I have a wonderful announcement to make. We are going to be grandparents again! Eric and Chrissy are having another baby in August. They are very excited and so are we. I don't think Abby really knows yet that her world is going to change but time will take care of that...... We haven't found out yet if our baby is a girl or a boy, but I surely have a "boy" feeling in my bones. Maybe it is because they have a girl already, and a boy would be nice, but I don't think so. I know it would also be neat to have two little girls just two years apart. Economical too. Just think of the clothes they could pass down to say nothing about the toys that are all pink. Still I am feeling a boy.... I will post again as soon as I know.

On a sadder note, things have not changed with Mother. She is still at Magnolia Manor in Jefferson, Texas. She has good days, and bad days and thinks that we are being so mean to her to put her there. Robert is ever faithful to go to see her everyday, and read the Bible to her. I know she looks forward to that, and also the visits about once a week from Sherry, Jerry, Diane, and Aunt Sissy. Lynda Weaver, Mother's next door neighbor also comes about once a week. She loves Mother and was always so good to check-in on her. For years she brought her morning coffee over and visited for about half-an-hour everyday.

I've got a new project going on that is leading into a much bigger thing than I thought it would be.... My computer room/home office is going to be another bedroom now that the family is growing. I am putting my new Apple computer in the breakfast room, and moving files, books, and baby pictures all out of the new bedroom. Ok, you think this would be easy? First, we had to buy the new computer, then a new desk (not just any desk would do, I had to order it), then we will have to paint the empty room. Now that room doesn't have furniture, so we have to buy bedroom furniture. It seems that it is a never ending process to get it all done, but maybe it's because I have too much stuff, but it is my stuff, and I want to keep it! Maybe by the time I get done with it all, I will have learned how to down load pictures from my iphotos and can show what I accomplished. Oh did I mention that I have to take classes to learn the how to use the new computer?

I skipped posting about our Christmas this year, but it was just so good that I couldn't start to say how I enjoyed the trip to Texas, the kids all coming the week after, and seeing those babies all opening their gifts. This year is flying by, but one thing remains.... WE ARE SO WONDERFULLY BLESSED THAT WORDS CAN NOT SAY!

My Best Birthday Gift

Recently when Eric, Chrissy and Abby came to visit, we had all three of our grandbabies at one time. I enjoyed seeing them interact with one another, and I also loved just getting in the floor and playing with them.
God has blessed Gary and I with the most beautiful and wonderful grandchilden we could have ever dreamed of having. Julie is now eleven years old, Byron is 2 years and 8 mos old, and Abby is 18 mos. and even though they are so spead in age, it is clear to see that they enjoy being together. OH WHAT LOVE!

We have just returned from a trip to Chattanooga, and the Guthrie Family Reunion. Gary has learned that he loves the hills of Tennessee, where he feels the peace and calm of everything God has made for us to enjoy in the nature around us.
It's a long and interesting story of how we are included in this wonderful Guthrie family. To save time and space I will just briefly tell our story:

When Gary's dad, King Evans Guthrie (dob, June 26, 1898) was still a young man living on the family farm in Athens, Tennessee there was something that happened in his life that caused him to become embarrassed, angry, or both. We have heard conflicting stories but do not really know for sure what happened, yet he hopped a freight train, changed his name by dropping his last name and became King (NMN) Evans, of Marshall, Texas. There he met and married a lady named Glee who bore him a son, Robert Evans then died of Scarlet fever. Then as a single father he met another local young lady who also had two young sons. This was Gary's mother, Tennie Mae Young. They had six children, Harold Gene, Anna Marlene, Flora Ilene, Darcy Kate, Gary King, and a baby boy who live only a day. They also lost Anna Marlene at 15 months to some kind of illness.

King never told his secret to any of his children or either wife. No one knew until his oldest son joined the Mormon religion, and in researching his genealogy learned he was really a Guthrie. He came back from a trip to Tennessee with this knowledge, and ask his dad if it were true. King confessed that it was true, but swore him to secrecy until after his death. Then when he died in 1972, Robert came home to Texas to share this information with his step-mother and siblings.

That is when we learned that we were a part of this beautiful family, and ever since we have tried to learn more about them. This was only the second reunion we have attended, but we have made several trips to Tennessee. We are Evans' and our kids are Evans', but we are still also connected to this other whole family named Guthrie.

