WHATS HAPPENING MONDAY

Dear Jan and OH Peeps~

I hope that everyone had a wonderful Mothers Day! With everything going on, I can tell you, that I COULDNT WAIT to be around ALL my kids and my mother yesterday!

I am going to do one post with all kinds of info, from Mels health issues, to her moms funeral info and etc-so I am not going to post it all here as well and have everyone read it all twice. Yesterday was a little nippy, but other than that, it was a beautiful day! Mike had a National RC Car Race on Saturday and they didnt get to finish because the tornado sirens sounded and they had to shut down. I happened to have been there as I met him at the track after trading cars back with my beautiful daughter, Megan. Anyway-they finished up a couple of the bigger races yesterday-and so I went off to my moms place, and her and I went to the cemetary and put some flowers out for Grandma. We always do it the weekend of Mothers Day-more often than not, on Saturday, but I couldnt do it then-so we went yesterday. That was so hard for me. My mom said that she NEVER stops missing her mom and that she still finds herself at times picking up the phone to call her or when a song comes on the radio that grandma liked, mom will cry. All I know is that I am so glad that my mom and I worked through all of our problems we have had in the past and we are the best of friends now. So much has changed and there isnt anything I wouldnt do for her. Love her to peices. So it was pretty busy yesterday and my phone went dead while I was talking to Mels sister, Rosemary on the phone. I dug through the glovebox to find the car charger and went and sat in Mikes friends car cuz my lighter in the Suburban caught fire- (LOL) about a week after we got it-and we have never gotten it fixed-thus, not needing my charger anymore-glad I didnt throw it out now....but anyway, I got to my moms-and she still has a loaner SUV cause hers has been in the shop for 10 days now.....and the lighter didnt work in it either. So, I was without a phone for several hours. I got to spend a lot of time just talking to my mom and enjoying her company, so maybe it wasnt so bad, right? I got time with just my mom and I got time with all of my kids-we bbq`d in the afternoon and it was so nice. The boys made me a bouquet of flowers out of colored pipe cleaners, a photo frame that says mom on it, camo flip flops, and a journal/notebook for my purse (I always use them to make notes etc or I forget everything!) Steph got me a mug from Starbucks and a gift card-so yesterday I stopped and got myself a strawberries and cream drink-which I dont do for myself, cause I dont like spending that kind of money-LOL.....she also tie dyed 2 shirts for me-and they are awesome. Wore one yesterday. Megan got me some shirts too-they said they are sick of me wearing clothes that are too big-but as I showed them in my closet, I only have like 2 shirts that fit me correctly. SO-now I have 2 more.

I was craving scrambled eggs-so Mike made me breakfast-My mom still had the kids because Mike and I were suppose to go hunting Sunday morning-but we didnt get to go because of the storm the night before-and the fact that when Mike went out Saturday (while I was in West Plains) he got stuck out there in the mud in the Suburban-and so we knew we couldnt have driven back there-plus it was windier than all get out in the morning, and cold. They said on the weather that that area we hunt in-they got over 6 inches of rain on Saturday and there was considerable flooding-so we arent even sure we would have made it out there. Sat they had a road block up-but it had been moved-right before one of the low water bridges we have to go over to get to the property. So, NO turkeys this season for us-maybe in the fall we can land one? I sure hope so, but yesterday was the last Turkey day.

So I had a wonderful, wonderful Mothers Day!!!~ This coming Sunday, Mike and I are packing up the kids-even our oldest, married daughter and her husband and we are leaving town for a whole week. Megan has her finals this week, and then she is done-and Darrel and Steph will miss 3 days of school, but they are also taking finals this week and so they wont miss anything important but free days-so we decided to take them with us since Mike doesnt know when he will have any more time off! My dad asked Mike where we were going (me and the kids dont even know-we just have a list of things to pack and what food I need to buy or prepare before we go) Mike told my dad that whenever our cell phones do NOT get signal-thats where we will be! I assume we are camping-because I saw him out in the Morton Building yesterday with the huge 3 room tent, the pup tent, the air mattresses, camp stove and all of that....YAY...I AM SO READY to go! My SIL knows, but he isnt talking either. Dad threatened him...LOL....Anyways-so I cant wait-but I am busier than busy this week. Mom and I are working on the pool this evening-power washing it and getting it prepped for paint. They bought 2 huge tarps and we will cover it IF we have to.

