WHAT ARE SISTERS FOR?

Well, I will tell you...LOVE & SUPPORT! As everyone knows, I do not have any sisters, or brothers for that matter, but today I did see first hand what sisters do for sisters. My mom's sisters, Brenda and Linda,my dad's sister Louise "Aunt Dooie" and Jessica (Aunt Brenda's grand-daughter) came up from Cobden, IL to surprise and spend the day with my mom. They wanted to spend the day with her and give her their support for this upcoming week and her surgery. Mom's other sisters, Aunt Betty-had originally planned to come, but the unfortunate circumstamces of this past week did not allow it. Aunt Norma-could not come, but is coming up for the surgery on Wednesday, along with all the above again. What a great show of support for my mom. I love them all and want to tell them that I appreciate them all more than they will ever know. Thank you all. I also want to tell all of the rest of our family and friends that their show of support, love and prayers is also appreciated more than they will every know.

You are all the best!!!!

MORE BAD NEWS

We received bad news that my cousin, Darlene, passed away yesterday, March 25, 2008, from a massive heart attack. She was 56 years old and would have turned 57 on October 22 this year. Aunt Betty is her mother and my mom's oldest sister. Darlene was the second child of 5. Our prayers go out to Aunt Betty, Uncle Hollie, Betty Ann, Scott, David, Pam her brothers and sisters and especially her 2 sons, Will and Joel. May God be With All of You at this time. Love Tom and Connie

HELLO

Well, hello everyone! I hope this finds everybody doing just fine today. Not really much new going on here. The flood waters are going down, no snow today, little bit warmer, no rain, kind of windy,...WHERE IS SPRING? I keep waiting for it, it is not showing up! Now they are calling for rain tomorrow, rain Thursday, Friday, Sunday,... WHEW! What do you think of the new dolphin picture? I LOVE IT. I found it yesterday just browsing on the internet. So, of course, I just had to show it off to everybody. This is fun, it is like having a daily journal, that everyone can read. Koty is having problems with her ears again, just like Niko. What are we to do with these puppies. Gizmo has to have his teeth cleaned, just like Niko did. Dogs! But we love them. Tom lost his cell phone, therefore we had to reactivate my old one, with his old phone number. Plus this week, I'm human, my hours were 6-3 yesterday and 8-5 Tu-Fri this week! YIPPEE! Well, I hope each and every one of you had a great Easter. Gold Bless you all!

MOM'S SURGERY

Just a note to let you all know that mom's surgery is scheduled for Wednesday, April 2, 2008 @ 8:45 a.m. Thanks for all the prayers. Keep them up! Will update everyone when we have more information.

HAPPY EASTER!

Well, it is that time of year again and Easter is here! To me it is a time of rebirth, spring, new beginnings, etc! I hope this post finds everyone healthy and happy. It does not sound like we will be having beautiful weather, but that is ok, because we know with Easter's arrival that the nice weather is on its way. Start watching for the crocus, daffodils, tulips, bud's on trees, rose bushes budding, birds chirping, grass growing and much much more wonderful things happening all around you. Didn't God do a wonderful job on this earth?! It is beautiful and it goes through a rebirth everyyear! Please enjoy some of my pictures that I think show some of this beauty. I hope you enjoy them, enjoy your Easter and your families! Again, HAPPY EASTER to all, from Tom, Connie, Koty & Gizmo

MARCH-DAFFODILS!!!

Well, as everybody knows, I love daffodils and I collect daffodils! In fact, I collect anything and everything that has daffodils on it. They remind me of both of my grandmothers. When I was a little girl and we went to Cobden during Easter, both my grandmas would take me out in their yards, help me pick a bunch of daffodils and send me home very happy with my flowers. This is why I love them so much and March, well it is the month for these beautiful flowers to pop up everywhere and show us all their glory. I just recently found out that my cousin also loves this same flower and her myspace has them displayed all over it. She sent me the picture I attached to this post. Thank you Shelly. I checked my yard today and yup, they are on their way. I don't know about anyone else, but I just think they are beautiful and signal spring is on the way! What a wonderful reminder of my lost loved ones. So here is to my Grandma Minnie Jackson and Grandma Nellie Braggs, I love and miss you both!

FINALLY!

