the trunk to the back of our car and left for Illinois. I'm not sure how long it took to drive in those days (now, we could get that far in about 10 hours), but we made it and if I am correct, our first Illinois home was in Rochelle, Illinois.

Now, here are a few tidbits that I have been told what happened. When I was about 3 I was jumping across a small fire (the burning of old wood etc.) and happened to land right in it. Well, we wore ankle high shoes then and my shoestring was in a knot. By the time my mom got it off of me, I had a giant burn on my ankle. Today the scar is still there.

I do vaghly remember living on a farm they called the "Fell" farm. We used to jump from the second floor down onto the hay pile. My brothers and I had a great time doing simple fun things like that.

I don't remember just when we moved to Malta, Illinois, but it was just before I started school. Now, some of the things my brothers played on me were terrible. They loved to scare me. We lived right on Route 38. Our yard was right next to the road. Well, Bill and Bob would come running and say, "Sam is laying the middle of the road and a car is coming." Of course, I would look and see him and then run in the house screaming and crying. They would take turns to scare me like that. Oh boys are awful little guys. I always wished I had a sister.

Well, that's about it for some goofy little memories, but I will get to more just as soon as I find a way to get my picture of 1939 to come up. Then, you can see the car we loaded up as we headed for the great state of Illinois. Until then, remember God is Love and He does love you so much. Our whole lives are really kept in His Hand and all these little things that have happened to us is only because He allows us to enjoy His great pleasure in our life. Yes, even those hard time and in those times when we have brothers that like to tease us. So, "Until then, my heart will go on singing".