I have to have another pap smear this afternoon. I was suppose to have my bone density test this morning, but something with their machine was haywire and they were waiting for someone to repair it. I didnt wait. I am rescheduling.....and I have to have my labs done for pre-surgery when I go get the pap. I was going to do that this morning when I was at the hospital, but there was already a line and Jon was quite upset, like he wont let me out of his sight and he is scared-I read what you wrote, Jan about little kids and death and yes, I think thats what happened to Jon, because when I put him in bed-I tuck him in and read a story and he usually falls asleep right away and last night he was up 4 times...I finally crawled into his bunk bed with him (he has a double bed on bottom) and I rubbed his back-and woke up this morning to Mike saying he had my coffee ready......

My knees and back have been killing me. Yesterday was the worst, but I KNOW it was from 2 round trips to West Plains in 2 days-which is 13-14 hrs in the car, and then my mom and I going to Rogers, ARK to the cemetary my grandparents are in (another 3 hrs)...and then from kneeling on the floor on my knees, when I was with Teresa Weds night, Thurs morning and then Mel friday....WOW do they hurt. Its been a LONG TIME since I have had this much pain......I just hope it gets better before we go. I know we will be fishing because he has all the poles and tackle boxes out there too~

**Jan-the judge is going to dismiss the charges IF there is NO CONTACT or more charges filed in the next year against Terry for phone harrasment.

No, they didnt have the laptop-or if they did have it-I never saw it there. Dont think they thought about it-due to the fact they didnt have much time to get prepared to go down.

I dont know what sz dress. I would imagine a 12-14. I have 2 pr of jeans that are 14s that are getting too big. Have to wear a belt. I have one pair of 14s that are too small-LOL...So, who knows? I bought a jr pair of 13-15 green khaki (is that a color?) and they are too big now too, but they dont look like clown clothes YET...so I am wearing what I have.

Yesterday the kids and I went to Walmart and we got all the seeds and kits for our garden. We were going to try and do it yesterday but I didnt get home in time, so one day after school this week we will get it planted. My mom is going to try and come out and help us. They were TOTALLY out of elephant ear bulbs AND plants!!! We are going to try and hit the home and garden store this week (Atwoods) and see if we can get them there. Just want the bulbs-saves a lot of money.

Thanks for all the prayers. It means a lot. Im doing a lot better than I thought I would do-but I KNOW its because of the prayers for strength. I know that Theresa didnt have to suffer too long. We were just suprised at how quickly she did go. I know she isnt in pain anymore-and she is there with aunt Rokie and the rest of the family members they have lost. I know she is looking down at us-and enjoying the stories that the family is telling about her-and I know she doesnt want the kids to be upset-but they will be for awhile. Its normal. Its hard to watch them all losing it- but a hug is an amazing thing. I think I gave more hugs from Weds night to Saturday than I have given in a long time. It was as good for me as them. I didnt feel like I did too much, but I did catch up their laundry and did the dishes and etc-they kept telling me to get out of there-and I kept telling them to go and visit with their family members that live out of state and they dont get to visit with very often! Besides, I told them, I have 4 kids, I am use to laundry and dishes and all that-so I felt right at home and loved being able to ease their load a little-even though it wasnt anything big.

**Angie-thanks for the prayers. I did tell Mel that you were sending a big hug and prayers. Appreciate you.

**Rachael-I will call you today-just as soon as I get ahold of the family and get the zip code. I have the address wrote down, but for some reason I cant read the zip code. Thanks for everything. Love ya.

**Vesta-I really wanted to get ahold of you the 2 diff times I was in West Plains-but know when your recovering from surgery, you prob dont want visitors and plus-I never got a break to get out to the store or anywhere for that matter-maybe when I go down to the funeral, I can come and say hi to you and see the new "girls"!! Im so jelous-LOL....Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes-we have been praying for you as well. I knew you would come out with flying colors and now I just pray for a speedy recovery for you. Hope to see ya soon!

**Brenda-I love fishing-and I love going out in the boat-that sounds like so much fun and so relaxing-and yes, I think ALL men are boys at heart at times....I agree on the motorcycle! How much fun would that be? I want one so bad now-ecspically since I am going to help the Bikers Against Child Abuse with fund raisers and such-I love their bikes and their leather!! They are an awesome group of people! Thanks for the prayers. I am praying for you, Dennis and Sydney too! I love and miss you. I hope we can see each other soon.

**Deb M-As usual, your post to me made me cry. You have such a gift at how you write things and what you say. You always say the right thing-and you always make me feel loved. I have been praying for you as well. Please keep us posted on how you are doing ok? Love ya.

Well, I am going to close this post and get the other post done...... and try and finish some chores before I go to town....All my love and prayers to all of you and THANKS to all of you who prayed for Mel and her family and for me too! I appreciate you all and love you much!!! Janet