WHEW! I worked for about 3 hours yesterday and 1 hour today, and I finally replaced my visitor counter! Not sure why it disappeared, where it went, etc., but it was gone! It was not easy to replace and would not go in to the design as before. When I was checking on how to insert the counter I found that there are alot of people having this problem. Apparently the templates have been updated, from what I have found in my research. Therefore I had to add it to the sidebar. It is not exactly what I wanted, but for now... It will have to do the trick. I'm just happy I finally figured it out! It was driving me nuts! (I know not a far drive.) So there is the reason I have not posted anything in the last couple of days. I had to reset all my colors, layout, counter, etc.

Just a note to everyone, after mom's doctor appointment on Friday, March 21, I will post the new information regarding her upcoming surgery. Right now, she has been sick for the last couple of days and would not have been ok to go thru with the surgery on Wednesday anyway. Therefore, we appreciate all the prayers, thoughts, cards sent to mom, etc. from everyone. Thank you.

NOTHING IN PARTICULAR.

Well, just a note to say hi to everyone and thanks for reading my blog. I am having fun with it, glad my daughter talked me in to doing one. It is a great way to keep everyone posted on things going on, sharing ideas, etc. Nothing new to report on mom as of yet. The surgery is tentatively scheduled and as a result, I will wait until things are definite and I will post the information as soon as I can after receiving the information. Also, a note to all, I will try to contact everyone after the surgery, but in case I do not call everyone right off the bat, I do plan to put in an update on this blog as soon as I get home from the hospital that day. So keep in touch, keep reading and glad to hear comments from everyone! Like I said before, this is really pretty fun!

MARCH 7, 2008 - MORE SERIOUS NEWS

Update on Mom's biopsy results, as some of you already know from me, have read Joi's blog, or you may not know, dad, Joi and myself all went with my mom to her doctor's appointment today. The doctor gave her the bad news that her breast biopsy results were diagnosed as cancerous. Mom will be having a double mastectomy within the next 2-3 weeks. At that time, the doctor will perform the mastectomies and he will take out lymph nodes and check them for cancer. If the nodes are cancer free, then all mom will have to recuperate. If the nodes are cancerous, then she will have to undergo chemotherapy and radiation. The doctor seems to be hopeful, as the lymphatic tissue he removed from the breast and her blood, all tested cancer free. Our prayers are that the lymph nodes are cancer free as well. We love her with all our heart and want her to be around for a long time to come. We feel God is taking care of her and leave her in his more than capable, wonderful, loving hands. I love you MOM! Dad, Tom, Joi, Dave and myself all love you more than you will ever know. Our family appreciates any and all prayers for mom.

We received additional bad news...my dad's sister, Elva Stauffer, passed away last night. If I am correct, she was 91 years old. We love her and her infectious laughter and wit will be missed. The visitation is Sunday, March 9, 2008 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, at Elias Smith Funeral Home in Bethalto, IL. The funeral is Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. Don & Rick may you have God's peace at this time and know that we are all praying for you.

CMAFEST 2008!!!!

Well, June will be here before we know it and the CMAfest will come with it. Last year mom and I went by ourselves, previous years we had Aunt Alice Jackson and Betty Brooks along for the fun. This year we have a new addition, AUNTIE LINDA!! She will get to go see all the great artists, get up close & personal, maybe some autographs, music, music, music!!! If anyone is wanting to come along and join the fun, just let us know. It really is alot of fun. It is June 5, 6, 7 & 8, we come home on the 9th. If you want to look at any other information you can go take a look at www.cmafest.com/ The more the merrier. I cannot talk my daughter in to going, it is just not "her scene". Take a look at the artists that have signed up to appear so far this year...

Rodney Atkins

Faith Hill
Alan Jackson
Jewel
Miranda Lambert
Kellie Pickler
Sugarland
Taylor Swift
Josh Turner
Carrie Underwood
Dwight Yoakam

HERE WE GO AGAIN!

Well, Sunday had a high of 78 degrees, Tom even went fishing for about an hour (I was home sickly with the flu!). Yesterday was around 66 degrees and wet. Today! Well, you guessed it, stay around a day or so and the weather will change, that is what they say about the St. Louis area. Boy, are they right! Today we had snow, sleet, ice, rain, snain, more snow (up to a foot in some areas), school closings (just ask Dave and Joi), messy highways, accidents on the roads, cars in a ditch, etc. etc. etc. Work was NOT FUN! Big change from day to day, wouldn't you say?! Plus, they just said more snow is on its way, OH BOY, I'm excited...NOT! Well, anyway, I couldn't pass up the photo ops, so enjoy. P.S. Sorry I haven't been on for awhile, but as I said before, I have been sick since last Friday.