The Mid-South Fair

On Saturday, September 26th we went to the Mid-South Fair in Southhaven, Mississippi with Eric and family. Jill and her children and Chrissy's parents, brother John, and Uncle Mark were also there. This trip was planned in honor of Julie's hard work in school last year. Her Uncle Eric promised her that he would take her to the fair, and for some reason, we all got included in the event. I believe Julie had a wonderful time, and so did Byron and Abby. Since Jill's birthday was on Monday, September 28th, Chrissy cooked lunch and made a birthday cake for the next day after the fair. Gary and I loved being with both our children, and all three of our grandchildren, yet I have to say that it was also a little stressful as well. It seems that our children, (Eric & Jill) do not get along with each other any better than they did as kids. Of course, Gary and I want them to love one another, and be kind, loving, and compassionate to each other, but they are only barely civil most of the time. They may not even notice how their attitude toward each other affects us, as I know in my heart of hearts that they really do love each other, but they just don't act like they do! We love them both, and try to smooth feelings of both, but why can't these two intelligent, christian people see how sad their actions make their parents.

The grandchildren all love being together, and never fail to show how much fun they have with their cousins, and siblings. They are the most wonderful grandchildren in the whole world! They are all so beautiful, smart, and happy. Julie is such a grown-up little girl for her 11 years, always trying to please everyone, and Byron is so much fun to watch play. He has more fun than anyone! Abby is so precious with her sweet smile, and understanding beyond her years. If I had gone up to Heaven and picked the most wonderful children from God's creations, they would be just like the three wonderful little children that are my own grand babies.

What defines me as a person is the love I have for first of all God, then my husband, children (and their spouses), and grandchildren. The most joy I can feel is when one of them is joyful, and the most hurt I can feel on earth is when something or someone hurts one of them.

Gary and I are planning to go to Chattanooga, Tennessee next month to attend the Gutherie Family reunion, and hopefully see some fall foliage. I am really looking forward to it being just the two of us for a couple of days.

Since I last posted anything on this blog, I have visited Mother in Jefferson, Texas, at the Magnolia Manor Nursing Home. She is not doing well in this situation at all. I thought she was improving just a might before making a call to Barbara my sister in law this morning. She tells me that she is regressing instead of progressing this week. My oh my how that depresses me to know that.


I worry about this on a daily basis, yet it does not consume me because I know that God is in control, and HE will see us through this.







September 5th was Eric's thirty-second birthday. I can hardly believe that little "bundle of joy" has grown into the most remarkable man, with a life of his own. He, Chrissy, and Abby are doing great and staying very busy. Just look at the picture of them, and you have to know the love that fills their home. This was the first time in his life that I have not at least seen him on his birthday, but life goes on, and I realize that I am the only person that even noticed my absence.







Another big event that has not even been announced to the family yet, is the wedding of my sister, Sherry. She and Bobby Shields got married on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. She told me that she thought the anniversary date would be easy to remember (09-09-09).
What a blessing it has been for both of these wonderful people to find someone to spend the rest of their lives with after being widowed at such an early age. Gary and I are so happy for them. We wish for them the happiness in their marriage that he and I have, for there is nothing better than that!

Mother and Her four Sisters, L to R Violet, Joy, Gladys, Myrtle and Bertha

My mother, Gladys Davidson has always been the one person on earth that I know prays for me everyday. That has been a source of great strength and confidence for me throughout my adult life. I am in the process as I write this of trying to imagine my days without the knowledge of and feeling those prayers in my days, yet my inter being tells me that those prayers will never end.

Even when Mother is no longer living those prayers she prayed for me will still be reaching God's ears, and He will still be answering each one.

Mother had a massive stroke a few weeks ago, and even though she survived she is not always the person I remember. My siblings and I were compelled to move her out of the hospital into the Magnolia Manor Nursing Home in Jefferson, Texas, where she will receive physical therapy. She is unable to use her left hand or foot, therefore cannot stand or get herself to the bathroom. The worst part of that is that she doesn't seem to know that she can't do those things, and is constantly saying that she can and wants to go home.

While this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to go through, I know it is one hundred times harder for my brother, Robert. It seems that Mother is blaming him for her having to be there, and is not being very sweet to him. Because I am 275 miles away in Mississippi, I am not helping in anyway except to be praying for her and the situation in general. I feel so guilty to be sitting at my computer recording these events instead of being there by Mother's side in her time of need. God knows every minute what is happening to Mother, and to me and He is in control so I am not second guessing the place that we find ourselves yet I am so sad.

If any of my readers hears God whisper my name this week, please say a prayer for me and my Mother. We both rely on God's Spirit in our lives to sustain us until that day that He calls us to our heavenly home.

Julie's 11th Birthday

Julie had her eleventh birthday on August 7 th. She chose to have a sleepover at our house, and invite three of her BFF's. Jill had Dream Cakes make an original "one of a kind monkey" Cake. Julie loves monkeys and wanted that to be the theme of the party. We went swimming, ate pizza and stayed up all night. What a fun party!