Rest in Peace Aunt Gladys

Aunt Gladys passed away last night. I am just so sad that she wasn't able to come back from her fall. I am happy I was able to spend some time with her last Sunday. When I walked out of the room, she was sitting up, her eyes were bright and I had high hopes that she was going to battle back from all of this. But it wasn't meant to be.

I don't know what the arrangements are yet. I hope to talk to Lovella later today and find out the details. I feel so sorry for Lovella, she is the only remaining member of her family. Gladys was her last sibling. I can't imagine how that must feel. I have only lost my mother and I feel so lost some days.

I love you Aunt Gladys and I hope you are at peace now, reunited with Kenneth, your parents and siblings. Thank you for always making me feel a part of your family. We may not have been related by blood, but you were my Aunt in all the ways that really mattered.

I will miss you.

TGIF

Boy, am I glad this week is finally over!

A brief rundown....

Sunday, Tulsa for a visit with Ed's dad before his surgery
Monday, I go back to Tulsa for the surgery, Ed to Cali
Monday night, I go to OKC to begin making Kaci's Halloween costume, call my dad on the way and find out my brother is having surgery Tuesday morning in OKC.
Tuesday morning, 6:30am, I am on my way to the hospital to be with my Dad and brother.
Tuesday afternoon, surgery is over, searching for pattern to make this costume..
Tuesday night, pulling my hair out, wondering what could have made me think I could still sew...
I mean seriously, it took me 10 minutes to remember how to load the stupid bobbin with thread!! And cutting out the pattern? The scissors were pure torture and it took me until the next day to discover why.
Wednesday morning at approximately 1:30am finally going to bed
Wednesday morning at approximately 8:00am sewing again...
Wednesday afternoon at approximately 3:00pm I am done, I have given it my best and I am going home! Oh and the reason the scissors hurt my hand so badly while I was cutting? The brand new scissors that Kaci bought just for me to use? THEY WERE LEFT HANDED SCISSORS!!!!!! My finger is still swollen!!
Stopped off in Shawnee for a visit with Patty and Thomas, he was 2 weeks old the last time I saw him and he is 6 months old now!! Sweet little boy.
Thursday morning, woke up in my own bed!! Yayyyy. The kitties were so happy to see me and I am so glad to be home.
Thursday night, Ed finally makes it home from Cali. I even made it to the grocery store and made some very yummy enchiladas thanks to the Pioneer Woman's recipe!!
TGIF!!!!!!!

Company's comin!

Yep, finally getting some company here in the hills of Arkansas. We don't get near as many visitors as I would like. I became so used to having a house full of kids while my girls were growing up and it has been quite a change since they have left us with an empty nest. So when we are fortunate enough to have visitors, I get very excited. Especially when those visitors are friends of the girls and I don't get to see them very often. So today, this is who is coming to see me.

And this is what she looked like 3 years ago today! She was Kari's roommate all 4 years at the Naval Academy and 1 year in Hawaii. I love this girl!! She has the sweetest heart and has been a very good friend to Kari. She flew all the way from Hawaii to be a bridesmaid in Kari's wedding. And wore this dress. I don't think she is a big fan of dresses, so this was a big deal for her. And I totally understand, as I am not much of a dress wearer either. I wore pants to the wedding. Wore a dress to Alissa's, said that was the last one I would wear and so far, it has been. Yep, 7 years since I had a dress on. Don't like em, not gonna wear em. But I digress, back to my company. So excited to see Alli Moon in a few hours!!

She is bringing her dog she rescued from Iraq. Alli is an EOD officer. She explodes things in a safe way so that they don't hurt people. When she told me she was choosing this for her service selection I nearly cried. This is a very dangerous line of work. It took her to Iraq and thank the good Lord, she came back home. While she was there, her unit adopted 2 dogs and when it was time to come home, they managed to get the dogs out of Iraq as well. So Duke is now living the good life with Alli and will get to see the hills of Arkansas as well. Wonder what he will think of it? : )

Better get busy, I am making a couple of new recipes and I want to make sure it is all yummy for her.

