In Virginia

I flew up to Virginia on Sunday. Landing in Richmond right on schedule. I went to the car rental to pick up a car that I had reserved. I had filled out the paperwork online, and when I went to the counter, the young lady said, "Oh, I love to see these forms already filled out." I was glad I made someone's day. She asked me if I would like a PT Cru*ser. I responded, "Oh, why not." It's a cute little car, but I wouldn't want to take a long trip in one.

I arrived at my son's home around 8:45, so Ella was already in bed, and it wasn't until Monday morning that I saw her. She wasn't sure who I was. Her daddy is home with her this summer, so she is VERY attached to him. He is a wonderful daddy. He's doing some cleaning out of some shrubs in the front yard, so after she went down for her nap, he went out to work. When Ella woke up, I went in to get her. She didn't want to have anything to do with me...pushed my hand away, and walked to the other end of the crib. I finally took her out. We talked for a while, looked at some of the photos in her room, and then went out into the living room to play.

After a while she heard her daddy working, and so we went outside and watched him work for a while.

I seem to have hot weather follow me wherever I go. Yes, it is hot here. The humidity is nothing to compare with that in Florida, but I wouldn't want to be out running a race. Ella's parents bought her a pool to splash in. David said that he wanted one big enough that he could get in and cool off too, so after working in the yard, he changed into a swim suit, and he and Ella got in the pool for a few minutes. She was so cute trying to catch the water out of the watering can.

Today has been totally different. She has a big grin when she sees me. If I pick her up and her daddy is nearby, she doesn't fuss, so maybe she is remembering me from before...whatever it is, it makes me one happy Grammy.

Tucker, Ella, and a Wedding

Friend Vicki blogged about her fat cat McCloud this morning. I commented that I was glad for the fat that padded me when I went sprawling on the ground at David's in April. At least it was the soft ground and not hard concrete. I wrote about Tucker's surgery a while ago. He had a large cancerous mass removed from his side. You can see how much he was opened up by the stitches here. The vet said that if he had been a little heavier, he would have had more skin to pull together for suturing. So fat is good for some things.

After his two weeks with the cone around his head, he was quite relieved to have it removed along with the stitches. He's feeling quite fit and his fur is growing back to cover his scar.

On Sunday I'm flying to Virginia to spend a week with Ella and her parents. It's been about six weeks since I was there, so I'm eager to see her again. I can't believe in another month it will be her first birthday. Sarah and I will be driving up for that joyous occasion. This first year has been adventure. We are so thankful that she has been healthy throughout this first year.

Tomorrow I'm going to a wedding. The daughter of good friends is being married to a young man who is a seminary student. When he's finished, they are interested in perhaps working as missionaries in Italy. This young lady is the granddaughter of one of our former pastors. When her brother got married a few years ago, he married a young woman who had grown up in the church. That wedding was like a big family reunion. Friends who had moved away or who had gone to other churches all came back for that wedding. It was a wonderful gathering, and I'm looking forward to that same type of celebration tomorrow. I know I won't be disappointed.

Always Ready to Protect

I almost laughed out loud last Sunday at church. When we stood to sing, this faithful fireman was standing in front of me. After church I couldn't resist asking him if I could take a photo of his back. I'm sure that Hardee County has nothing to fear.

Postscript: When I took this photo and posted this, the fire in Charleston had not taken place. My heart goes out to all those firefighters whose lives were lost in that furniture store fire. What a loss for that firehouse and all the families left without husbands, sons, fathers, wives, moms, and daughters.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to my son as he celebrates his first with Ella.

Daddy, I love you
For all that you do.
I'll kiss you and hug you
'Cause you love me, too.

You feed me and need me
To teach you to play,
So smile 'cause I love you
On this Father's Day.

by Nicholas Gordon

Here they come...there they go

Sarah called me tonight to see if I was o.k. She said she kept checking to see if I had posted anything new, and I hadn't. I told her I was lazy. I looked today to see when the last post was, and it was four days ago, so I guess it's time. One blogger I read one day said that she drew a blank on a post for that day.

I intend to post more photos from the one-room schoolhouse, but I thought I'd post these of Ella and her daddy. A couple of weekends ago, Sabrina's family gathered in Waynesboro to celebrate her brother's 21st birthday, and they took lots of great family photos at the park. These two were among them.

The One-Room School

At the historical park in Man*tee County is a one-room school house which was in Bunker Hill. The interior today has been replicated to show what it was like in the early days. If you enlarge this photo and read about it, it mentions B. D. Gull*tt who was a teacher and then later superintendent of schools here in our county. We have a new elementary school here in our county which has been named for him. I have a very good friend here in Bradenton whose husband is the grandson of this gentleman. His brothers and sisters will all be coming to Bradenton for the dedication of this new school.

Did you ever go to a one-room school? When I taught in Haiti, our school had two rooms, one for the lower elementary classes and then one for the upper and junior high classes. I was able to get a little bit of the feel of a one-room classroom since I had grades seven, eight, and nine together in one room. This classroom also reminds me a bit of "Little House on the Pra*rie."

Back in those days, you wouldn't want to sit in the corner. Someone would surely tell your parents, and then you'd be punished again when you got home. It isn't like that today, though, is it.

Our county still has a one-room school. It is out in the county, and the residents of the area keep fighting to keep it. The county, for economic reasons, would like to close it and bring those children in to the larger schools, but so far they have not prevailed. Only time will tell.

If you go here, there is a poem about a one-room schoolhouse.

Look out world, here I come!

Here I come, ready or not!

When boring is good

I had a checkup with my primary care physician last week. In giving her a rundown on what had been going on, I mentioned to her that I had been to the cardiologist and that the appointment had been rather ho-hum. Her comment was "That can be a good thing." And that was my point exactly.

I had an e-mail from my daughter-in-law. Ella was scheduled for an appointment with the CF specialist, and she made this statement, "I think this is going to be a boring appointment because she's doing so well." Well, bring on the boring!

She wrote later and said that if all goes well, after her next appointment which is around her first birthday, that she will go every three months for checkups. This year she has gone anywhere from every month to six weeks.
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News flash!

I got a letter from S*cial S*curity the other day stating that I was entitled to a larger monthly benefit. When my husband died, I was 60, so I took his benefit. When I was talking with the counselor, she said, "Now you don't need to call us again until you are sixty-five and seven months, or if you get married."

Well, how time has flown. I didn't call, so they came looking for me. Some of you may recall that when I got my Med*care card, that I said that it had my maiden name on it. Why? Because for some reason or another I never changed it with SS when I got married. The number remained the same, so it really didn't matter a whole lot, I guess.

However, sometimes not all the brightest lights work in offices or for insurance companies, and when I presented my Med*care card which had not only my maiden name, but also my husband's SS#, and my insurance card with my married name, the reaction in doctor's offices were varied. (sorry for the run-on sentence) The first office said, "Well, you have to go by Wr*ght now. You're no longer Wh*tcomb." To which I said that it was fine. I rather liked my old name. Another office said, "Now you need to call your insurance company and make sure they know who you are." I guess they were afraid they weren't going to get their payment.

The last office I went to, I loved. The girl looked at it and said, "Whatever. It's not a problem." And it hasn't been.

However, I made an appointment to go down to the local branch and sign up for my benefits, and while there I took my marriage license from 1973 and finally changed my name on my SS card, so now every doctor's office I go to will be able to look at the two cards and see the same name and see my actual SS# and not my husband's.

When I walked into the local agency, I had to take a number. I did have an appointment, thankfully. There was quite a mixture of folks there. I had to show id, of course. I was asked if I was carrying any firearms. They checked my purse and the envelope that I was carrying, and then I was given my number and I sat and waited. My appointment was for 9, and I was called in at 9:05. Better than a doctor's office, huh.

So now everyone can relax. I know who I am, and so does every doctor's office that I'll ever go to. They can rest easy. They'll get their money.

"Cat"itude and Ella

I received this card from my good friend, Peg, the other day. I could not help but think of Yoga Mama, Babette, when I looked at this picture. But when I opened it and read the inside, I knew that it was not anything that she would write. The message inside? "I meditate, I do yoga, I chant, and I still want to smack someone!"
I jut got lots of new photos of Ella, so get ready. Does this look like a yoga position? She looks like she's really studying those feet, doesn't she.

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain
Yes, Jesus loves me!Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me! This I know,
As He loved so long ago,
Taking children on His knee,
Saying, “Let them come to Me.”

Jesus loves me still today,
Walking with me on my way,
Wanting as a friend to give
Light and love to all who live.

Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven’s gate to open wide;
He will wash away my sin,
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way;
Thou hast bled and died for me,
I will henceforth live for Thee.

Jesus loves me! Loves me still,
Though I’m very weak and ill,
That I might from sin be free
Bled and died upon the tree.

If you go here, you will find an interesting story about the song "Jesus Loves Me."

Have a blessed Sunday.