I love company!! : )

Good MomaKat

So, every morning, we wake up to a plethora of goodies that MomaKat has brought us during the night. It usually starts about 15 minutes after we get in bed. We will hear this deep meow coming from the living room and it gets closer and closer, until we finally pat the bed or tell her to come on up. She has a mouse, bird or some other of her toys in her mouth, which she then drops on the bed and comes for her praise. I have to pet her and tell her she is such a good kitty, such a good mouser, yada, yada, yada.

So, this morning I woke up to this

Ed was out of town, so she had his entire side of the bed to bring her kill to! Thank goodness after the first few, I fell asleep and didn't hear her or have to pet her.

For a stray kitty, she has made a wonderful addition to our family. She is such a sweet, loving kitty and is wonderful company when I am here alone.

Adopt a cat or dog, it will enrich your life and possibly save theirs.

Aunt Gladys

Gladys Pregler is my Aunt by marriage, but I couldn't love her more if she were my Aunt by blood. She has been part of my life since I was 13 years old. She hosted my Keeton family wedding shower, allowed me to use her home for bridal portraits, helped at my wedding reception, drove me to photographer's appointments when Alissa was a baby and I was still a little afraid to drive in the big city of Tulsa and just generally has been there for so many important events in my life and my family's lives.
Aunt Gladys is 84 now and in declining health. I went to see her a week ago and it quite frankly broke my heart. I had never seen her like I saw her that Sunday. She has always been a very attractive, well dressed and coiffured woman and that certainly isn't what I saw during my visit. It is just so hard to see her this way. I am just praying that God will either heal her or take her on to heaven, because she isn't really living right now and I don't think she would want to continue on this way. We are hoping she will be regain her health and be with us for Christmas Eve this year. But the Dr.'s aren't giving us much hope at this point. We can only pray for God's will to be done.
I love you Aunt Gladys.

Happy Birthday Jacey Shae Doonan!

Our new neighbor is finally here. Not so little, Jacey Shae was born today at 1:23pm and came into this world weighing a healthy 10lbs 4 oz!! She is 21 3/4 inches long, with a head full of black hair and her Moma's chin cleft and dimples!! Look at those cheeks!! You don't usually get those until after 2 or 3 months of breastfeeding!!

Moma is doing fine, at least that is what Daddy says!! Can't wait to hear her version of things.

Welcome to the neighborhood Jacey!!

She is on her way!!

Little Baby Doonan is on her way!! Lyndsay texted me this morning that they were on their way to the hospital. Jarrod called a little bit ago and they were already to 8!! Hoping to get that call very soon that she is here. : )

See you in Heaven Elaine

Today was the memorial service for our friend Elaine Oliver. It was a very different service, as they had the burial first for just family and then came to their church for a very moving "Church Service" which is what Elaine had asked them to do. The music was wonderful, some very special and touching songs, sweet stories, some laughs and quite a few tears. It was a wonderful tribute to a very special lady.

Love, Love, Love this weather!!

So, I think October is my new favorite month. Today is a cool, cloudy, fall day and I just love it. My windows are open, my AC is off and I am a happy camper. The trees are just beginning to turn a little, nothing dramatic yet, but I suspect a trip to the Talamina drive is in my future. According to the weather guys, we are going to get some really cool temps later in the week. I might have to make chili for the first time this season. Yummm, can't wait.

We had a fun night Saturday at the 2nd annual Martin Oktoberfest party. I made my German potatoes and they were all eaten. I even doubled the recipe this year. They were pretty yummy. Had a good visit with friends we had not seen in a while, all in all a fun evening. Our friend Gary spent the night with us. The boys left on Sunday for a ride into Missouri, they should be home tonight sometime.

Kaci called earlier, she was excited to have just met Barry Switzer. He came in to her office and sat at her desk. I asked if she had photographic proof, but she said she was trying to be professional.

Not much else going on. Making chicken spaghetti for dinner tonight and making an extra batch to take to Daryl Oliver. Elaine is in the end stage of her breast cancer, so I wanted to try and help in some way. I will get that over to them tomorrow. I know how this family feels right now.

Enough for now. Will try and be more interesting next time!!